16 Common Sentence Patterns

We studied subjects and verbs in several chapters, and we also briefly looked at direct objects and indirect objects. We’ll build on that knowledge in this chapter, which is more conceptual in nature.

We’ll look at five simple and common sentence patterns. Using the abbreviations in the key concepts listed above, here are the five patterns:

1.  S  V
2.  S  V   DO
3.  S  V    IO   DO
4.  S  V   PA
5.  S  V   PN

To simplify your conceptual understanding, most example sentences will use the subject dog.

Understanding these sentence patterns can help writers analyze the structure of their work.

PATTERN 1:   S  V

We’ll start with the most basic pattern, which can be very short.

The dog slept.

Additional prepositional phrases and modifiers do not affect the core sentence structure.

After lunch, the contented dog slept in the backyard.

PATTERN 2:   S   V   DO

The most commonly used sentence pattern uses a subject, verb and direct object in that order. Writing coaches often consider this is an efficient way to write sentences.

The dog drank water.

The direct object, which will be a noun or pronoun, shows who or what receives the action of the verb. Once again, note that additional prepositional phrases and modifiers usually do not affect the core sentence pattern.

The thirsty dog sloppily drank fresh water from the bowl.

To find the the direct object in a sentence, you can often frame a question about the subject and verb.

EXAMPLE: The dog drank what? The dog drank water.

PATTERN 3:   S   V   IO    DO

Beyond the direct object receiving the action of the verb, occasionally a sentence will denote who or what receives the direct object. That noun or pronoun is called the indirect object, and it comes between the verb and the direct object.

The dog gave me a kiss.

We can add additional words and phrases without changing the core structure.

Without warning, the happy dog enthusiastically gave me a sloppy, wet kiss.

Note that by changing the indirect object to a prepositional phrase (such as to me in the example below), we can rewrite the sentence as  S   V   DO  (with no indirect object).

The dog gave a kiss to me.
(The dog gave what? The dog gave a kiss.)

PATTERN 4:   S   V   PA

In most cases, an adjective comes before the noun it modifies (as in most cases at the start of this sentence). However, in one common sentence pattern, the adjective describes the subject and comes after the main verb. In these sentences, the verb comes from a narrow set of verbs that can link a subject to something later in the sentence.

We call this type of adjective a predicate adjective. It’s not as complicated as it sounds because the pattern is simple: subject then linking verb then predicate adjective.

The dog was happy.
(The adjective happy describes the subject dog.)

Grammar can be easy.
(The adjective easy describes the subject grammar.)

This pattern also helps us identify sentences in which the participle form of a verb functions as an adjective to describe the subject (such as the adjective annoying being used to describe the dog in the sentence below).

The hyperactive dog can be annoying late at night.

If you need a refresher on common verbs (often forms of the verb be) that link the subject and verb (linking verbs) or help other verbs (helping verbs), review the previous chapter titled Foundations for Subject-Verb Agreement.

PATTERN 5:   S   V   PN

Similarly, in our fifth sentence pattern, a noun or pronoun can follow the verb and rename the subject. As in the fourth pattern described above, the verb comes from a narrow set of being verbs that can link a subject to something later in the sentence.

The noun or pronoun that renames the subject in this type of sentence is called a predicate nominative. The term sounds intimidating, but it’s not overly complicated. In the examples below, the italicized predicate nominative renames the underlined subject.

The dog is a beagle.
(dog = beagle)

Beagles in friendly homes can be affectionate, loyal companions.
(beagles = companions)

The dog’s name will be Fido.
(name = Fido)

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

In chapters 3 and 4, we studied how verbs can sometimes be used as infinitives and gerunds. An infinitive is formed with the word to followed by the base form of a verb.

For this section, we’ll switch from sentences about dogs to sentences about swimming and reading. Here’s a quick review from chapter 4.

To swim in that lake is an adventure.
(The infinitive To swim functions as the subject of the sentence.)

Similar to infinitives, gerunds are verb forms used as nouns in sentences, and they end in -ing. Here’s a review from chapter 3.

Reading is his favorite leisure activity.
(The verb Reading is a gerund functioning as the subject of the sentence.)

Reading comic books is her passion.
(The gerund phrase Reading comic books functions as the subject of the sentence.)

Now let’s briefly look how a gerund or an infinitive can function as a direct object.

The children want to swim in that lake.
(The infinitive to swim functions as the direct object in the sentence. The children want what? The children want to swim.)

The children enjoy reading.
(The gerund reading functions as the direct object in the sentence. The children enjoy what? The children enjoy reading.)

She enjoys reading books.
(The gerund phrase reading books functions as the direct object in the sentence. She enjoys what? She enjoys reading books.)

Finally, here are three examples of gerunds and infinitives as predicate nouns.

His favorite leisure activity is reading.
(The gerund reading is a predicate noun and renames the subject activity.)

As a teenager, her passion was reading comic books.
(The gerund phrase reading comic books is a predicate noun and renames the subject passion.)

His plan is to swim in that lake at midnight.
(The infinitive to swim is a predicate noun renames the subject plan.)

This chapter only skims the surface of how to analyze sentence patterns. If the content interests you, though, consider taking an in-depth course on the history and evolution of English grammar.

PRACTICE FOR PROFICIENCY

Below are additional flip-card questions based on this chapter. These questions may help you study for course assignments.