PowerPoint from Today

Sentence Patterns

View more presentations from LSalvatore.

The Beginning of the End: GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION

 

 

 

 

Though many of you may think grammar is challenging, I'm here to tell you that it really isn't. There's a formula to it just like the ones you've studied in math class. I love to teach it because it's not the typical subjective English task where all the answers are shades of gray. So, I'll try to break down the sentence patterns in this packet. Let's start off with this basic fact:

 

 

 

Proper, formal English has EIGHT (8) sentence patterns. That's it!! Just 8! You can make these sentences longer by adding commas, conjunctions, and semi-colons. That is grammar in a nutshell!

 

 

Here is a list of the terms I use to identify the various parts of each sentence pattern:

 

NP	noun phrase	A noun and its modifiers (hence "noun phrase"): can function as a subject, direct object, indirect object, subject complement, or object complement
S	subject
SC	subject complement	a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject of a sentence
DO	direct object
IO	indirect object
OC	object complement	a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the object of a sentence
V	verb of being OR linking verb	Examples: is are was were	has been have been had been
V(int)	intransitive verb
V(tr)	transitive verb
ADV	adverb   OR   adverbial of time or place	part of a sentence that performs the same function as a normal adverb by describe the
ADJ	adjective

 

 

 
 

 

THE EIGHT SENTENCE PATTERNS

 

1.  S + V + ADV

   The verb (TO BE) is followed by an adverb indicating where or when.

My friends are here.     

 

NP V ADV

subject                 

                                         
 

 The adverbial indicating where or when may be a prepositional phrase.

My friends are at the library.     

  
 

NP V ADV     

       
 

2.  S + V + ADJ

The verb (TO BE or LINKING) is followed by an adjective that functions as the subjective complement.

        His clear tenor voice was quite lovely.     

  
 

NP V ADJ

         subject to be      subject

         verb complement

 

The cake on the table looks delicious.   

 

NP          V ADJ

subject          linking subject

         verb complement

The adjectival functioning as the subjective complement may be a prepositional phrase.

The supervisor was in a good mood today.     

  
 

NP V ADJ

subject          subject

     complement

 

3.  S + V + SC

 

The verb (TO BE or LINKING) is followed by a noun that functions as the subjective complement.

        Mr. James has been a teacher for forty years.     

  
 

         NP V NP

subject to be      subject

verb complement

 

At a very early age, Joan became a Buddhist.  

 

         NP V NP

         subject linking subject

         verb complement

 

4.  S + V(int)

 

  The action verb takes no direct object.

            In a few weeks, my cousin will arrive.

   NP      V

         subject      verb

intransitive     

Even if the action verb is followed by a prepositional phrase, the verb is still intransitive as long as it does not take a direct object.

In a few weeks, my cousin will arrive with my uncle.   

 

         NP V

subject      verb

intransitive

 

5.  S + V(tr) + DO

 

   The action verb is followed by a direct object.

           The archer shot an arrow into the target.

NP V NP

         subject verb direct object

transitive

 

 

6.  S + V(tr) + IO + DO

 

The action verb is followed by an indirect object and then a direct object.

             Smithers gave the employees a raise.

NP V      NP     NP

         subject verb indirect object direct object

transitive

 

7.  S + V(tr) + DO + ADJ

The action verb is followed by a direct object.  The direct object is followed by an adjective functioning as an objective complement.

        The jury found the defendant guilty.

NP V      NP     ADJ

         subject verb direct object objective

transitive         complement

 

8. S +V(tr) + DO + (OC)

The action verb is followed by a direct object.  The direct object is followed by a noun functioning as an objective complement.

        Most people consider Jacobsen a loyal friend

NP V NP2          NP2

         subject verb direct object      objective

transitive              complement

 

Note:  The second NP, the direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is not

the same as the subject (NP1).  The third NP, the objective complement, receives the same

numerical designation as the direct object (NP2) because it is the same as the direct object (Jacobsen

= friend).