The Sentence

Slide 1: The sentence
1.1 Sentence word order.

+ Learning the standard word order in English helps in forming clear and correct sentences.
+ English typically follows a simple word order pattern: Subject-Verb-Object.
Slide 2:
1.1A The Basic Structure: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
>Subject (S): The doer of the action.
> Verb (V): The action or state.
> Object (O): The receiver of the action.
Example: The cat (S) chased (V) the mouse (O).
Slide 3: Examples of Basic SVO Sentences
Simple Sentence: John (S) reads (V) books (O).
Questions: English follows a similar SVO order but often starts with an auxiliary verb or question word.
Does (auxiliary verb) she (S) like (V) coffee (O)?
Slide 4: Variations in Word Order
Although SVO is standard, word order may vary in questions and some other sentence structures.
- Example:
+ In questions: "What (O) did (Auxiliary) you (S) buy (V)?"

+ In passive voice: "The cake (O) was eaten (V) by John (S)."
Slide 5: Adverbial Placement (How? Where? When?)
Adverbials (How? Where? When?) usually come after the verb or after the object.
- Examples:
+ She answered confidently. (How?)

+ They stayed at the hotel. (Where?)
+ He worked until midnight. (When?)
Slide 6: Basic Word Order with Adverbials
The basic word order of a sentence that is not a question or command is: Subject - Verb – Object-
Adverbials
- Example:
+ We (S) played (V) a game (O) in the garden (Where?) yesterday (When?)
Slide 7: How to use time expressions at the beginning of a sentence to clarify context.
When we add a time reference, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence to set the context right
away.
- Example:
+ Next week, either option works for me.

Slide 8: 1.1B The forms of a sentence
A sentence can take any one of four forms: declairative sentence / interrogative sentence / imperative
sentence / exclamatory sentence
< Declarative sentences: Sentences that make a statement or present information.
Example: He didn't like the movie as much as his partner did.
< Interrogative sentences: Sentences used to ask questions. They typically end with a question mark.
Example: We're going in the right direction, aren't we?
< Imperative sentences: Sentences used to give commands, requests, or instructions. They may end with a
period or an exclamation mark.
Example: Don’t hang up!
< Exclamatory sentences: Sentences that express strong emotions, such as surprise, joy, or excitement.
They end with an exclamation mark.
Example: Thank! You saved our wedding!
Slide 9: The simple sentence: verbs with and without objects
1.2A What is a complete sentence?
Defination: In short, a complete sentence needs a subject, a verb, and must express a complete thought.
Without any of these components, the sentence is considered incomplete or a fragment.
Basic Structure of a Complete Sentence: Subject + Predicate (Verb + Object, if needed) + Complete
Thought
Example of complete sentence: she sings beautifully
Subject: she / Predicate: sings beautifully / Complete thought: Yes, it makes sense on its own.
Slide 10: The subject and verb
@ The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action.
@ The verb express the action or state of being.
Example: the cat is sleeping.
@ The subject may be hidden: Be quiet really means You be quiet
Slide 11: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
- Transitive verbs: Require a direct object to complete their meaning.

Example: Did you enjoy the film?
Common transitive verbs: ask, attend, believe, buy, consider, enjoy,…
- Intransitive Verbs: Do not require a direct object.
Example: Did it rain last night?

Common intransitive verbs: appear, arrive, come, cough, fall, happen,…
- Verbs that can be both Transitive and Intransitive.
Compare:
Transitive: She entered the room looking nervous. / Intransitive: Do not enter.
Slide 12: 1.2C Sentences with linking verbs like ‘be’ and ‘seem’
- Verb form "to be"
Forms of the verb to be include: am, is, are, was, were, being, been.
Example: She is a student
- Verbs of perception and senses.
Some common sense verbs: appear, look, sound, feel, taste, smell.
Example: This soup tastes delicious.
- Common linking verbs.
Common linking verbs: become, seem, remain, stay, turn.

Example: He became a doctor.
Slide 13:
- Linking subjects with adjectives.
Example: She is happy.
- Linking the subject to a noun or noun phrase:
Example: she is a doctor.
- Linking subjects with adverbs:
Example: The book is on the table.
- Both adjective + noun as complements:
Example: She is a talented singer.
- Pronoun as a subject complement:
Example: The house is ours.

- A prepositonal phrase:
Example: she is in the room.

Slide 14: 1.3 The simple sentence: direct and indirect objects
The direct object is the person, thing, or idea that receives an action.
Example: Dolly made a cake.
The indirect object is the person, thing, or idea for which an action is being done.
Example: Mary gave her sheep a bath.
- Verb commonly followed by ‘for’: buy, choose, work, care,…
Example: she works for a software company.
- Some verbs combine with ‘to’: confess, admit, bring, give,…
Example: he confessed his crime to the police.

Slide 15: Verb + object + ‘to’ + noun or pronoun
This pattern is commonly used to express actions involving giving, explaining, or introducing something
to someone.
Structure: Verb + Object + 'to' + Noun/Pronoun

Examples:
"Give the book to me."
"Explain the situation to me."
 The preposition 'to' is essential when the verb requires an indirect object. It indicates the
recipient of the action.
 You cannot say:

✗ "Explain me the situation."
✓ "Explain the situation to me."
The verb "explain" requires 'to' before the indirect object.
 Some verbs like give and send can take both structures:
✓ "Give me the book."
✓ "Give the book to me."
 But others like explain or describe require the 'to' structure only.
Other verbs that follow the same pattern include: admit, announce, declare, demonstrate, describe, entrust,
introduce, mention, propose, prove, repeat, report, say, suggest.
Slide 16: 1.3C The two meanings of ‘for’
+ meaning 1: on behalf of someone.
Verb commonly used: Give, post, read, sell, show, tell, etc.
Example: I'll post the letter for you. ( I’ll post the letter instead you )
+ meaning 2: for someone’s benefit.
Verbs commonly used: Buy, choose, do, find, keep, order, etc.
Example: mother cooked a lovely meal for me. ( The meal is for me to joy )

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Slide 1: The sentence

1.1 Sentence word order.

+ In questions: "What (O) did (Auxiliary) you (S) buy (V)?"

+ She answered confidently. (How?)

+ Next week, either option works for me.

- Transitive verbs: Require a direct object to complete their meaning.

- Intransitive Verbs: Do not require a direct object.

Example: Did it rain last night?

- Verbs that can be both Transitive and Intransitive.

- Verb form "to be"

- Verbs of perception and senses.

- Common linking verbs.

Common linking verbs: become, seem, remain, stay, turn.

- Linking subjects with adjectives.

Example: She is happy.

- Linking the subject to a noun or noun phrase:

Example: she is a doctor.

- Linking subjects with adverbs:

Example: The book is on the table.

- Both adjective + noun as complements:

Example: She is a talented singer.

- Pronoun as a subject complement:

Example: The house is ours.

Example: she is in the room.

- Verb commonly followed by ‘for’: buy, choose, work, care,…

Example: she works for a software company.

- Some verbs combine with ‘to’: confess, admit, bring, give,…

Example: he confessed his crime to the police.

Structure: Verb + Object + 'to' + Noun/Pronoun

"Give the book to me."

"Explain the situation to me."

 You cannot say:

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