Basic Sentence Patterns

J. McNair

English has five basic sentence patterns.  Knowing these patterns can help you identify the key ideas in a sentence.  The five patterns are as follows:

1.         S + V                           Subject + Action verb

                                                                 (Predicate)                        

                                    John                 sings.

In a pattern you may have modifiers, but the modifiers are not a part of the main pattern.  You could, therefore, have a sentence - Little John sings in the choir.  Little and in the choir are modifiers.  If you cross them out, you will see the pattern.

Remember also that in a command, the subject is understood to be you.  So it is possible to give a command.   Stop!  In this sentence, (yes, it is a one word sentence.) the subject is you and the verb is stop.

2.         S + V  + D O                    ^Subject + Action Verb + Direct Object

                                                Ann          hit                  the ball

                                                Remember the direct object is what receives the action.

                                                To find the direct object, find the verb (What’s happening?)

                                                Verb + who or what will give you the direct object.

                                                What is the action?  Hit.   Hit who ? No answer.

                                                                                          Hit what?  The ball, ball is                                                                                              the direct object.
                                               

3.         S + V + IO + DO        Subject   + Action Verb  + Indirect Object  + Direct Object

                                                 Joan          loaned               her sister               the money

Study the example for a moment.  Begin with the verb to          

analyze the sentence.  After you have identified the verb, the right question will give you the indirect and or the direct object.

            Loaned what/who? = the money (DO)

            Loaned to/for whom? = her sister (IO)

HINT:  You can put the IO in a prepositional phrase at the

            end of the sentence.  Joan loaned the money to her

            sister.

4.         S + LV + AC               Subject  +  Linking Verb +   Adjective  Complement

                                                                                             (Predicate Adjective)

                                                Kelly                is                                  smart.

5.         S + LV + NC               Subject  +  Linking Verb   +  Noun Complement

                                                                                               (Predicate Nominative)

                                                Kelly                  is                             president .

                                                            Linking verbs must be memorized.  They are verbs

                                                            which act as connectors or joiners. Rather than

                                                            they are like equal signs (=) connecting the subject

                                                            with a word or group of words that describe (AC) or

                                                            rename the subject  (NC).

                                                                        Common Linking Verbs

                                                                                    Seem, remain, become, taste, get

                                                                                    appear, smell, sound,    turn, look,

                                                                                    grow, feel to be (am, is , are, being,

                                                                                    been ,was, were)

Write the pattern of the following sentences.

1. The photo looks blurry.

2. John remains my best friend.

3. Fred and Mary dove in the lake at the same time.

4. Jackson loves Marie.

5. Juan gave Penelope beautiful red roses for her birthday.

6. The puppy appears starved.

7. Judette cooked her mother a delicious meal.

8. Reading became my hobby.

9. Laura gave the baby a bath.

10.  Carlos hit a homerun.

Make up an interesting, creative sentence for each of the five patterns and label the parts

Ex.  Joan likes school.

       S  +    V +   DO   

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