Sentence Patterns

1. The sentence pattern SV: It consists of subject + verb (intransitive)

e.g. It / is raining.

S / V

2. The sentence pattern SVO: It consists of subject + verb (transitive) + object (direct)

e.g. I / broke / the window.

S / V / OD

3. The sentence pattern SVOC: It consists of subject + verb (transitive) +object (direct) + complement (object).

The complement can be either an adjective:

e.g. They / considered / the car / too expensive.

S / V / OD / CO

Or a noun / noun phrase:

e.g. They / call / him / John.

S V O C

4. The sentence pattern SVOO: it consists of subject + verb (ditransitive) + object (indirect) + object (direct).

e.g. I / gave / Ali / my book.

S / V / OI / OD

This construction can be replaced by:

a) a direct object + to + noun phrase (NP) with the following verbs:

give, bring, grant, hand, offer, owe, read, promise, send, show, take, teach, write etc.

e.g. I / gave / my book / to / Ali.

S / V / OD / Prep / N.P

b) a direct object+ for+ noun phrase (NP) with the following verbs:

buy , cook , find , get , leave , make , order , peel , save spare , etc.

e.g. I / bought / a dress / for / my sister.

S / V / OD / Prep / NP

When both objects are pronouns, it is common to put the indirect object ( OI) last.

e.g. I / lend / them / to / her.

S / V / OD / prep / NP

N.B

- The verbs strike and ask have two objects and cannot be replaced by the preposition construction "to" or "for"

e.g. He asked me a question. (not he asked a question to l for me)

- The verbs explain, suggest and describe take always the preposition "to" construction.

e.g. Can you suggest a good dentist to me? (not can you suggest me a good dentist?

5. The sentence pattern SVC: It consists of subject + verb +complement (subject complement).

• The complement can be either an adjective:

e.g. His voice was quite lovely.

• Or a noun phrase:

e.g. Sarah became a teacher.

The verb of this pattern is called a linking verb. There are two groups of linking verbs.

a. Current linking verbs/ verbs of appearance and sensation such as:

appear, lie, remain, seem, stay (young), smell (sweet), sound, taste, look, feel.

e.g. You / look / nice.

S / V / Cs

We / felt / annoyed / at their behaviour.

S / V / Cs / A

b. Resulting linking verbs/verbs of becoming such as:

be, become, grow(tired), fall (sick), run (wild), turn (sour), get(tired).

e.g. They / became /good friends.

S / V / Cs

She / soon / got / tired

S / A / V / Cs

N.B.

Some of the above linking verbs can also be ordinary verbs.

Compare:

The driver / turned / the corner / too quickly.

S / V / OD / A

The weather / is turning / warmer.

S / V / Cs

6. The sentence pattern SVA: It consists of subject + verb +adverb.

e.g. The house / is / nearby.

S / V / A