There are five basic patterns around which most English
sentences are built.* They are as follows:
S-V
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Subject-Verb
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John
sleeps.
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Jill
is eating.
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Jack
will arrive next week.
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S-V-O
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Subject-Verb-Object
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I
like rice.
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She
loves her job.
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He's
eating an orange.
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S-V-Adj
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Subject-Verb-Adjective
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He
is funny.
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The
workers are lazy.
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Karen
seems angry.
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S-V-Adv
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Subject-Verb-Adverb
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Jim
is here.
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Flowers
are everywhere.
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No
one was there.
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S-V-N
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Subject-Verb-Noun
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She
is my mom.
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The
men are doctors.
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Mr.
Jones is the teacher.
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At
the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other
elements can be added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not
essential to its formation.
The
following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern.
She
sleeps.
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Core
sentence
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She
sleeps soundly.
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An
adverb is added to describe how she sleeps.
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She
sleeps on the sofa.
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A
prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps.
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She
sleeps every afternoon.
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A
time expression is added to tell when she sleeps.
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She
is sleeping right now.
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Verb
tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the same.
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Mary
will sleep later.
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Subject
is named and another tense is used.
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The
dogs are sleeping in the garage.
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New
subject may require a different form of the verb.
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Note: Any
action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.
The
following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern.
They
like rice.
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Core
sentence
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The
people like rice.
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Specific
subject
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The
friendly people like rice.
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Subject
modified with an adjective
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The
people in the restaurant like rice.
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Subject
modified with an adjective
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The
people like boiled rice.
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Object
modified with an adjective
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The
people like hot, white rice.
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Object
modified with more than one adjective
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Note: Only
transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The
following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj pattern.
He
is fine.
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Basic
sentence with "be" verb
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He
seems happy.
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Basic
sentence with another linking verb
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Jordan
is tall, dark and handsome.
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Series
of adjectives
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He
appears very comfortable.
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Adverb
or intensifier added
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George
became sick last night.
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Different
tense and linking verb
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Note: Only
linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The
following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv pattern.
The
teacher is here.
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Basic
sentence
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The
teacher is over there.
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Using
an adverb phrase
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Teachers
are everywhere.
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Plural
noun and verb used
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The
teachers are in the lobby.
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Prepositional
phrase functioning as adverb
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Note: Only
linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The
following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern.
The
man is a doctor.
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Basic
sentence
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The
women are doctors.
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Using
plural noun and verb
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My
father is a nice guy.
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Modified
subject and complement
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My
grandparents are senior citizens.
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Modified
plural subject and complement
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Note: Only
linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
Conjunctions and Linking Words
Coordinators
Coordinators connect elements of equal importance.
S
+ V , but S + V
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(and,
but, so, or, nor, for*, yet)
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S + V and V
S and S + V
N and N
Adj. and Adj.
Phrase and Phrase
Can be used in a series: A, B, C, or D
Examples:
He
drinks coffee, but she drinks tea.
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(S
+ V , coordinator S +V)
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Gary
lives in Ohio, and Deana lives in Michigan.
She
loves to dance, so she bought a studio.
You
could buy a car, or you could put the money in the bank.
When
there is a new subject and verb, a comma is used before (not after) the
coordinator.
I
hate to sing but, I love to dance. (Incorrect)
I
hate to sing, but I love to dance. (Correct)
John and George
both play football.
Paul
listens to music and reads books.
John,
Paul, George, and Harry are classmates.
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(two
subjects)
(two
verbs)
(series)
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*For is
also commonly used as a preposition. Yet can sometimes be used
as an adverb.
Subordinators
Subordinators connect elements of unequal
importance. One clause is not as strong as the other.
The
most common subordinators are:
although,
even though,
because,
since*, so that,
when,
while, before*, after*, whenever,
wherever,
anywhere,
if,
unless, whether [or not]
as,
as [adjective] as,
whereas
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(to
show slight contrast)
(to
give reasons)
(to
indicate time relationships)
(to
indicate place)
(to
indicate conditions)
(to
give comparisons)
(to
show major contrast)
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Subordinators have an interesting effect on words in a sentence. A clause (S
+V) without a subordinator can stand alone as a complete statement.
I
went to the store yesterday.
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(Complete
statement)
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However, when a subordinator is added, the statement
seems incomplete.
When I
went to the store yesterday, . . .
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(Well,
what happened?)
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The subordinating clause becomes dependent on something
else to complete its meaning:
When
I went to the store yesterday, I saw an old friend.
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(Idea
is complete)
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Subordinating or "dependent" clauses can occur at the beginning or end of
asentence. When used at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is
necessary after the clause itself.
In English, the subordinator always comes before the
subject and verb in a clause.
Example:
I
went to the grocery store after, I stopped at the bank.
After
I went to the grocery store, I stopped at the bank.
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(Incorrect)
(Correct)
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Subordinators and coordinators should not be used in the same
sentence to introduce clauses. Choose one or the other, but do not use both
together.
