Sentence patterns
Just about all sentences in the English language
fall into ten patterns determined by the presence and functions of nouns, verbs,
adjectives, and adverbs.
The patterns are most easily classified according
to the type of verb used:
Verb of being patterns (1,
2, 3) use a form of the verb to be as the main verb in the
sentence.
is are
was were has
been have been had been
Linking verb patterns (4, 5) use one of the linking
verbs as the main verb in the sentence. The linking verb is followed by a
noun or adjective functioning as a subjective complement.
smell taste
look feel
seem become
appear grow
Action verb patterns (6,
7, 8, 9, 10) use one of the many action verbs as the main verb in the
sentence. The action verb may be either transitive (take a direct object)
or intransitive (not take a direct object).
see jump
embrace write imagine
buy plummet think etc.
Terms used to identify
various parts of each sentence pattern include the following:
This abbreviation refers to a headword noun and its modifiers ("noun
phrase") functioning as a subject, direct object,
indirect object, subjective complement, or objective complement.
- NP1, NP2, NP3, etc. = designations for
different noun phrase functions
Numbers in sequential order are used with each
NP to designate its difference from or similarity to other NPs before and
after it.
THE TEN SENTENCE PATTERNS
1. NP1 + V-be + ADV/TP
The verb of being is followed by an
adverb indicating where or when.
More information on subjects
The adverbial indicating where or
when may be a prepositional phrase.
2. NP1 + V-be + ADJ
The verb of being is
followed by an adjective that functions as the subjective complement.
More information on subjective
complements
The adjectival functioning as the
subjective complement may be a prepositional phrase.
3. NP1 + V-be + NP1
The verb of being is followed by a
noun that functions as the subjective complement.
Note: The second NP receives the same numerical designation as the first
NP because the second NP, the subjective complement, is the same as the subject
(Mr. James = teacher).
4. NP1 + LV + ADJ
The linking verb is followed by an
adjective functioning as a subjective complement.
The adjectival functioning as the
subjective complement may be a prepositional phrase.
5. NP1 + LV + NP1
The linking verb is followed
by a noun functioning as a subjective complement.
Note: The second NP
receives the same numerical designation as the first NP because the second NP,
the subjective complement, is the same as the subject (Joan = Buddhist).
6. NP1 + V-int
The action verb takes no direct
object.
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.
7. NP1 + V-tr + NP2
The action verb is followed by a
direct object.
More information on direct objects
Note: The second NP, the
direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is
not the same as the subject (NP1).
8. NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + NP3
The action verb is followed by an
indirect object and then a direct object.
More information on indirect objects
Note: The indirect
object and the direct object each receive a new numerical designation because
each is different from the other and both are different from the subject.
9. NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + ADJ
The action verb is followed
by a direct object. The direct object is followed by an adjective
functioning as an objective complement.
More information on objective
complements
Note: The second NP, the
direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is
not the same as the subject (NP1).
10. NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + NP2
The action verb is
followed by a direct object. The direct object is followed by a noun
functioning as an objective 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).
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