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Sentence patterns: An Introduction
Sentences in the English language fall into nine 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:
1. Verbs 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}
2. Linking verbs patterns (4, 5) use one of the linking verbs as the main
verb in the sentence.
adjective
{ smell
The linking verb is followed by a noun or
functioning
taste
look
as
feel
a
seem
subjective
become
complement.
appear
grow}
3. Action verbs patterns (6, 7, 8, 9) 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.}
There are certain Terms used to identify various parts of each
sentence pattern including:

NP = noun phrase
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.

V-be = verb of being

LV = linking verb

V- int = intransitive verb

V- tr = transitive verb

ADV/TP = adverbial of time or place

ADJ = adjective
What is more., there are five important components in a sentence
which are:
1. SUBJECT (S)
Definition :
To get ‘S’ ask the question ‘Who?’ before the verb:
Nancy slept well
(Here “Nancy” - Subject)
The child broke the glass (Here “The child” - Subject)
Subject (S)
consists of nouns or pronouns
occurs before a verb
2. VERB (V)
Definition :
In every sentence, the most important word is the verb. A verb shows
action or activity or work done:
He is a doctor
(“Be” form verb)
Jems wrote a letter (Main verb)
The baby is crying (auxiliary verb + Main verb)
Verb (V)
consists of (a) auxiliaries
(b) finite verbs
(a) Auxiliaries
{am, is, are ,was, were}
{has, have, had}
{does, do, did}
Modals : can, could; will, would; shall, should; may, might; must
Semi-modals / Quasi Modals : dare to; need to; used to; ought to
(b) Finite verbs - denote action
{talk, sing, write, make, dance, play, cook, leave, teach, …}
- verbs occur after the subject
- verbs occur before the object
3. OBJECT (O)
Definition :
To get the object ‘O’ ask the question ‘What’ or ‘Whom’. ‘What’ is for things
and ‘Whom’ is for human beings which may be nouns or pronouns:
He bought a pen
(a pen = Object)
He handles the computer (computer = Object)
I saw him
(him = Object)
Object (O) - consists of nouns or noun phrases or noun clauses
(a) Do
SV
- direct object
- answers the question ‘what’
O (what)
I likes animals
(b) IO
- indirect object
- answers the question ‘whom’
e.g.
SV
IO (whom) DO
I Gave Rosy
a pen
4. COMPLEMENT (C)
Definition :
The words required to complete the meaning of a sentence are called
Complement of the sentence.
e.g.
S
V
He Is
C
a dentist
She became a journalist
It
Grew
dark
Complement (C) - from the word ‘complete’
- completes the meaning in the sentence
- without it the, meaning is incomplete
- without it the, meaning changes
occurs in two pattern. (i) S V C pattern. (ii) S V O C pattern
(i) In S V C pattern, the complement C
- complements the subjects
- tells about the subject
- without it the, meaning changes
- without C, the sentence is incomplete or the sentence changes its
meaning
- use to be forms, grew, became, seems for verb
e.g.
S
V
C
They are
players
She was
angry
It
seems absurd
(ii) In S V O C pattern
- the complement tells about the object
- the complement and object are of the same person or thing
e.g.
S
V
O
C
They called David a genius
I
found her
crying
They elected Michel leader
Types of Complement
1. Subject Complement
Definition :
The complement which expresses the quality or identity or condition of the
subject is called Subject Complement.
e.g.
She is a doctor She looks sad
2. Object Complement
Definition :
The complement which expresses the quality or identity or condition of an
object is called Object Complement.
e.g.
They made her angry She called him a liar
Adjunct or Adverbial
Definition :
To get ‘A’ ask the question why, when, where or how.
The use of adverbial is optional whereas complement is essential. It has
adverb phrase, adverbial clause, noun-phrase and prepositional phrase.
e.g.
Why? (reason)
When? (Time) Where? (Place) How? (Manner)
due to cold
now, later
here, there
by bus / cycle
through floods
after 2 years
every where
through efforts
in the sky
by mixing
under compulsion when young
Carefully
in the morning at home
by hard work