*These words can also be used as prepositions.
S + V although S + V
Although S + V , S + V
Example
Although Nina
won the prize, but she was not happy.
Although
Nina won the prize, she was not happy.
Nina
won the prize, but she was not happy.
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(Wrong)
(Correct)
(Also
correct)
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Sentence
Connectors
Sentence Connectors connect paragraphs or show
relationship between very different ideas.
S
+ V . However, S + V
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(however,
therefore, thus, moreover,
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nevertheless,
first*, then*, next*, still*
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S
+ V ; however, S + V
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besides,
consequently, furthermore)
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Example:
She
drinks coffee. He drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee, but he drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee, and he drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee; he drinks tea.
Although
she drinks coffee, he drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee although he drinks tea.
Although
she drinks coffee, but he drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee; however, he drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee. However, he drinks tea.
She
drinks coffee. He, however, drinks tea.
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(Two
separate sentences)
(Coordination)
(Both
ideas are equal)
(Closely
related ideas)
(Subordination)
(One
idea is stronger)
(INCORRECT!)
(Sentence
connector)
(Stronger
break between ideas)
(Variation)
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Remember:
A period (.) provides the strongest break between ideas.
A semicolon (;) is next, and a comma (,) provides the
weakest separation.
Coordinators provide connection between equal ideas.
(and, but, or,
nor, so, for, yet)
Examples:
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Mom
and Dad
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red
or green
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She
stayed, but he left.
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Subordinators provide
connection between unequal ideas.
(because,
although, when, while, if, as, since, whenever, wherever?)
Example:
He didn't go to work because he was sick.
Although John was unhappy, he still smiled.
Sentence Connectors provide
connection between large groups of ideas/sentences. (usually
paragraphs)
(therefore,
otherwise, thus, in conclusion, furthermore?)
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationship among elements of a
sentence. They are followed by noun phrases only and cannot take on a S + V.
Prepositions indicate relationships between words or
ideas. Most prepositions deal with location and are easy to learn.
above
inside
beside
near
up
before*
with
into
between
like
despite
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below
outside
beyond
nearby
down
after*
without
out
(of)
among
as
in
spite of
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over
around
behind
by
toward
during
within
off
except
than
beneath
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under
through
in
front of
next
to
along
(side)
since*
until*
upon
but*
about
underneath
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*These can also be used as conjunctions.
Some prepositions, however, have more than one meaning
and can be very confusing.
S
+ V (prep. phrase)
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(durat
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despite,
in spite of, for*, since*, by
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(Prep.
phrase), S + V
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like,
except, but*, about, to*, from
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between
[A and B], among, with
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(Prep.
phrase) V + S (unusual)
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within,
without, beside, near, next to)
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Subject-Verb Agreement
Third person singular -s
Use
the -s form of a verb in the present
tense when the subject is third person singular.
For all other subjects, use the base form in the
present tense.
Example:
base
form
I
live in Athens.
They
live in Crete.
The
Smiths live in Rome.
-s
form
He
lives in Cyprus.
She
lives in Malta.
Tim
lives in Naples.
Ms.
Conner lives in Milan.
The
verb have
The
-s form of the verb have is has.
We
have a winner.
He
has a trophy.
The
verb be
The -s
form (present tense) for be is is.
For the past tense, it is was.
Was is
also used with first person singular subjects (I) in the past
tense.
(Am is
used in the present tense. Are is used with other
subjects in the present, and were is used in the past.)
She
is here.
He
is not here.
I
am here too.
You
are right.
They
are wrong.
She
was home yesterday.
Ron
wasn't home yesterday.
I
was here yesterday.
We
were here too.
Auxiliary verbs
When
auxiliary verbs are used, only the first verb carries the
third person singular -s.
Jean
does not like spaghetti. (Correct)
Jean
does not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)
Jean
do not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)
Elsa
is eating her dinner. (Correct)
Elsa
is eats her dinner. (Wrong!)
Leo
is going to eat later.
Frank
has eaten lunch already. (Correct)
Frank
have eaten lunch already. (Wrong!)
Modals
Do
not use the -s form of the verb with modals, regardless of the
subject.
Ian
can eat twelve bowls of rice. (Correct)
Ian
can eats twelve bowls of rice. (Wrong!)
Reductive Relative Clause
You may
delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when:
1. they are followed by a prepositional
phrase.
A) The man who is in the house is
my father.
(The man in the house is my
father.)
B) The books that are on the desk are
mine
(The books on the desk are mine.)
2. the main verb in the relative
clause is progressive.
A) The man who is swimming in the lake is
my father.
(The man swimming in the lake is my
father.)
B) The books that are lying on the floor are
mine.
(The books lying on the floor are
mine.)
You may NOT
delete the relative pronoun and the be verb
when :
1. they are
followed by an adjective:
The man who is angry is my father
X The man angry is my father
(However, you may switch the positions of the adjective
and noun.)
The angry man is my father. (okay)
2. they are
followed by a noun:
The man who is a doctor is my father.
