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Sentence Patterns, Types, and

Structures

CONTENTS Click on any heading below to jump directly to that topic.

SENTENCE PATTERNS ....................................................................................................... 1
SENTENCE TYPES ............................................................................................................. 4
SENTENCE STRUCTURES .................................................................................................. 5

SENTENCE PATTERNS
English has only six basic sentence patterns. More difficult sentences are combinations of the
basic sentences or alterations of them.

The sentence patterns depend on the function of the verb. Verbs are transitive or
intransitive. Transitive verbs transfer the action of the verb to a receiver. Intransitive
verbs have no noun or object to act upon.

Remember: 1. Every verb has a subject.

2. Some transitive verbs have a direct object.
3. A few transitive verbs have both a direct object and an indirect object.

Note: In the examples for the sentence patterns below:

• The subject is bold.
• The verb is underlined.
• The prepositional phrases are in (parentheses).
• The direct object is italicized.
• The indirect object is in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

PATTERN 1: Subject and Verb

Consists of a subject and a verb. The verb is intransitive. There may be modifiers to the
subject or verb, but these are not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Examples: Boys sing.
The boys (in the choir) (from Detroit) sing (at Christmas).
One (of the thieves) must have been hiding (in the basement).

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
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PATTERN 2: Subject, Verb, and Direct Object

Consists of a subject, a verb, and a direct object. The verb is transitive because it is acting
upon an object directly.
Examples: Students write essays.
JCCC students write amazingly well-written essays (about themselves).

PATTERN 3: Subject, Verb, Direct and Indirect Objects

Consists of a subject and a verb with direct and indirect objects:
• The direct object receives the action of the transitive verb and answers who or what.
• The indirect object indirectly receives the action of the verb and answers to whom (or
which), or for whom (or which).

Note: There cannot be an indirect object without a direct object.

Examples: I gave the TEACHER my essay.
I nervously gave my demanding English TEACHER my great essay.

Common Verbs for the Subject, Verb, Direct and Indirect Object pattern
allow ask assign give grant
pay send show tell write

PATTERN 4: Subject, Verb, Direct Object, and Object Complement

Consists of a subject, a verb, a direct object, and an objective complement.
• The object closest to the verb is the direct object.
• The object further from the verb is the objective complement.
• The objective complement is either:
o a noun that renames the direct object or
o an adjective that describes the direct object.

Common Verbs for the Subject, Verb, Direct Object, Object Complement pattern
appoint call consider elect
find make name think

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
Structures

You can identify sentence pattern #4 by inserting to be.

Examples: The parents considered their child a GENIUS.
Test: The parents considered their child [to be] a genius.

The teacher thought him STUPID.

Test: The teacher thought him [to be] stupid.

Note: Sometimes the word as is used between the direct object and object complement.

PATTERN 5: Subject, Linking Verb, and Noun Complement

Consists of a subject, a linking verb, and a subjective complement.
• A linking verb usually doesn’t show action. It links the subject to a new identity or
description.
• A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb. It identifies the
subject with a noun, or describes it with an adjective.

In the example below, the linking verb is underlined, and the subjective complement—a noun
complement, in this case—is italicized:
Example: The child is a genius.
She became an astronaut.

PATTERN 6: Subject, Linking Verb, and Adjective Complement

Consists of a subject, a linking verb, and a subjective complement.
• A linking verb usually doesn’t show action. It links the subject to a new identity or
description.
• A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb. It identifies the
subject with a noun, or describes it with an adjective.

In the examples below, the linking verb is underlined, and the subjective complement—an
adjective complement, in this case—is italicized:
Examples: The cat appears sick.
He sounds happy.

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
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ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
Many sentence patterns can be re-written in the passive voice.
Note: Only transitive verbs can be written as passive verbs.
Examples: Active: Students write essays.
Passive: Essays are written by students.
Active: I gave the teacher my essay.
Passive: My essay was given to the teacher by me.
Active: The parents considered their son a genius.
Passive: Their son was considered a genius by the parents.

SENTENCE TYPES
There are four sentence types: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.

1. The declarative sentence makes a statement. It is punctuated with a period (.).

Example: The third essay is due Friday.

2. The interrogative sentence asks a question. It is punctuated with a question mark (?).
Example: When is the third essay due?

