Normal sentence pattern in english
Download as PPT, PDF11 likes3,908 views
The document summarizes the normal sentence patterns in English, including the typical order and components. It explains that a typical English sentence contains a subject, verb, complement, and optionally a modifier. It provides definitions and examples for each of these components. The subject is usually the person or thing performing the action, while the verb shows the action. The complement completes the verb and answers "what" or "whom." An optional modifier provides details about time, place, or manner. The document also provides exercises asking the reader to identify these components in sample sentences.
Normal sentence pattern in english
- 1. Normal Sentence Pattern in English Subject Verb Complement Modifier
- 2. subject verb complement modifier John and I ate a pizza last night We studied “present tense” last week
- 3. Subject The subject is the agent of the sentence in the active voice; it is the person or thing that performs or is responsible for the action of the sentence, and it normally precedes the verb. NOTE: Every sentence in English must have a subject. • The subject may be a single noun Coffee is delicious. Milk contains calcium.
- 4. • The subject may be a noun phrase The book is on the table. That new red car is John’s We girls are not going to that movie. George likes boats. • It can act as a pronoun for a noun or can be the subject of an impersonal verb. As the subject of an impersonal verb, the pronoun is not actually used in place of a noun, but is part of an idiomatic expression. It rains quite often here in the summer. It is hard to believe that he is dead.
- 5. • In some sentences, the true subject does not appear in normal position. There was a fire in that building last month. verb (singular) subject (singular) Was there a fire in that building last month? verb (singular) subject (singular) There were many students in the room. verb (plural) subject (plural)
- 6. Verb The verb follows the subject in a declarative sentence; it generally shows the action of the sentence. NOTE: Every sentence must have a verb. • The verb may be a single word John drives too fast. They hate spinach. • The verb may be a verb phrase John is going to Miami tomorrow. (auxiliary-is; main verb-going) Jane has been reading that book. (auxiliaries-has, been; main verb-reading) She will go to Boston next week. (auxiliary-will; main verb-go)
- 7. Complement A complement completes the verb. It is similar to the subject because it is usually a noun or a noun phrase; however, it generally follows the verb when the sentence is in the active voice. NOTE: Every sentence does not require a complement. The complement CANNOT begin with a preposition. A complement answers the question what or whom Examples of complements: • John bought a cake yesterday. (What did John buy yesterday?) • Jill was driving a new car. (What was Jill driving?) • She saw John at the movies last night. (Whom did she see at the movies?)
- 8. Modifier A modifier tells the time, place, or manner of the action. Very often is prepositional phrase. NOTE: A modifier of time usually always come late if more than one modifier is present. • Examples of prepositional phrases: in the morning, at the university, on the table A modifier can also be an adverb or an adverbial phrase; last night, hurriedly, next year, outdoors, yesterday NOTE: Every sentence does not require a modifier. A modifier answers the question when, where, and how.
- 9. • Examples of modifiers: John bought a book at the bookstore. modifier of place (Where did John buy a book?) Jill was swimming in the pool yesterday. modifier of place modifier of time (When was Jill swimming?) He was driving very fast. modifier of manner (How was he driving?) The milk is in the refrigerator. modifier of place (Where is the milk?)
- 10. NOTE: The modifier normally follows the complement, but not always. However, the modifier, especially when it is a prepositional phrase, usually cannot separate the verb and the complement. Incorrect: She drove on the street the car. verb complement Correct: She drove the car on the street. verb complement
- 11. Identify the subject, verb, complement, and modifier in each of the following sentences. Examples: Jill / is buying / a new hat / in the store. Subject verb phrase complement modifier of place Betty / is shopping / downtown. Subject verb phrase modifier of place
- 12. Exercise • George is cooking dinner tonight. • Henry and Marcia have visited the president. • We can eat lunch in this restaurant. • Pat should have bought in this restaurant today. • Trees grow. • It was raining at seven o’clock this morning. • She opened a checking account at the bank last week. • Harry is washing dishes right now. • She opened her book. • Paul, William, and Mary were watching television a few minutes ago.