SPOKEN ENGLISH : Basic English Grammar Patterns

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1. Subject + Verb (S + V)

This is the simplest sentence structure, where a subject performs an action.

  • Subject (S): The doer of the action (noun or pronoun).
  • Verb (V): The action itself.

Usage:

  • Used for simple sentences.
  • The subject is typically a noun or pronoun, and the verb is an action or state of being.
Note: The verb usually changes depending on the tense and the subject. For example, "I run" (present) vs. "She runs" (third-person singular present).

Examples:

  • "He runs."
  • "She sings."

Explanation of Usage:

  • "He" and "She" are the subjects, and "runs" and "sings" are the actions they perform.

2. Subject + Verb + Object (S + V + O)

In this pattern, the subject performs an action, and the object receives the action.

  • Subject (S): Who/what is performing the action.
  • Verb (V): The action being performed.
  • Object (O): What the action is being performed on.

Example Sentences:

  • "She writes a letter."
  • "They eat an apple."

Usage:

  • This pattern is commonly used when the action affects something else (object).

Note: The object usually comes after the verb, and it is a noun or pronoun.

Examples:

  • "She reads a book."
  • "They play football."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first sentence, "She" is the subject, "reads" is the verb, and "a book" is the object that receives the action.
  • In the second sentence, "They" is the subject, "play" is the verb, and "football" is the object.

3. Subject + Verb + Complement (S + V + C)

In this pattern, the complement completes the meaning of the verb. It usually describes the subject or the object.

Explanation:

  • A complement is a word or phrase that completes the meaning of a sentence, usually following linking verbs like "is," "are," "was," "were," etc.
  • Subject (S): Who/what performs the action.
  • Verb (V): A linking verb (is, seems, becomes).
  • Complement (C): Describes the subject (predicate adjective or noun).

Example Sentences:

  • "She is happy." (Complement is an adjective describing "She.")
  • "The sky became dark." (Complement is an adjective describing "The sky.")

Usage:

  • Used with linking verbs (be, seem, become) to give more information about the subject.
  • Complements provide more information about the subject or object.

Common Mistake: Using the wrong verb tense or form. For example, "He seem happy" should be "He seems happy."

Examples:

  • "The sky is blue."
  • "She became a doctor."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "The sky" is the subject, "is" is the verb, and "blue" is the complement describing the subject.
  • In the second example, "She" is the subject, "became" is the verb, and "a doctor" is the complement.

4. Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (S + V + IO + DO)

In this structure, the subject performs an action on the indirect object, and the direct object receives the action.

Explanation:

  • This pattern involves an indirect object (usually a person) receiving the direct object (usually a thing).
  • Indirect Object (IO): The person/thing for whom the action is performed.
  • Direct Object (DO): The thing affected by the action.

Example Sentences:

  • "She gave him a gift." ("Him" is the indirect object, and "a gift" is the direct object.)
  • "I sent her a message."

Usage:

  • Common when someone does something for or to someone else. The indirect object usually comes before the direct object.

Common Mistake: Misplacing the objects. For example, "She gave a gift him" should be "She gave him a gift."

Examples:

  • "I gave her a gift."
  • "He sent his friend a message."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "I" is the subject, "gave" is the verb, "her" is the indirect object, and "a gift" is the direct object.
  • In the second example, "He" is the subject, "sent" is the verb, "his friend" is the indirect object, and "a message" is the direct object.

5. Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (S + V + O + C)

In this structure, the object is described or renamed by the complement.

Explanation:

  • This pattern involves the subject performing an action on an object, with the complement providing more information about the object.
  • Subject (S): The doer of the action.
  • Verb (V): The action.
  • Object (O): The thing receiving the action.
  • Complement (C): Gives more information about the object.

Example Sentences:

  • "They made him captain."
  • "We called her a genius."

Usage:

  • Used when the object is being identified or described further after the action.
  • Used to give additional information about the object after the action is performed.

Examples:

  • "They made him the team captain."
  • "She called the meeting a success."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "They" is the subject, "made" is the verb, "him" is the object, and "the team captain" is the complement that describes the object.
  • In the second example, "She" is the subject, "called" is the verb, "the meeting" is the object, and "a success" is the complement.

6. Subject + Verb + Adverbial (S + V + A)

In this pattern, an adverbial modifies or describes the verb, giving more details about when, where, or how the action happened.

Explanation:

  • A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (e.g., in, on, at, under) and ends with a noun or pronoun.
  • Adverbial (A): Can be an adverb or a prepositional phrase that gives extra information about the verb.

Example Sentences:

  • "She sings beautifully." (Adverb describes the manner of singing.)
  • "They worked in the garden." (Prepositional phrase describes the place of action.)

Usage:

  • Used to give additional details like time, place, or manner of the action.
  • Used to provide additional information, such as where, when, or how something happens.

Examples:

  • "He lives in the city."
  • "She works at the hospital."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "He" is the subject, "lives" is the verb, and "in the city" is the prepositional phrase providing information about where he lives.
  • In the second example, "She" is the subject, "works" is the verb, and "at the hospital" is the prepositional phrase explaining where she works.

7. Subject + Verb + Prepositional Phrase (S + V + PP)

This structure includes a prepositional phrase to provide extra information about the action.


