There are five basic patterns around which most English sentences are built.* They are
as follows:

S-V
Subject-Verb
John sleeps.

Jill is eating.

Jack will arrive next week.

S-V-O
Subject-Verb-Object
I like rice.

She loves her job.

He's eating an orange.

S-V-Adj
Subject-Verb-Adjective
He is funny.

The workers are lazy.

Karen seems angry.

S-V-Adv
Subject-Verb-Adverb
Jim is here.

Flowers are everywhere.

No one was there.

S-V-N
Subject-Verb-Noun
She is my mom.

The men are doctors.

Mr. Jones is the teacher.

At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can
be added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern.

She sleeps.
Core sentence

She sleeps soundly.
An adverb is added to describe how she sleeps.

She sleeps on the sofa.
A prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps.

She sleeps every afternoon.
A time expression is added to tell when she sleeps.

She is sleeping right now.
Verb tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the same.

Mary will sleep later.
Subject is named and another tense is used.

The dogs are sleeping in the garage.
New subject may require a different form of the verb.

Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern.

They like rice.
Core sentence

The people like rice.
Specific subject

The friendly people like rice.
Subject modified with an adjective

The people in the restaurant like rice.
Subject modified with a prepositional phrase

The people like boiled rice.
Object modified with an adjective

The people like hot, white rice.
Object modified with more than one adjective

Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj pattern.

He is fine.
Basic sentence with "be" verb

He seems happy.
Basic sentence with another linking verb

Jordan is tall, dark and handsome.
Series of adjectives

He appears very comfortable.
Adverb or intensifier added

George became sick last night.
Different tense and linking verb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv pattern.

The teacher is here.
Basic sentence

The teacher is over there.
Using an adverb phrase

Teachers are everywhere.
Plural noun and verb used

The teachers are in the lobby.
Prepositional phrase functioning as adverb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern.

The man is a doctor.
Basic sentence

The women are doctors.
Using plural noun and verb

My father is a nice guy.
Modified subject and complement

My grandparents are senior citizens.
Modified plural subject and complement

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

Noun Phrases are groups of words that can function as subjects or objects in sentences.
They may take on various forms:

Water is important for survival.
(Single words)

Mr. Jones spoke to Dr. James.
(Proper names)

The boy ate an apple.
(Nouns and articles)

My friend works with her father.
(Nouns and possessives)

The young girl wore a long, white dress.
(Nouns and adjectives)

Some of the kids ate all of the cake.
(Nouns and quantifiers)

The man with the gun frightened the people in the bank.
(Nouns and prep. phrases)

The woman who lives there is my aunt.
(Nouns and relative clauses)

The dogs sleeping on the deck should be left alone.
(Nouns and phrases)

Whoever wrote this is in trouble.
(Noun clauses)

p___ouns and similar words can also function as subjects and objects:

He gave the money to us.
Someone left this.
Give me one of each.

Verb Phrases
Verb phrases are groups of words that express action or state of being. They take on
various forms.

The men live in the dormitory.
(Single verbs)

He stayed at the Hi Hat Hotel.
(Past tense verbs)

I am learning many new things.
(Progressive verbs)

She has been there before.
(Perfect verbs)

They have been working here five years.
(Perfect progressive verbs)

I could use some a__istance.
(Verbs and modals)

The trip was approved by the professor.
(Passive verbs)

Do you want some more pie?
(Verbs in questions)

Other words can be added to enhance verb phrases:

The mayor works here.
(adverbs)

Neil is not a candidate.
(negatives)

They live in the suburbs.
(prepositional phrases)

She'll leave whenever she wants.
(adverbial clauses)

Don't talk while eating.
(phrases)

Structure Words

Time
(When?)

Place
(Where?) Prepositions

Prep + Noun

In 1959
On Thursday
At 7:00
Before noon
After hours
During lunch
By 5:00
In the house
On the table
At the store
Subordinators

Although S V, S V
S V although S V

When I was young
While you were here
Once he arrived
Before you went home
After I finish my work
As soon as I get there
By the time he arrived

Wherever you go
Anywhere you want Coordinators

S V, and S V Sentence Connnectors

S V . However, S V
S V ; however, S V
(Location words: over, under, around, through, between, beside, beyond, etc.)

Manner
(How?)

Reason
(Why?)

Duration
(How long?)

Frequency
(How often?)

Contrast

Condition

Addition With a fork
Like a pig
By train

For fun
Because of the war

For two hours
Since last year

On Tuesdays

Despite my wishes
In spite of his illness

For pay only

With a friend As a good boy does

Because I want to
Since you are here
So that I could win

Until I finish
Since I was a young boy
As long as you want

Whenever you have time
Anytime you like
As often as you wish

Although I didn't do it
Even though I didn't
Even if I could
While I didn't believe him
Whereas she did believe him

If you want me to
Unless I get paid
Whether you like it or not

So
For

But
Yet

And Therefore
Thus
Consequently

However
Nevertheless
Still
Otherwise
On the other hand

Besides
Moreover
In addition
Furthermore

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