UNIVERSIDAD METROPOLITANA VICERRECTORÍA ASOCIADA DE DESARROLLO Y RETENCIÓN
Programa de Tutorías
Basic Sentence Structure
Definitions: • A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought it includes a subject and a predicate: – The subject is almost always a noun (person, place, or thing) that the sentence is about. The subject usually comes at the beginning of the sentence. It includes the simple subject (always a noun or pronoun).
– The predicate expresses the action of the subject. It includes the predicate and any modifiers. It usually comes after the subject and describes what the subject is doing.
Definitions: Continued • Also, there can be different types of verbs inside the predicate. These verbs can be: – The linking verb does not express action, but shows a state of being and connects the subject with the main verb and/or complement. For example, María is dancing. The verb “is” is the linking verb, because “dancing” performs the action of the subject. – The action verb describes what the subject is actually doing; for example: talk, jump, swim, dance.
List of Verbs Linking verbs can be: 1. Be 2. Look 3. Sound 4. Taste 5. Appear 6. Become 7. Stay 8. Grow
Action verbs can be: 1. Swim 2. Whisper 3. Eat 4. Search 5. Leap 6. Dance 7. Sleep 8. Decide
ď śThese are examples of linking & action verbs; but there are more.
Subject & Object Complement • The subject complement is the noun or adjective that follows a linking verb. – Examples: Edgar Allan Poe was a writer. • The noun “writer” renames Edgar Allan Poe; which means that “writer” is the subject complement.
• The object complement modifies a direct object, renames it or tells what the direct object has become. It succeeds an object or object pronoun. – Example: We elected him as president. • The “president” functions as the object complement because it follows the object pronoun “him”.
Types of sentences • In Affirmative sentences, the pattern is as follows: – Subject + Verb + Complement. • Example: Veronica is an outstanding student. • In Negative sentences, the pattern is as follows: – Subject + Verb + Negative + Complement. • Example: Veronica is not an outstanding student.
• In Interrogative sentences, the pattern is as follows: – Verb + Subject + Complement ? • Example: Is Veronica an outstanding student?
Basic Sentence Structure ď ą There are five basic patterns to build a sentence. These are the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Subject + Verb Subject + Verb + Object Subject + Verb + Adjective Subject + Verb + Adverb Subject + Verb + Noun
Pattern 1: Subject + Verb
ď ą The
Subject
Verb
Amy
sleeps.
Michelle
is dancing.
Andrew
arrives tonight.
pattern of this sentence is a very simple one. The subject is followed by an action verb or a linking verb. A linking verb does not express action, but rather connect the subject with the main verb.
Pattern 2: Subject + Verb + Object
ď ą Use
Subject
Verb
Object
She
eats
apples.
Veronica
loves
him.
She
hugs
the child.
only transitive verb with this type of sentence. This shows that the object receives the action from the subject.
Pattern 3: Subject + Verb + Adjective
ď ą Only
Subject
Verb
Object
Adrianna
is
beautiful.
He
seems
nice.
They
are
smart.
use Linking Verbs to work with the Subject + Verb + Adjective pattern.
Pattern 4: Subject + Verb + Adverb
ď ą It
Subject
Verb
Adverb
They
live
happily.
The woman
sneezed
loudly.
My grandparents
are
here.
is permitted to use adverb (modifies the verb) or a prepositional phrase in this sentence pattern.
Pattern 5: Subject + Verb + Noun
ď ą Only
Subject
Verb
Noun
She
is
my sister.
The guys
are
athletes.
Jacqueline
is
my French teacher.
Linking Verbs are used in this pattern. In the complement of the sentence, there will be a noun or a pronoun.
References • Educational Testing Service. (n.d.). Basic Sentence Structure. Retrieved from ESLgold: http://eslgold.com/grammar/basic_sentence/ • LoveToKnow Corporation. (n.d.). Transitive Verbs. Retrieved from Yourdictionary: http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar/tra nsitive-verbs.html
Revised by: • Prof. María Isaac – English Coordinator • Cristabel R. Ocasio – English Tutor
November 2010