Basic Sentence Patterns
In this lesson, you will learn the elements of a sentence. There are 5 basic
sentence patterns in English. Before we start this lesson (or after class in the lab)
go to these 5 websites. Click the buttons on the screen at each site to see
sentences with these patterns.
The 5 Basic Patterns
Subject + Verb
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/sv.html)
I swim. Joe swims. They swam.
Subject + Verb + Object
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/svo.html)
I drive a car. Joe plays the guitar. They ate dinner.
Subject + Verb + Complement
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/svc.html)
I am busy. Joe became a doctor. They look sick.
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/sviodo.html)
I gave her a gift. She teaches us English.
The last pattern is for level 5 and grammar, and you will not see it in your level 4
classes, but you can look at it now if you want.
Subject + Verb + Object + Complement
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/svoc.html)
I left the door open. We elected him president. They named her Jane.
Basic Sentence Structure
There are five basic patterns around which most English
sentences are built.* They are as follows:
S-V Subject-Verb John sleeps.
Jill is eating.
Jack will arrive next week.
S-V-O Subject-Verb-Object I like rice.
She loves her job.
He's eating an orange.
S-V-Adj Subject-Verb-Adjective He is funny.
The workers are lazy.
Karen seems angry.
S-V-Adv Subject-Verb-Adverb Jim is here.
Flowers are everywhere.
No one was there.
S-V-N Subject-Verb-Noun She is my mom.
The men are doctors.
Mr. Jones is the teacher.
At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can be
added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern.
She sleeps. Core sentence
She sleeps soundly. An adverb is added to describe how she sleeps.
She sleeps on the sofa. A prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps.
She sleeps every afternoon. A time expression is added to tell when she sleeps.
She is sleeping right now. Verb tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the
same.
Mary will sleep later. Subject is named and another tense is used.
The dogs are sleeping in the New subject may require a different form of the verb.
garage.
Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern.
They like rice. Core sentence
The people like rice. Specific subject
The friendly people like rice. Subject modified with an adjective
The people in the restaurant like Subject modified with an adjective
rice.
The people like boiled rice. Object modified with an adjective
The people like hot, white rice. Object modified with more than one adjective
Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj
pattern.
He is fine. Basic sentence with "be" verb
He seems happy. Basic sentence with another linking verb
Jordan is tall, dark and handsome. Series of adjectives
He appears very comfortable. Adverb or intensifier added
George became sick last night. Different tense and linking verb
Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv
pattern.
The teacher is here. Basic sentence
The teacher is over there. Using an adverb phrase
Teachers are everywhere. Plural noun and verb used
The teachers are in the lobby. Prepositional phrase functioning as adverb
Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern.
The man is a doctor. Basic sentence
The women are doctors. Using plural noun and verb
My father is a nice guy. Modified subject and complement
My grandparents are senior Modified plural subject and complement
citizens.
Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
5 Basic Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb
I swim. Joe swims. They swam.
Subject + Verb + Object
I drive a car. Joe plays the guitar. They ate dinner.
Subject + Verb + Complement
I am busy. Joe became a doctor. They look sick.
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
I gave her a gift. She teaches us English.
Subject + Verb + Object + Complement
I left the door open. We elected him president. They named her Ja
jazz chants
Chant: Caribou, caribou
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
dropping calves in rolling hills,
need to be alert.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come the grizzlies,
don't you think they'll hurt?
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come the wolves;
they'll eat you with a smirk.
Examples of Jazz Chants:
By Crysta Mae Dixie Bacusmo <Worlds famous Jazz chant Artist>
Chant: Musk Ox Oomingmak
Musk ox,
Bearded One,
standing in a circle
guarding cows
and little calves
from a wolf attack.
Musk ox,
Bearded One,
standing in a circle.
By Crysta Mae Dixie Bacusmo <Worlds famous Jazz chant Artist>
Chant: Sikuliqiruq (The ice is breaking up)
Sikuliqiruq,
The ice is breaking up.
Sikuliqiruq,
The ice is breaking up.
Moving, moving.
Sikuliqiruq,
Moving, moving.
Sikuliqiruq.
Caribou
By Crysta Mae Dixie Bacusmo <Worlds famous Jazz chant Artist>
Chant: Caribou, caribou
Oh, you caribou,
so many in a herd,
dropping calves in rolling hills,
need to be alert.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come the grizzlies,
don't you think they'll hurt?
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come the wolves;
they'll eat you with a smirk.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come mosquitoes.
You'd better roll in dirt.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come ice and snow.
For lichens you'll search.
We are the Rogers Park Wolves
By Crysta Mae Dixie Bacusmo <Worlds famous Jazz chant Artist>
We stay in the pack, Jack.
We eat good food, Dude.
We help each other, brother.
We work together, Heather.
We like to howl,
Pal.OOOOoooo.
We are very smart, Bart.
Each one is unique, Zeke.
We obey our leader, Peter.
Together we are strong, Wong.
We like to howl,
Pal.OOOOoooo.
We're always alert, Bert.
We keep peace in the clan, Stan.
We like to communicate, Mate.
We run faster than Moose, Duce.
We like to howl,
Pal.OOOOoooo.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come mosquitoes.
You'd better roll in dirt.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come ice and snow.
For lichens you'll search
