Writing Center

Basic Sentence Patterns

Subject + intransitive verb Elizabeth swims. Dolphins leap. John hated lima beans. Books convey ideas. !he sea is beauti"ul. #ou seem worried.

Subject + transitive verb + direct object

Subject: + linkin verb + subject complement

Subject + transitive verb + indirect object + direct object !he writer sold his publisher a three$part story. !he pitcher threw the catcher a curve ball. Subject + transitive verb + direct object + object complement Samantha called her sister a baby. !he kin made %awain a knight. &erb + subject + verb' ()uestions* +an Sherry play with us, -ill this train leave on time, &erb + .other/ (commands* 0eave this room immediately. %ive your e1ams to the proctor. Subject .workin as object/ + transitive verb (passive voice* !he )ueen was laid to rest. Books were read to the children. Dinner is served at ei ht.

EXAMPLES OF SENTENCE PATTERN

2bbreviations "or important components in a sentence. Subject .S/ &erb .&/ 3bject .3/ +omplement .+/ 2dverbial .2/ Direct 3bject .D3/ 4ndirect 3bject .43/ !here are basically "ive sentence patterns in En lish %rammar. !hey are e. . SV Subject + Verb SVO Subject + Verb + Object SVIODO Subject + Verb + Indirect 3bject + Direct 3bject SVC Subject + Verb + Complement SVOC Subject + Verb + Object + Complement

Note : 2djunct or 2dverbial could be added to all these "ive patterns. e. . Subject Verb Object Examples !SVO" S#V#O 4 5 "inished 5 the work 4 5 like 5 puppies David 5 scolded 5 the boy -e 5 received 5 the parcel She 5 sin s 5 a son !hey 5 did 5 a lot o" work 6e 5 resembles 5 her "ather 7any students 5 witnessed 5 the play !he police 5 arrested 5 the thie" 4 5 want 5 one o" these books 4 5 love 5 En land 8eter 5 secured 5 admission 2 huntsman 5 pursued 5 a wild animal 7any critics 5 criticised 5 the play

7y mother 5 is teachin 5 9rench She 5 is 5 intelli ent Subject Verb A$%erb&al Examples !SVA" S#V#A 6e 5 came 5 to the party !hey 5 came 5 suddenly 4t 5 is oin 5 away !he train 5 arrived 5 late !hey 5 will come 5 later 4t 5 rained 5 last ni ht She 5 worked 5 in a second$hand bookshop !hey 5 went 5 to the market 6e 5 reads 5 slowly !he noise 5 "eded 5 away

Subject Verb Compleme't Examples !SVC" S#V#C !hey 5 are 5 players 6er "ather 5 is 5 a doctor 4 5 am 5 an 4ndian !he class 5 became 5 noisy 6er eyes 5 are 5 beauti"ul 7other !eresa 5 is 5 4ndia:s i"t to the world 3ur headmaster sideline 5 was 5 a lendin library !he leaves 5 turn 5 yellow 6er dreams 5 have come 5 true !hey 5 worked 5 hard !he tea 5 is ettin 5 cold 4t 5 was 5 a very pleasant talk A$%erb&al Subject Verb Examples !ASV" A#S#V Soon 5 we 5 wake up ;icely 5 he 5 replied "ondly 5 she 5 asked #esterday 5 4 5 came !omorrow 5 she 5 leaves

Subject Verb Object Compleme't Examples !SVOC" S#V#O#C !hey 5 made 5 him 5 captain !hey 5 named 5 him 5 <obert !hey 5 elected 5 him 5 president !hey 5 elected 5 him 5 speaker !hey 5 made 5 him 5 the 7ayor !hey 5 made 5 David 5 +hairman o" the <otary club !he news 5 made 5 his name 5 popular She 5 made 5 him 5 happy She 5 learnt 5 music 5 last year She 5 ot 5 her shoes 5 wet She 5 reco nised 5 him 5 as a enius 6e 5 panted 5 the wall 5 white En land 5 declared 5 me 5 a jew 6e 5 made 5 his son 5 a doctor Subject Verb I'$&rect Object D&rect Object Examples !SVIODO" S#V#IO#DO -e 5 whish 5 you 5 6appy new year !he principal 5 ave 5 him 5 the medal 6e 5 ave 5 her 5 a watch She 5 sold 5 him 5 her house 8aul 5 ave 5 his wi"e 5 a i"t !he 6eadmaster 5 showed 5 her 5 the result 6e 5 sent 5 us 5 some "orei n stamps !he doctor 5 ave 5 her 5 medicine Sarah 5 sent 5 8aul 5 a i"t She 5 o""ered 5 me 5 a "irm hand shake !hey 5 sold 5 him 5 pictures Subject Verb Object Compleme't A$%erb&al Examples !SVOCA" S#V#O#C#A She 5 made 5 her views 5 clear 5 at the outset !he company 5 appointed 5 him 5 clerck 5 last week !hey 5 named 5 their baby 5 Sarah 5 in the church !hey 5 took 5 the child= 5 unconscious 5 to the hospital She 5 made 5 his intentions 5 clear 5 now She 5 had made 5 his li"e 5 a success 5 lon back 4 5 lost 5 my purse 5 with money 5 in the bus

