Sentence Patterns
Term 1:
Writing a film review:
Pattern 1: Talking about the director and actors
Subject (S) + Verb to be + Past Participle (PP) + by + Object (O)
The film (S) is directed (PP) by Dan Scanlon (O).
Pattern 2: Describing who you would recommend the film to
Subject (S) + would/wouldn’t + Verb (V) + Object (O) + to + Noun (N)
I (S) would recommend (V) the film (O) to teenagers (N).
Writing a proposal:
Pattern 3: Describing a charity or organization
Subject (S) + Verb (V) + Noun (N) + that + Verb (V) + Object(O)
This (S) is a charity that helps (V) ethnic minorities (O).
Pattern 4: Talking about plans and expected outcomes
Subject (S) + plan to/expect to + Verb (V) + Object(O)
We (S) plan to organise (V) the event (O) in the playground.
One-sided argumentative essay:
Pattern 5: Introducing an argument
Adverb (ADV), + Subject (S) + Verb (V) + Object(O)
Firstly (ADV), technology (S) helps (V) people (O) live longer.
Adverb (ADV), + Subject (S) + Verb (V) + Adjective (Adj)
Secondly (ADV) technology (S) is (V) useful (ADJ) in tests.
Pattern 6: Talking about uses of technology
Subject (S) + Verb (V) + to Verb (V) + Object(O)
Personal robots (S) are designed (V) to do (V) housework (O).
Subject (S) + Modal (M) + be Verb (V) + to + Verb (V) + Object(O)
3D printers (S) can (M) be used (V) to print (V) human organs
(O).
Problem-solution essay:
Pattern 7: Describing a problem
Adverb (ADV), + Subject (S) + Verb (V) + Noun (N) + that + Verb (V) +
Object(O)
Today (ADV), food waste (S) is (V) a serious problem (N) that affects (V) places
all over the world (O).
Subject (S), + Modal (M) + Verb (V) + Object (O) + by + gerund
We (S) can (M) solve (V) this problem (O) by buying only what
we need.
Pattern 8: Persuade the reader to take action:
Subject (S) + Modal (M) + Verb (V) + Object (O) + to-infinitive
We (S) can (M) all do (V) something (O) to help.
Subject (S) + Modal (M) + Verb (V) + gerund/to-infinitive + Object (O)
We (S) must (M) try (V) our best to stop overfishing (O).