3. The imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request. It is punctuated with a

period (.), or an exclamation point (!), depending on the intent of the writer.
Examples: Finish the essay tonight.
The essay must be finished tonight!

Note: In many imperative sentences, the subject you is understood.

Example: [You] finish the essay tonight.

4. The exclamatory sentence shows excitement or expresses strong feeling. It is

punctuated with an exclamation point (!).
Example: What a terrific essay you wrote!

Note: Do not overuse the exclamatory sentence. Save the exclamation points for
sentences which show strong emotion.

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
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SENTENCE STRUCTURES
There are four sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-
complex.

SIMPLE
A simple sentence consists of a subject, a verb, a complement, and any modifiers (words or
phrases). A simple sentence equals one independent clause.
Example: The hardworking students studied their algebra for many hours.

COMPOUND
A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences or independent clauses.

There are three ways compound sentences can be created:

1. Join two simple sentences or independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, such
as but, yet, and, or, nor, for, so. When punctuating a compound sentence, a comma
is usually included before the conjunction.
Example: The hardworking students studied their algebra for many
hours. The unconcerned students partied all night.
The hardworking students studied their algebra for
many hours, but the unconcerned students partied all night.

2. Join two simple sentences without a coordinating conjunction. Add a semicolon

between the two main or independent clauses.
Example: The hardworking students studied their algebra for many hours; the
unconcerned students partied all night.

3. Join two simple sentences with a conjunctive adverb, such as therefore, however,
nevertheless, moreover. The conjunctive adverb introduces the second independent
clause. Add a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after.
Example: The hardworking students studied their algebra for many hours;
however, the unconcerned students partied all night.

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
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COMPLEX
A complex sentence consists of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. A
dependent clause is subordinate to or dependent to the idea in the independent clause, so it
can't stand alone. A dependent clause has a subject, a verb, and possibly a complement.

There are three types of dependent clauses: noun, adjective, and adverb.

1. A noun dependent clause can be the subject, object, complement, or appositive of

the main or independent clause (an appositive is a noun or noun phrase that
describes another noun).

Words That Introduce the Noun Dependent Clause

that what whatever when where
whether who whoever whom why
Examples: As an object: You may go where you want.
As a complement: Mary is whom I want.
As a subject: Whoever broke that dish will be punished.
As an appositive: The realization that they were lost hit them.

Note: The conjunction that may not always be expressed.

Example: The teacher said [that] I was wrong.

2. An adjective dependent clause is a modifier, which modifies, limits, or points out a

noun or pronoun in the main clause. The adjective clause usually appears after the
noun or pronoun it modifies, and is introduced by one of the following words:

Words That Introduce the Adjective Dependent Clause

that when where which
whom whose why who

These words are used within the adjective clause as pronouns (which can be a subject,
object, or complement), as adjectives, or as adverbs.
Examples: The person who studies hard will succeed.
We saw John, whose paper received an F.

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
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An essential or restrictive clause does not require that commas enclose it.
Example: The book that I am reading is boring.

A nonessential or nonrestrictive clause does require that commas enclose it.

Example: We saw Jim, whom you thought had moved, after school.

3. An adverb dependent clause is a modifier, which limits, or points out a verb, adverb,
or adjective in the main clause.
• Adverbial clauses can appear anywhere in the main clause.
• Adverbial clauses at the beginning of the sentence or before the main clause
require a comma after them.
• Adverbial clauses after the main clause do not need a comma.

Introduce adverbial clauses with a subordinating conjunction:

Subordinating Conjunctions
Time: when before after since while until as
Example: Mary left before John.

Manner: as as if as though though

Example: He looks as if he is sick.

Place: where wherever

Example: We went wherever we wanted.

Result: that so that

Example: We left early so that we could get home on time.

Cause: because since as

Example: She went home because she was sick.

Compare: than as
Example: Your dress is prettier than mine.

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Sentence Patterns, Types, and
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Condition: if unless provided that on condition that

Example: If I were you I would study harder.

Concession: although though even if

Example: I want to go even if I don't have enough money.

COMPOUND-COMPLEX--A compound-complex sentence consists of one or more dependent

clauses added to a compound sentence or two or more independent clauses.
Example: We stayed at the party until it was very late, but our parents did
not seem to care.

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