A sentence pattern refers to the different types of phrases and clauses used in the
sentence and how the writer changes the structure of the sentence. The basic sentence
pattern is subject-verb-object.
Pattern 1. SV (Subject + Verb) The minimum necessary elements for this kind of
sentences are the subject and the verb. We can add any number of additional
elements to enlarge the sentence, but they will all be optional. e.g.
1. Birds fly.
2. The girl laughed.
3. We sleep.
Pattern 2. SVA (Subject + Verb + Adjunct) In this pattern of sentences the
obligatory elements are the subject, the verb and the adjunct. It is easy to identify
adjuncts. Adjuncts are expressions of place, time, direction, etc. You must remember
that adjuncts are obligatory elements, that is, if you remove them the sentence will
become grammatically incomplete. Most common adjuncts are adverbs or adverbial
phrases, particularly adverbs of place. e.g.
1. The director is in the office.
2. Everyone was on the street.
3. My parents were upstairs.
You might have noticed that in such sentences the verb is usually some form of ‘be’.
Pattern 3. SVC (Subject + Verb + Complement) These types of sentences consist
of the subject, the verb and the complement. The complement is obligatory, i.e. if you
take away that element the sentence will be incomplete. A complement is normally a
noun or an adjective. In such sentences the verb is usually ‘be’ or ‘become’-type (like
become, turn, seem, look, etc.)
Sentence Type: Form and Function e.g.
1. Suresh is a teacher.
2. The students became uneasy.
3. Her face turned red.
Pattern 4. SVO (Subject + Verb + Object) In this pattern the obligatory elements are
the subject, the verb and the object. In principle any type of word can be the object.
But most commonly nouns take the position of objects. You may wonder how to
differentiate between nouns as complements and nouns as objects. It is not difficult.
Nouns coming after ‘be’ or ‘become’ type verbs are complements, while nouns
coming after other types of verbs are usually objects. Secondly, you can use the ‘test
of passivation’. When you change a sentence into a passive form, the noun as the
object will become the subject in the passive. This will confirm that the noun in the
original sentence is an object. e.g.
1. The car hit the truck.
2. Someone has found a purse.
3. He drops the ball.
Pattern 5. SVOA (Subject + Verb + Object + Adjunct) In this pattern an adjunct is
also necessary in addition to the subject, the verb and an object. Once again the
adjuncts are usually adverbs or prepositional phrases. e.g.
1. She put the book on the shelf.
2. Mosquitoes kept the boys away from the field.
3. The host left the guests at the Italian restaurant.