!he overnor 5 has sworn 5 him 5 chie" minister 5 yesterday Subject Verb Object A$%erb&al Examples !SVOA" S#V#O#A !he boy 5 kicks 5 the ball 5 with "orce She 5 made 5 a new dress 5 yesterday !he kidnapper 5 locked 5 the child 5 in a lonely house 6e 5 threw 5 the chair 5 out She 5 invited 5 the uests 5 to et in !hey 5 played 5 the match 5 in broad dayli ht !he thieves 5 broke open 5 the lockers 5 in the bank 4 5 shall meet 5 you 5 at the railway station #ou 5 will understand 5 the truth 5 one day She 5 lost 5 her "ather 5 last week She 5 shot 5 the ti er 5 at once #ou 5 will understand 5 the truth 5 one day 6e 5 wrote 5 a letter 5 "rom 8aris !hey 5 want 5 money 5 immediately 6e 5 ot 5 his shoes 5 wet !hey 5 had 5 their lunch 5 in the late hours 6e 5 "elt 5 a hand 5 on his shoulder Subject Verb Object A$%erb&al A$%erb&al Examples !SVOAA" S#V#O#A#A 4 5 met 5 Sarah 5 at the theatre 5 yesterday 6e 5 practised 5 pistol shootin 5 in the "irin ran e 5 in 0ondon Everyone 5 relished 5 the dinner 5 in the hotel 5 yesterday She 5 enjoyed 5 the music recital immensly 5 yesterday !hey 5 pushed 5 the bus 5 "rom behind 5 to make it move 4 5 will close 5 the shop 5 early 5 today !he rider 5 brou ht 5 the news 5 typed 5 at ni ht 6e 5 le"t 5 the book 5 on the table 5 at once Subject Verb Compleme't A$%erb&al Examples !SVCA" S#V#C#A !he child 5 "ell 5 asleep 5 soon #ou 5 seem 5 tried 5 to day 4t 5 is 5 dark 5 everywhere She 5 became 5 wise 5 therea"ter !hey 5 reached 5 home 5 late

!he train 5 le"t 5 the station 5 on time She 5 ot 5 well 5 soon 6e 5 became 5 popular 5 at once 4 5 am 5 a pro rammer 5 in this company She 5 acts 5 well 5 at all times 7y "ather 5 is 5 an en ineer 5 in 4ndia 6e 5 ot 5 well 5 slowly 4 5 am 5 the principal 5 here Dr.David 5 is 5 "amous 5 in his locality David 5 is 5 a doctor 5 at 8aris She 5 was made 5 the 7ayor 5 last week 7r.3bama 5 was elected 5 the 8resident 5 last month A$%erb&al Subject Verb Object Examples !ASVO" A#S#V#O Everyday 5 she 5 was 5 late 4n broad dayli ht= 5 she 5 "ell 5 unconscious 3"ten 5 2kbar 5 ot 5 mad !his year 5 she 5 is 5 the captain Durin day time 5 he 5 is 5 an honest man A$%erb&al Subject Verb I'$&rect Object D&rect Object Examples !ASVIODO" A#S#V#IO#DO 0ast ni ht 5 She 5 ave 5 him 5 "ood 0ast week 5 he 5 ave 5 his son 5 new shirts Every day 5 she 5 teaches 5 them 5 science Everywhere 5 people 5 ave 5 the 8resident 5 a welcome Durin lunch 5 4 5 served 5 him 5 ice$cream A$%erb&al Subject Verb Object Compleme't A$%erb&al Examples !ASVOCA" A#S#V#O#C#A 4n the end= 5 the jud e 5 declared 5 the culprit 5 innocent= 5 a"ter the trial #esterday 5 the man 5 murdered 5 a woman 5 in ra s= 5 mercilessly 4n ancient times 5 people 5 shot 5 deer 5 dead 5 in the "orest 0ast month 5 they 5 christened 5 the child= 5 John 5 in the +hruch ;e1t Sunday 5 we 5 will paint 5 the car 5 red 5 in the meetin Every day 5 she 5 noticed 5 the poor= 5 hal" dead 5 in the street corners A$%erb&al A$%erb&al Subject Verb Compleme't Examples !AASVC"

A#A#S#V#C 4n the prayer hall= 5 durin whorship 5 they 5 are 5 silent Every day= 5 in the hostel= 5 she 5 is 5 asleep ;e1t month= 5 in Bombay= 5 they 5 have 5 a meetin Every week= 5 in her arden 5 she 5 is 5 at work 0ast week= 5 in 8aris= 5 she 5 worked 5 as a pro"essor Verb Object Examples !VO" V#O 8erdon 5 me. +all 5 him. !ry 5 it.