10 Basic Sentence Patterns in English
10种英语基本句型 10 patrones de oraciones básicas en inglés
Note: Sentence diagramming is one way of learning how to apply these patterns
1. BE patterns [links subject to its complement]
2. Linking verb patterns [links subject to its complement]
3. Intransitive verb pattern [no action] [no object]
4. Transitive verb patterns [action verb] [has object]
Sentence = subject + predicate Noun {Phrase} = Subject Verb {Phrase} = Predicate
BE verb = most frequently occurring type of linking verb [am, is, are, was, were, being, been]
Patterns I - III (Be Patterns)
I. NP be ADV/TP
(subject) (predicating verb) (adverbial of time or place)
Ex: The team is outside (The team) [ is] {outside}
II. NP be ADJ
(subject) (predicating verb) (subject complement) [predicate adjective]
Ex: The team is hard working (The team) [is] {hard working}
III. NP(1) be NP(1)
(subject) (predicating verb) (subject complement) [predicate nominative]
Ex: That team is the Raiders (That team) [is] {the Raiders}
Patterns IV - V (Linking Verb Patterns)
IV. NP linking verb ADJ
(subject) (predicating verb) (subject complement) [predicate adjective]
Ex: The child seems honest (The child) [seems] { honest}
V. NP(1) linking verb NP(1)
(subject) (predicating verb) (subject complement) [predicate nominative]
Ex: The children became foster kids (The children) [became] {foster kids}
Pattern VI (Intransitive Verb Pattern)
VI. NP intransitive verb
(subject) (predicating verb)
Ex: The club members arrived (The club members) [arrived]
Patterns VII - X (Transitive Verb Patterns)
VII. NP(1) transitive verb NP(2)
(subj) (predicating verb) (direct object)
The woman passed the test (The woman) [passed] {the test}
VIII. NP(1) transitive verb NP(2) NP(3)
(subject) (predicating verb) (indirect object) (direct object)
Ex: The players gave the other team the ball (The players) [gave] the other team {the ball}
IX. NP(1) transitive verb NP(2) ADJ
(subject) (predicating verb) (direct object) (object complement)
Ex: The members find the club interesting (The members) [find] {the club} interesting
X. NP(1) transitive verb NP(2) NP(2)
(subject) (predicating verb) (direct object) (object complement)
Ex: She considers her teacher the best (She) [considers] {her teacher} the best
