SENTENCE PATTERN

SUBJECT SENTENCE

PREDICATE

e.g. 1. The little girl eats ice-cream. 2. He is my brother. Function Form Subject + Predicate NP + VP

Subject of a sentence can made up of: a single subject (one noun/ noun phrase) a compound subject (more than one noun/ noun phrase a non-finite clause (to-infinitive/ -ing participle) a finite clause

- a subject can come in front of the predicate, or after the predicate; Subject before predicate: e.g. The man is resting. Smoking cigarettes can ruin your health.
Subject after predicate: e.g. Situated along the river is my house. Here comes Alan.

Parse the following sentences into Subject (S) and Predicate (P):
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The bell has rung. En. Raman has sold his car to my sister. On to the field ran the horses. The clothing sold in the next shop is much cheaper. We saw the boy running towards your office. Down came the heavy rain. How he was murdered remains a mystery. The man who wears a red shirt is my neighbour.

Answer:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The bell has rung. En. Raman has sold his car to my sister. On to the field ran the horses. The clothing sold in the next shop is much cheaper. We saw the boy running towards your office. Down came the heavy rain. How he was murdered remains a mystery. The man who wears a red shirt is my neighbour.

7 Basic sentence patterns: 1. S V 2. S V Od 3. S V Cs 4. S V A 5. A V Oi Od 6. S V Od Co 7. S V Od A

1. S V
Subject Predicate

My head
The train May and Jane

hurts.
arrives. might have left.

Verbs: - intransitive

Analysis :

Function Sentence Form

Subject My head NP

Verb hurts Vgp

2. S V Od
Subject She My brother Predicate had lost her key. has been keeping the money

Verbs: -transitive -requires a direct object

All the guests

love my cooking

Analysis : Function Sentence Form Subject The lecturer NP Verb Direct object has scolded the students. Vgp NP

3. S V Cs
Subject The dress on display Our breakfast Most of the houses in this area Predicate is beautiful seems ready are hers.

Verbs: -intensive (copular/ linking) -show attributes of subjects

Analysis :
Function Sentence Form Subject The soup NP Verb tasted Vgp
Subject complement

delicious AdjP

4. S V A
Subject My office The first meeting He Predicate is in the next building was on Sunday seems in excellent health

Verbs: -intransitive, followed by prepositional phrase (adverbial)

Analysis :
Function Sentence Form Subject Your money NP Verb is Vgp Adverb on the table PP

5. S V Oi Od
Subject

He
I

Verbs: -Transitive could have given her the -Followed by wrong file 2 noun must send her some flowers phrases
will make me a cake.

Predicate

My mother
Analysis :
Function Sentence Form

Subject The guest NP

Verb handed Vgp

Indirect object the receptionist NP

Indirect object the room key. NP

6. S V Od CO
Subject That Predicate made the public extremely angry
Verbs: -Transitive -Followed by noun phrase & adjective phrase/ another noun phrase.
Object complement crazy Peter AdjP/ NP

The students elected him the new class president Everyone calls her Molly Analysis :
Function Sentence Form Subject They He NP Verb are driving has named Vgp direct Object me his baby NP

7. S V Od A
Subject You Predicate can put your computer on the desk
Verbs: -transitive, followed by noun phrase followed by a prepositional phrase or adverb phrase (adverbial)

She
I Analysis :
Function Sentence Form

treated the children very well

will take the tourists around

Subject The girl You NP

Verb has placed should stand Vgp

direct object the kitten the syringe NP

Adverb In the box upright PP/ AdvP

Analyse the constituents of sentences in terms of function:

1. My head aches terribly. 2. They have lost their key in the field. 3. She bought her mother a new dress for her birthday. 4. The delegates elected Mr. Henry their new chairman in an emergency. 5. He must have placed the stool there.

Answer:
1.

2.
3.

4.

5.

My head aches terribly. S V A They have lost their key in the field. S V Od A She bought her mother a new dress (for her birthday S V Oi Od The delegates elected Mr. Henry S V Od their new chairman (in an emergency). Co He must have placed the stool here. S V Od A