  • Prepositional Phrase (PP): Begins with a preposition and explains more about the verb.

Example Sentences:

  • "She lives in Paris."
  • "He works at the office."

Usage:

  • Used to indicate location, direction, time, or reason.

8. Subject + Verb + Noun Phrase (S + V + NP)

This pattern is used when the verb is followed by a noun phrase.

  • Noun Phrase (NP): A group of words that act as a noun, usually including a noun and its modifiers.

Example Sentences:

  • "She bought a new car."
  • "He owns a beautiful house."

Usage:

  • Used when the action relates directly to a noun phrase.

9. Subject + Verb + Gerund/Infinitive (S + V + Gerund/Infinitive)

Here, the verb is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) or an infinitive (to + verb).

Gerund Examples:

  • "He enjoys swimming."
  • "They stopped talking."

Infinitive Examples:

  • "I want to learn."
  • "She loves to dance."

Usage:

  • Gerunds are used when actions are treated as nouns.
  • Infinitives are used to express purpose or intent.

10. Imperative Sentences (Verb)

In imperative sentences, the subject is often omitted, and the verb is in its base form, giving a command or request.

Example Sentences:

  • "Close the door."
  • "Please sit down."

Usage:

  • Used to give instructions, commands, or advice.

Note: Imperative sentences are direct and often start with the verb.

11. Question Patterns (Verb + Subject + Object)

In questions, the typical word order is inverted, and an auxiliary verb is often used.

Yes/No Questions:

  • "Is she coming?"
  • "Do you like coffee?"

WH-Questions:

  • "What are you doing?"
  • "Where do you live?"

Usage:

  • Yes/No questions expect a simple "yes" or "no" response.
  • WH-questions ask for specific information.

12. There + Verb + Subject

Explanation:

  • This pattern is often used to introduce the existence of something or someone.

Usage:

  • Used when the subject comes after the verb.

Examples:

  • "There is a book on the table."
  • "There are many people at the event."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "There" is a placeholder subject, "is" is the verb, and "a book" is the subject.
  • In the second example, "There" is the placeholder subject, "are" is the verb, and "many people" is the subject.

13. It + Verb + Subject

Explanation:

  • This structure is often used to talk about weather, time, distance, or when the subject is an idea or situation.

Usage:

  • Used when the subject is an idea or a thing, or to talk impersonally about things like the weather.

Examples:

  • "It is raining."
  • "It was a beautiful day."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first sentence, "It" refers to the weather, and "is raining" is the verb describing what is happening.
  • In the second example, "It" refers to a general situation, and "was a beautiful day" describes the situation.

14. Question Pattern (Verb + Subject + Object)

Explanation:

  • Questions in English often invert the subject and verb.

Usage:

  • Used to form questions, especially in the present and past tenses.

Examples:

  • "Do you like pizza?"
  • "Did they go to the park?"

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "Do" (helping verb) starts the question, "you" is the subject, and "like" is the verb.
  • In the second example, "Did" (helping verb) begins the question, "they" is the subject, and "go" is the verb.

15. WH-Questions Pattern (WH-Word + Verb + Subject)

Explanation:

  • WH-questions start with question words like "who," "what," "where," "when," "why," and "how."

Usage:

  • Used to gather specific information.

Examples:

  • "Where is the station?"
  • "What did she say?"

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "Where" is the WH-word, "is" is the verb, and "the station" is the subject.
  • In the second example, "What" is the WH-word, "did" is the helping verb, and "she" is the subject.

16. Subject + Modal Verb + Main Verb

Explanation:

  • Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, should, must, etc.) express possibility, ability, permission, or obligation.

Usage:

  • Used when expressing necessity, possibility, or ability.

Examples:

  • "You can play the guitar."
  • "She must finish her homework."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "You" is the subject, "can" is the modal verb, and "play" is the main verb.
  • In the second example, "She" is the subject, "must" is the modal verb, and "finish" is the main verb.

17. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb

Explanation:

  • Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) help the main verb and are used to form various tenses, aspects, and voices.

Usage:

  • Used to form different tenses or to add emphasis.

Examples:

  • "I am going to the market."
  • "They have completed the task."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "I" is the subject, "am" is the auxiliary verb, and "going" is the main verb.
  • In the second example, "They" is the subject, "have" is the auxiliary verb, and "completed" is the main verb.

18. Imperative Sentences (Verb + Object)

Explanation:

  • Imperative sentences give commands, advice, or requests. The subject is often implied.

Usage:

  • Used to give orders, instructions, or advice.

Examples:

  • "Close the door."
  • "Please be quiet."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "Close" is the verb, and "the door" is the object (subject is implied: You).
  • In the second example, "Be" is the verb, and "quiet" is the complement.

19. Compound Sentence (Subject + Verb + Conjunction + Subject + Verb)

Explanation:

  • A compound sentence is formed by connecting two independent clauses using a conjunction like "and," "but," "or."

Usage:

  • Used to join two related ideas into a single sentence.

Examples:

  • "I went to the store, and I bought some groceries."
  • "She was tired, but she kept working."

Explanation of Usage:

  • In the first example, "I went to the store" and "I bought some groceries" are two independent clauses connected by "and."

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