Sentence Patterns Work

Sentence Patterns Work

On a separate sheet of paper, write the following types of sentences.

• Write 4 N-LV-N  sentences (also known as S-LV-PN)  
• Write 4 N-LV-Adj sentences (also known as S-LV-PAdj)
• Write 4 N-V-N sentences (also known as S-V-DO)
• Write 4 N-V-N-N sentences (also known as S-V-IO-DO)

EXTRA CREDIT:

Write compound sentences that follow these patterns:

• N-LV-N, and N-LV-N.
• N-LV-Adj, but N-V-N

Write a complex sentence that follows this pattern:

• Because N-V-N, N-LV-Adj

Sentence Patterns Practice (Mr. Jackson)

SENTENCE PATTERNS PRACTICE

N-LV-N, N-LV-Adj, N-V-N

N-LV-N and N-LV-Adj Practice

In each of the sentences below

Underline the subject and label it “S”

Underline the linking verb twice and label it “LV”

Underline the predicate noun and label it “PN”

Underline the predicate adjective and label it “PAdj”

Note:  A sentence will have either a predicate noun or a predicate adjective, but not both.  Don’t mistake adjectives that modify predicate nouns as predicate adjectives.

1. Mr. Jackson is a librarian at Smith County Library.
2. He is very patient, especially with young children.
3. He is also a source of great stories.
4. The children seem appreciative of his help.
5. This red sweater is the one from the store.
6. It feels soft and cozy.
7. The squirrels in the yard seem tame.
8. The lake looks very calm in the moonlight.
9. The book on sale is A Tale of Two Cities.
10. He will be a member of the band this year.

N-V-N (N-V-DO) and N-V-N-N (N-V-IO-DO) Practice

In each of the sentences below

Underline the subject and label it “S”

Underline the linking verb twice and label it “LV”

Underline the direct object and label it “DO”

Underline the indirect object and label it “IO”

1. Our dog chased a squirrel out of the yard.
2. Janet likes carrot juice with her lunch.
3. Mark Twain published many books in his lifetime.
4. Our family ate dinner at the new restaurant.
5. Aunt Betty baked Uncle George a huge cake last year.
6. I brought five DVDs to my cousin’s house.
7. James Bond drove an Aston Martin.
8. Jacques is delivering newspapers to his neighbors.
9. We saw the Northern Lights in the sky.
10. Peter gave me a baseball, a bat, and a jersey for my birthday.

Six Basic Sentence Patterns

SIX BASIC SENTENCE PATTERNS

There are six basic sentence structures in the English language.

1. Subject-Verb

Examples:

• The boy plays.
• Jack eats.
• Sara sits.

2. Subject-Verb-Direct Object

Examples:

• The girl pets the cat.
• I love apples.
• Bill kicks the ball.

3. Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object

Examples:

• The girl bakes her mother a cake.
• I bought Frank a book.
• Cindy gave me a present.

4. Subject-Linking Verb-Adjective

Examples:

• Lisa is pretty.
• They are nice.
• I am sad.

5. Subject-Linking Verb-Noun

Examples:

• I am the teacher.
• Jon is a carpenter.
• The boy is a student.

6. Subject-Verb-Adverb

Examples:

• Maria laughs loudly.
• The dog jumps high.
• Apples are everywhere.

Expanding Sentences

The examples above are basic sentences. Basic sentences can be expanded, or lengthened, by adding adjectives, adverbs and objects.

1. Subject-Verb

• Jack eats.
  This is the basic subject-verb pattern.
• Jack quickly eats.
  An adverb is added (quickly) to tell how Jack eats.  
   
• Jack quickly eats carrots.
  An object is added (carrots) to tell what Jack eats.
• Jack quickly eats carrots at home.
  Another adverb is added (at home) to tell where Jack eats.
• Jack quickly eats fresh carrots at home.
  An adjective is added (fresh) to tell what kind of carrots Jack eats.

2. Subject-Verb-Direct Object

• Bill kicks the ball.        
  This is a basic subject-verb-object pattern.
• Bill kicks the red ball.
  An adjective is added (red) to tell the color of the ball.
• Bill kicks the red ball hard.
  An adverb is added (hard) to tell how Bill kicks the ball.
• Bill kicks the red ball hard every day.
  Another adverb is added (every day) to tell when Bill kicks the ball.
• 
  

3. Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object

• The girl baked her mother a cake        
  This is a basic subject-verb-object pattern.
• The girl baked her mother a chocolate cake.
  An adjective is added (chocolate) to tell the kind of cake..
• The girl skillfully baked her mother a cake.
  An adverb is added (skillfully) to tell how the girl bakes the cake..
• The girl baked her mother a cake yesterday.
  Another adverb is added (today) to tell when the girl bakes the cake

4. Subject-Linking Verb-Adjective

• She looks pretty.
  This is the basic subject-verb-adjective pattern.
• She looks pretty tonight.
  An adverb is added (tonight) to tell when she looks pretty.
• Lisa looks pretty tonight.
  The subject is identified with a name (Lisa).
• 
  

5. Subject-Linking Verb-Noun

• The boy is a student.
  This is the basic subject-verb-noun sentence pattern.
• Jon is a student. 
  The subject is identified with a name (Jon).
• Jon is a smart student.
  An adjective is added (smart) to tell what kind of student Jon is.
• Jon is a smart student at school.
  An adverb is added (at school) to tell where Jon is a smart student.

6. Subject-Verb-Adverb

• Apples are everywhere.
  This is the basic subject-verb-adverb pattern.

• Green apples are everywhere.
  An adjective is added (green) to describe the apples.

• Ripe, green apples are everywhere. 
  A series of adjectives are added (ripe and green) to describe the apples.

• Children sing happily.
  The subject-verb-adverb pattern can also use action verbs.

• Children sing happily today.
  Additional adverbs may be added to inform when.

• Children in the choir sing happily today.. 
  Prepositional phrases may be added to explain which children.