SPOKEN ENGLISH : Basic English Grammar Patterns
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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