University of Mohamed Khider- Biskra - Department of English

Module : Written Expression

Level : 1st year LMD
Lesson n°2 : Sentence patterns
Lecturer: Herzallah
2023-2024

We have already mentioned that a sentence has two main parts: a subject and a predicate. Some
sentences express the writer’s thought by means of a subject and verb only: He worked / she left.
Most sentences, however, have within the complete predicate one or more words to add to the
meaning of the subject and predicate. These elements are called complements, and they function
as direct objects, indirect objects, subject complements, or object complements.
pattern 1 : subject + intransitive verb
Dogs bark.
The baby is sleeping.
The glacier melted.
I can’t sleep.
The thief escaped
An intransitive verb is a verb that cannot have a direct object. we use it to talk about simple
events and actions. (go, arrive, sleep, fall, die, depart, happen, disappear, rain, snow, hesitate,
occur, pause, cough, faint, grow, shiver, sneeze, ...)
→These verbs can be followed by modifiers (adverbs, prepositional phrases, …)
- I slept until noon.
- He died suddenly.
- The man runs along the beach every morning.
→ they cannot be used in the passive.
pattern 2 : subject + linking/stative verb + subject complement
Our neighbour’s child looks lonely (adj) → S.C ( predicate adjective)
S.C
Dogs are social animals. (noun) → S.C (predicate nominative)
He seems ill.
The weather turned windy.
The crowd remains calm during the speech.
The dog is going blind.
The days grew warmer.

Linking Verbs
A linking verb is used to re-identify or to describe its subject. A linking verb is called a
linking verb because it links the subject to a subject complement.
 Linking verbs are (be, become, appear, seem, look, feel, taste, smell, sound, turn, prove,
remain, grow, go, stay, get). The subject complement completes the meaning of the subject
by either describing it (when it is an adj) or by renaming it (when it is a noun)
→ A subject complement can also be a phrase: She was on a diet.
He seemed in a good mood.
→ Many linking verbs can also function as action verbs. Compare:
- He looks angry. - He looks at the man.
- The food tastes delicious. – they taste the food.
- The cake smells good. – He smells the cake.
- I hope we will stay friends when we graduate. – We always stay in a castle when we visit
England.

When these verbs are followed by a noun/ noun phrase/ prepositional phrase and refer to action and
movement , they are action verbs not linking.
pattern 3 : subject + transitive verb + direct object
Dogs need attention (what ?) They play soccer.
D.O
We visited our aunt. (who ?) He met a friend.

Transitive verbs are followed by direct objects. A direct object names the receiver of the
verb’s action. (buy, sell, carry, fix, prepare, make, …..)
→ Here also modifiers (adverbs/ phrases) can be added: He threw the ball quickly.
They bought a house two years ago.
NOTE: they are some verbs which can work as transitive or intransitive verbs (cook, draw,
drink, drive, hurt, paint, study, meet, write, eat, read)
- She reads his note. – She reads a lot.
- I speak English. – I couldn’t speak.
- I met him before. – We met in Rome.

pattern 4 : subject + transitive verb + direct object + object complement

Our neighbours leave their dog alone. (adj) The blanket kept the baby warm.
D.O O.C
Our neighbours named their dog Fifi. (noun) Diane calls me her baby.
The American people elected Mr. Trump president.
Your attitude makes me angry.
I consider him my idol.
We should keep our surroundings clean.
The thief thought himself rather lucky.
Students found the exam difficult.
 Object complements complete the meaning of the direct object by either describing it
(when they are adjectives) or renaming it (when they are nouns)
pattern 5 : subject + transitive verb + indirect object + direct object
They should give the baby more attention. → They should give more attention to the baby.
D.O I.O
They bought her a new car.
They will send you a postcard.
I made myself hot chocolate.
The waiter poured Ann some water.
An indirect object names to whom or for whom the action is done.
The verbs which require both a direct and indirect objects are called ditransitive verbs: order,
pick, save, throw, build, cook, cut, draw, read, write, keep, leave, offer, buy, sell, rent,
borrow, make, teach, tell, …
pattern 6 : There/it + verb (be) + subject
It is nice to meet you. (= To meet you is nice)
S
It is always interesting to find out about your family history.
There is a good reason to rejoice.
There is nothing to say.
There are two shops in the village.
In this pattern, the subject came after the verb. The word “there” or “it” are not the real
subjects ; they are « empty » words that fill the position where you usually find the subject.

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in
continuous tenses (like the present continuous, or the future continuous). These verbs often
describe states that last for some time. Here is a list of some common ones:

Stative (or State) Verb List

like know Belong

love realise fit
hate suppose contain
want mean consist
need understand seem
prefer believe depend
agree remember matter
mind recognise see
own appear look (=seem)
sound taste smell
hear astonish deny
disagree please impress
satisfy promise surprise
doubt think (=have an opinion) feel (=have an opinion)
wish imagine concern
dislike be have
deserve involve include
lack measure (=have length etc) possess
owe weigh (=have weight)

Action Verbs: There are endless action verbs used in the English language.
An action verb can express something that a person, animal or even
object can do. To determine if a word is an action verb, look at the
sentence and ask yourself if the word shows something someone can do or
something someone can be or feel. If it is something they can do, then it is
an action verb (if it is something they can be or feel, it is a non-action, or
stative, verb).
 University of Mohamed Khider- Biskra - Department of English
Module : Written Expression
Level : 1st year LMD
Lesson n°3 :Exercises
Lecturer: Herzallah
20/12/2020
Objectives :

-Testing evaluation to know: how much the students have learned, what level they are at, and
what things need to be considered for the improvement of the students.

- Knowledge of the underlying 'rules' of grammar is provided.

-To develop students insight into the structure of English language.
-To enable the students to assimilate the correct patterns of the language.
Exercise:02- Sentence Patterns
Identify the pattern of the following sentences :

1. She will come. SV - SVO - SVC - SVOC

2. One of the boys / must go a) SVC b) SVO d) SV

3. He gave the book to him a) SVO b) SV DO IO c)SV IO DO

4. The sun / shines a) SO b) SV c) SVC

5. They gave me tea. a) SV b) SV IO DO c) SVO

6. My grandfather / told / me / a story. a) SV b)SV IO DO

7. I / gave / her / a doll a) SV b)SVC c)SV IO DO