X The man a doctor is my father.
The relative
pronoun can be deleted if there is a new subject and
verb following it:
A. This is the house that Jack built.
B. This is the house Jack built.
A. The person whom you see is my father.
B. The person you see is my father.
A. This is the place where I live.
B. This is the place I live.
A. I don't know the reason why she is late.
B. I don't know the reason she is late
(Also : I don't know why she is late. )
A. The woman whom he likes is married.
B. The woman he likes is married.
Notes:
Do not delete a relative pronoun that is followed by a
verb other than be:
The man who likes lasagna is my father.
X The man likes lasagna is my father.
Never delete the relative pronoun whose:
The man whose car broke down went to the
station.
X The man car broke down went to the station.
Reducting Adverbial Clauses
Same time
Time clauses with "while"
and "when" can be reduced by deleting the subject and
"be" verb.
Example:
>
While I was eating dinner, I watched television.
>
While eating dinner, I watched television.
>
When you are in Rome, (you) do as the Romans do.
>
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
If there is no "be" verb,
change the verb in the subordinating clause to its -ing form. Sometimes the
subordinator (when or while) can be deleted as well.
Example:
>
When I opened the door, I saw a strange sight.
>When
opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
>
Opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
Note: If the subjects are different,
you may not reduce the adverbial clause.
>
While I was taking a shower, my sister called from California.
While taking a shower, my sister called from California (Incorrect)
Be careful when reducing time
clauses that come at the end of sentences.
Example:
>
We saw many beautiful birds while we were fishing in the lake.
>
We saw many beautiful birds while fishing in the lake.
We saw many beautiful birds fishing in the lake. (incorrect)
In the last sentence, the meaning is
ambiguous: Are we fishing or are the birds fishing?
Different times
Example:
>
After I finished my homework, I went to bed.
>
After finishing my homework, I went to bed.
>
After I had finished my homework, I went to bed.
>
After having finished my homework, I went to bed.
>
Having finished my homework, I went to bed.
>
Before he left the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
Before
leaving the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
Other clauses
Sometimes clauses with because can
be reduced.
Example:
>
Because he was a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
>
Being a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
>
As a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
|
Practical Phrase
In Time
Clauses:
Example:
While
I was coming to class this morning, I witnessed an accident.
can
be:
While
coming to class this morning, I witnessed an accident.
Coming
to class this morning, I witnessed an accident.
When
she opened the box, Jocelyn gasped at the sight of the diamond ring.
can
be:
When
opening the box, Jocelyn gasped at the sight of the diamond
ring.
Opening
the box, Jocelyn gasped at
the sight of the diamond ring.
Before
he left the house, Mr. Russo remembered to turn off the oven.
can
be:
Before
leaving the house, Mr. Russo
remembered to turn off the oven.
Important
Note:
*Make
sure the subject of the main clause and the subject of the participial phrase
are the same.
> While taking a shower, my sister called from
California. (INCORRECT)
While I was taking a shower, my
sister called from California.
While taking a shower, I received a
call from my sister in California.
In
Absolutes:
The
vase was knocked over by the cat. It lay in a hundred pieces on the floor.
can
be:
Knocked
over by the cat, the vase lay in a
hundred pieces on the floor.
The
mouse snatched up the larger pieces, and it left the crumbs for the
cockroaches.
can
be:
The
mouse snatched up the larger pieces, leaving the crumbs for the
cockroaches.
The
little boy was lost and afraid. He called for his mother.
can
be:
The
little boy, lost and afraid, called for his mother.
Lost
and afraid, the little boy called for his mother.
Introductory
Phrase
Introductory phrases and clauses
Example:
John invited Mary to a movie. Mary had seen the movie
twice already. Mary was reluctant to accept John's invitation.
Because she had seen the movie twice already, Mary was
reluctant to accept John's invitation (to the movie).
it can be:
Having seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant
to accept John's invitation.
Intermediary phrases and clauses
Example:
Senator James humbly submitted his resignation. The press
hounded Senator James for months on charges of tax evasion.
it can be:
> Senator James, whom the press hounded for months on
charges of tax evasion, humbly submitted his
resignation.
> Senator James, who was hounded by the press for
months on charges of tax evasion, humbly submitted his
resignation.
> Senator James, hounded by the press for months on
charges of tax evasion, humbly submitted his resignation.
Other
Example:
Mr. Smith swept the floor. Mr. Smith dusted the shelves.
Mr. Smith turned out the lights. Then he left the building.
it can be:
> Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and
turned out the lights before he left the building.
> Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and
turned out the lights before leaving the building.
> Before leaving the building, Mr. Smith swept the floor,
dusted the shelves, and turned out the lights.
> After sweeping the floor, dusting the shelves, and
turning out the lights, Mr. Smith left the building.
> Having swept the floor, dusted the shelves and
turned out the lights, Mr. Smith left the building.
sumber : http://rydhasnote.blogspot.com/2012/09/toefl-grammar-part-1-basic-sentence.html
