Sentence Patterns

"Sentence patterns" is just another way talk about the way a sentence is put together; the order of the
elements in the sentence; sentence construction. Some sources say there are six English sentence
patterns; some say eight. A few sources list even more. Here are the ones we feel are the most
common, and the easiest to recognize:
1. Subject + Verb (S-V)
This is the simplest kind of sentence. It consists of a subject, a verb, and possibly some adjectives,
adverbs, or prepositional phrases. There are no direct objects, indirect objects, or complements.
Abraham speaks fluently. (subject, verb, adverb)
Many of the class members write well in class. (subject, verb, adverbs) (The "complete" subject
is "Many of the class members"--a noun phrase.)
2. Verb + Subject (V-S)
Sentences in English usually have the subject come first, followed by the verb. But when a sentence
begins with there is, there was, there are, there were, the verb comes first, followed by the subject. The
word There is never a subject!
There is a strange shadow in the woods. (verb, subject--the complete subject is the noun
phrase a strange shadow, adverb)
There were no leftovers after the buffet. (verb, subject, adverb)
3. Subject + Verb + Direct Object (S-V-DO)
Andrew composes music. (subject, verb, direct object.)
Matthew helps others in several English practice rooms. (subject, verb, direct object, adverb)
Helen tells jokes to make people smile. (subject, verb, direct object, adverb)
4. Subject + Verb + Complement (S-V-SC)
A complement is a word or group of words that describe or rename the subject. Complements follow a
linking verb. There are two kinds of subject complements: 1) predicate nominative, which is a noun or
pronoun that renames or classifies the subject of the sentence and 2) predicate adjective, which is an
adjective that describes the subject of the sentence.
Mother looks tired. (subject, verb, complement--predicate adjective)
Some students in the class are engineers. (the noun phrase Some students in the class is the
complete subject, verb, complement--predicate nominative)
The men are handsome, the women are clever, and the children are above-average. (compound
sentence of three independent clauses, so three subjects, three verbs, threecomplements--all
predicate adjectives)
5. Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO)
An indirect object tells for whom or to whom. If the indirect object comes after the direct object (in a
prepositional phrase "to ________" or "for _______"), the sentence pattern is shown as S-V-DO-IO.
Pronouns are usually used as indirect objects (but not always).
I sent her a birthday present. (subject, verb, indirect object, direct object)
Jay gave his dog a bone. (subject, verb, indirect object, direct object)
Granny left Gary all of her money. (subject, verb, indirect object, direct object)
Granny gave every last asset to Gary. (subject, verb, direct object, indirect object in a
prepositional phrase)
6. Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement (S-V-DO-OC)
This pattern isn't as common as the others, but it is used. An object complement is a word or group of
words that renames, describes, or classifies the direct object. Object complements are nouns or
adjectives and follow the object.
Debbie left the window open during the rain storm. (subject, verb, direct object, object
complement, adverb)
The class picked Susie class representative. (subject, verb, direct object, object complement)

Yes/ No questions
If there is one verb in the statement and the verb is a form of be, simply switch the
positions of the subject and verb.
Statement

Question
John is a doctor.

Is John a doctor?
The Jensens are here.

Are the Jensens here?
If there are two verbs, simply switch the positions of the subject and first verb.
Statement

Question
Jan is eating dinner.

Is Jan eating dinner?
June has rented an apartment.

Has June rented an apartment?
Jen has been living here since 1969.

Has Jen been living here since 1969?
If there is one verb, and the verb is not a form of be, the process is more complex.
1. Add Do to the beginning of the sentence.
The Johnsons live in that house.

Do the Johnsons live in that house?
2. If the main verb "carries" a third person singular s, move the s to Do, making it Does.
Jane drives a car.

Do Jane drives a car? (Not finished yet!)

Does Jane drive a car? (Good question!)
3. If the main verb "carries" past tense, move the past tense to Do, making it Did.
Joan played basketball last night.

Do Joan played basketball? (Not finished yet!)

Did Joan play basketball? (Good question!)

Wh- Questions
-allow a speaker to find out more information about topics. They are as follows:
When?
Where?
Who?
Why?
How?
What?

Time
Place
Person
Reason
Manner
Object/Idea/Action
Other words can also be used to inquire about specific information:
Which (one)?
Whose?
Whom?
How much?
How many?

Choice of alternatives
Possession
Person (objective formal)
Price, amount (non-count)
Quantity (count)
How long?
How often?
How far?
What kind (of)?
Duration
Frequency
Distance
Description
The "grammar" used with wh- questions depends on whether the topic being asked about is the
"subject" or "predicate" of a sentence. For the subject pattern, simply replace the person or thing being
asked about with the appropriate wh-word.
(Someone has my baseball.)
(Something is bothering you.)

Who has my baseball?
What is bothering you?
For the predicate pattern, wh- question formation depends on whether there is an "auxiliary" verb in
the original sentence. Auxiliary or "helping" verbs are verbs that precede main verbs. Auxiliary verbs
areitalicized in the following sentences.
I can do it.
They are leaving.
I have eaten my lunch.
I should have finished my homework.
To make a question using the predicate pattern, first form a yes/no question by inverting the subject
and (first) auxiliary verb. Then, add the appropriate wh- word to the beginning of the sentence.
(You will leave some time.)

? will you leave
When will you leave?
(He is doing something.)

? is he doing
What is he doing?
(They have been somewhere.)

? have they been
Where have they been?
If there is no auxiliary and the verb is "be," invert the subject and verb, then add the appropriate wh-
word to the beginning of the sentence.
(He is someone.)

? is he
Who is he?
(The meeting was some time.)

? was the meeting
When was the meeting?
If there is no auxiliary and the verb is not "be," add do to the beginning of the sentence. Then add the
appropriate wh-question word. Be sure to "transfer" the tense and number from the main verb to the
word do.
(You want something.)

? do you want
What do you want?
(You went somewhere.)

? did you go (past tense)
Where did you go?
(She likes something.)

? does she like (third person -s)
What does she like?