5 Basic Sentence
Pattern
5 BASIC SENTENCE PATTERN
Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (S – LV – C)
Subject + Intransitive Verb (S – IV)
Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object (S – TV – DO)
Subject + Transitive Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
(S – TV – IO – DO)
Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object + Object
Complement (S – TV – DO – OC)
SUBJECT + LINKING VERB + COMPLEMENT
(S – LV – C)
Verbs that link the subject to an adjective or another noun are known as linking
verbs. The linking verbs be, am, are, is, was, were, and seem are some examples.
In addition to linking verbs, sense verbs can also be used to create this kind of
sentence structure. One of the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste
—is described by a sense verb.
In contrast, a subjective complement is a word or collection of phrases that
frequently comes after a connecting or sense verb. Adjectives, pronouns, or
nouns can all serve as subjective complements.
She looks happy The food tastes bad.
S: She S: The food
EXAMPLES: LV: looks LV: tastes
C: happy C: bad
SUBJECT + INTRANSITIVE VERB
(S - IV)
This pattern does not require further information
because it employs verbs in their base form. This
indicates that the verb's action has already finished
the sentence's thought. In terms of grammar,
intransitive verbs don't require a direct object.
EXAMPLES:
1. Peter sneezed.
2. Evil exists.
SUBJECT + TRANSITIVE VERB + DIRECT OBJECT
(S – TV – DO)
Here, we use transitive verbs, which means that we need a direct object.
The trick here is to make sure our verb answers the question “what?”
Moreover, this pattern uses a verb that is in the =s form, most especially
the stative verbs. The S-TV-DO pattern, unlike the S-IV pattern, needs
supporting information, especially the object pointed about in the
sentence (noun).
They are baking She teaches English.
EXAMPLES: cookies and cakes. S: She
S: they TV: teaches
TV: are baking DO: English
DO: cookies and cakes
SUBJECT + TRANSITIVE VERB + INDIRECT
OBJECT + DIRECT OBJECT (S – TV – IO – DO)
Includes a subject, a transitive verb, an indirect object, and a direct
object.
A direct object refers to the person or thing affected by the action of
the verb while an indirect object usually refers to the person who
benefits from the action of the verb.
Mary lent Josh money. Ana taught her the answer.
EXAMPLES: S: Mary S: Ana
TV: lent TV: taught
IO: Josh IO: her
DO: money DO: the answer
SUBJECT + TRANSITIVE VERB + INDIRECT
OBJECT + DIRECT OBJECT (S – TV – IO – DO)
NOTE: There are some phrases where the direct objects occur
before the indirect objects. And while some grammarians think
that the pattern is correct, others believe that it is appropriate
in English. The pattern then changes to S-TV-DO-IO from S-
TV-IO-DO.
EXAMPLES: He gave him the money. (S–TV–IO-DO)
He gave the money to him. (S–TV–DO-IO)
SUBJECT + TRANSITIVE VERB + DIRECT
OBJECT + OBJECT COMPLEMENT (S – TV – DO – OC)
Objective complements describe a direct object, as opposed to
subjective complements. In this sentence structure, the direct
object being described by the subject with the verb is referred to as
the object complement. In this structure, the OC is typically a noun,
adjective, or adverb.
She called the boy attractive. They painted the house blue.
EXAMPLES: S: She S: They
TV: called TV: painted
DO: the boy IO: the house
OC: attractive DO: blue
Thank you for
listening!