Sentence Patterns

Topic 9                    Sentence Patterns

Subject and Predicate

A simple sentence is made up of subject and predicate.

          Sentence = subject and predicate

The subject   --  usually stands first

Predicate       --  constituents after the subject

The subject                      Predicate

=a noun phrase                =a verb phrase

A compound subject / coordinated subject may have 2 / more noun phrases.

[Ali and Mary] are obedient and well-disciplined.

The types of verbs used decide the sentence.

The subject:  (stands first)

          (1)  a noun

          (2)  a noun phrase

(3)  a noun clause

(4)  to-infinitive

(5)  F2

(6)  P1

          (7)  P4

1.  [Children] are innocent.                   [a noun]

2.  [That lady] is very nosey.                 [a noun phrase]

3.  [Whatever you say] won’t help solve the problem.           [a noun clause]

4.  [To nurture children] needs great skill.        [to-infinitive]

5.  [Swimming] is a good form of exercise.    [F2]

6.  [He] enjoys swimming very much.         [P1]

7.  His badminton racket is good.  [Mine]  is as good.  [P4]

The subject:           (not stands first)

1.  Here comes [Mary].

2.  There goes  [Ali].

3.  On the table is [an old clock].

In 4-Q patterns  --  Gear 2 / 3

Parse the following sentences into Subject and Predicate

7  Basic Sentence patterns

1.  S V

2.  S V Od

3.  S V Cs

4.  S V A

5.  S V Oi Od

6.  S V Od Co

7.  S V Od A

Analyse them in terms of form and function.

1.  S V 

        [Subject]   intransitive verb

        [The girls] are dancing.

        Form:                NP    Vgp

        Function:   a subject and a verb

2.  S V Od     

        [John] has (a pair of brand new sneakers).

        -----  mono-transitive verb  (a single object = Direct Object)

       

        Form:                NP    Vgp   NP

        Function:   a subject, a transitive verb and a direct object

3.  S V Cs   

        V = intensive verbs 

-----  associate with an attribute with the subject

        -----  subject complement ---  a noun phrase

                                         ---  a adjectival phrase      

        a)  Verb-to-be  

        b)  Linking verbs

       

1.  Joan is co-operative today.

2.  Mr. Rahman looks so cheerful today.

3.  [Tom’s father] is an accountant.

        Form:                NP    Vgp   Adj/ Np

        Function:   a subject, intensive verb and a subject complement

4.  S V A            (3.  S V Cs)

        V = Intensive verb

        A = Obligatory adverb 

      -----  prepositional phrase  --- Adverb of Manners / place / Time

        Form:        a noun phrase, a verb group phrase and a prepositional phrase

        Function:   a subject, a verb and an adverbial

        -----  some intransitive verb (1.  S V)

                -----  require adverbial to be grammatically complete

       

1.  He put here just now.   

2.  Shelley rushed into the house just now.

3.  A lot of rainwater goes into the drain.

4.  The man left in a hurry.

        -----  in the form of adverb phrase

1.  Today is Friday.

2.  Peter was here a few days ago.

5.  S V Oi Od            (2.  S V Od)

        -----  Di-transitive verb (Indirect Object (Oi)) (Direct Object (Od))

        -----  buy/find/ give/ have/make

        Form:                a noun phrase, a verb group phrase and another 2 noun phrases

        Function:   a subject, a di-transitive verb, an indirect Object and a direct object

1.  [I] gave (her) (a book) just now.    

2.  [Nora] bought (a doll) for (her sister) on her birthday.

3.  Hassan made his mother a cake on Mother’s day.

6.  S V Od Co                            (3.  S V Cs)

        -----  complex transitive verb group

            -----  call/ consider/ elect / find / keep

complex transitive verb (a noun phrase) (an adjectival phrase)/ (another noun phrase)

        Form:          a Noun Phrase, a Verb Group phrase, an Adjectival phrase / a Noun

                      Phrase

Function:   a subject, a complex transitive verb, a direct object and an object 

                   complement

1.  [Sheila] has nicknamed (Peter) (Pepe).

2.  [We] found (Tina) very friendly.

3.  [Singing] makes (her) happy.

7.  S V Od  A             

        -----  complex transitive verb group

        -----  deposit / leave / place / put / refer / show / stand / take / treat /

Form:        a noun phrase, a verb group phrase, a prepositional phrase / an adverb phrase

Function: a subject, a complex transitive verb group, a direct object and an adverbial

        -----  obligatory

1.  Please set (the bicycle) upright.

2.  Nora showed (Nina)( her new digital camera).

3.  I always put my purse in my cloth bag.

Obligatory / Optional adverbials

1.  Leena was  walking hurriedly yesterday.    (                          )

2.  Leena was in a hurry yesterday.              (                              )

3.  Rita does her work leisurely.                   (                              )

4.  Rital is at leisure now.                             (                              )

Obligatory adverbials

  4.  S V A   ---> She is in the pink of her health.

  7.  S V Od A  --->  Helen referred Ulrich to the manager.

Optional adverbials

----- in initial, medial / final position

         More than one of them can occur in a single sentence

         Provide additional information to the sentence

-----> manner, place, time, extent and attitude

1.  Shina travelled to Australia a few weeks ago.   

2.  George will try his best from now onwards.

3.  Vivian brings her laptop to school sometimes.

Adverbials

Usually take the form

        -----  noun phrase

-----  adverbial phrases

        -----  prepositional phrases