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Sentence Patterns for Journalists

Students from 45 colleges and universities agreed to form a national organization to fight student apathy. Their immediate objective is to increase student turnout in elections. The group told delegates to take this message home. Most delegates appeared enthusiastic about increasing student activism. Stewart Haines told the 150 delegates that their task was just beginning.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
216 views6 pages

Sentence Patterns for Journalists

Students from 45 colleges and universities agreed to form a national organization to fight student apathy. Their immediate objective is to increase student turnout in elections. The group told delegates to take this message home. Most delegates appeared enthusiastic about increasing student activism. Stewart Haines told the 150 delegates that their task was just beginning.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Sentence Part Patterns

Sentence parts (subject, verbs, objects, etc.) come arranged in different ways. Here are four
sentence patterns that journalists rely on.
1. S/V The simplest sentence pattern is subject + verb.
o News spreads.
o The accident victim sobbed.
(In this case, the verb is intransitive: it does not take an object).
2. S/V/SC If the sentence has a linking verb (the verb be in some form, such as
is, were, am, had been or one of the following verbs appear, become,
feel, grow, look, make, seem, smell, and sound) and a subject complement (a
word or words that give more information about the subject), the pattern is
subject + verb + subject complement.
o The driver appeared intoxicated.
o They are professionals.
3. S/V/O If the sentence has a transitive verb (carries action from a subject to an
object) and a direct object (receives the action of the verb), the sentence
pattern is subject + verb + direct object.
o Professor Figuera threw the textbook.
o Domestic violence often can lead to murder.
Note: S/V/O is a major tool for the
journalist. This pattern produces clear,
direct writing.
4.
5. S / V / IO / DO If the sentence has a verb followed by an indirect object
(names the receiver of the direct object) and a direct object (receives the action
of the verb, the pattern is subject + verb + indirect object + direct object.
o The editor-in-chief gave the assignment to the newest reporter.
o Local newspapers inform the public about their communities.
Note: For more information on sentence
parts, see subsequent sections of
Grammar.

Group Forms to Ignite College Student Activism


Identify the sentence patterns in the following sentences.
(a) S/V-subject-verb
(b) S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
(c) S/V/O-subject-verb-object
(d) S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object.
1

Students from 45 colleges and universities today agreed to form a national


organization devoted to fighting student apathy.
S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

The students said their immediate objective is to increase student turnout in elections.
S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

Students don't vote.


S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

That was the message the group told delegates to take home.
S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

Most of the delegates to the weekend conference appeared enthusiastic about the
prospect of increasing student activism.
S/V-subject-verb
A)

S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

Stewart Haines of Mallory College told the 150 delegates, "Your task is just
beginning."
S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

Studies have shown that college students lack civic concerns.


S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

The result, said Haines, is the growing power of special-interest groups and
lobbyists.
S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

The delegates also want to stimulate interest in public-service careers.


S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

1
0

Few students seem interested in teaching or government service.

S/V-subject-verb
A)
S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
B)
S/V/O-subject-verb-object
C)

S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object


D)

Common questions

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The S/V/SC (Subject + Verb + Subject Complement) pattern differs from the S/V/O (Subject + Verb + Direct Object) pattern in that it includes a subject complement that provides more information about the subject, usually linked by a linking verb, whereas the S/V/O pattern includes a direct object that receives the action of the verb .

Sentence patterns contribute to the clarity and directness of journalistic writing by providing a structured and predictable format that helps convey information succinctly. The S/V/O pattern is particularly valued in journalism for its straightforwardness, as it effectively delivers the main point without unnecessary complexity, thereby making the information accessible to the audience .

The S/V/IO/DO pattern enhances the information conveyed in a sentence by including both an indirect object, which indicates the recipient of the action, and a direct object, which names what is being transferred. This allows for more detailed information regarding relationships between subjects and how actions affect multiple elements .

Varying sentence patterns can improve the reading experience in journalism by enhancing the rhythm and flow of the text, preventing monotony and engaging readers more effectively. Diverse patterns allow journalists to emphasize different aspects of the story, maintain reader interest, and convey information with varying degrees of complexity and nuance .

Understanding sentence patterns is critical for journalists because it allows them to construct their writing in clear, concise, and effective ways that engage the audience. Mastery of these patterns enables journalists to vary sentence structure to maintain reader interest and cohesively present complex information .

The choice of verb in a sentence pattern crucially affects the overall meaning and clarity of a sentence by determining the type of action or state of being described. A transitive verb carries action to a direct object, making the sentence more dynamic, while a linking verb provides connection to a subject complement, which can make the description more static but insightful .

A journalist might prefer to use a S/V/IO/DO pattern over a S/V/O pattern when the sentence involves an action directed at a specific receiver, providing clarity on who benefits or is affected by the action, which can add depth and context to the information being reported .

A subject complement is a word or phrase that provides additional information about the subject, often following a linking verb such as 'is' or 'appears.' It is used in the S/V/SC sentence pattern .

A journalist should use the S/V/SC (Subject + Verb + Subject Complement) pattern to emphasize a subject's transformation, as it involves a linking verb and a complement that provides more information about the subject, highlighting changes or states of being .

The four basic sentence patterns commonly used by journalists are: Subject + Verb (S/V), Subject + Verb + Subject Complement (S/V/SC), Subject + Verb + Direct Object (S/V/O), and Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (S/V/IO/DO).

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