ENGLISH SENTENCE PATTERNS

What is Sentence?Sentence is a group of words which begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point, and consists of at least one subject and one verb.There are four kinds of sentence: declarative, interrogative, exclamation, and imperative.1. Declarative SentenceA declarative sentence makes a statement. It ends with a period.Example:New York is one of the biggest cities in the United States.

2. Interrogative SentenceAn interrogative sentence asks a question. It ends with a question mark.Example:Is New York one of the biggest cities in the United States?

3. Exclamatory SentenceAn exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling. It ends with an exclamation mark.Example:What a big city!The moster is attacking!

4. Imperative SentenceAn imperative sentence gives a command. Sometimes the subject (you) in this type of sentence is understood.Example:Go to the big city and get a job. (You) go to the city and get a job.Generally, English sentence patterns are of three types: simple, compound, and complex sentences.

Simple SentenceSimple sentence is characterized with the presence of simply one subject and one verb. However, this type might also contain double subjects or double verbs.For example:Joan is an English teacher.Gery is an English teacher, too.Joan and Gery are English teachers.They work and spend time together.

What Makes a Subject in a Sentence?Subject can be in the form of noun, pronoun, noun phrase, noun clause, gerund (-ing verb), and to-infinitive.TYPES OF SUBJECTSEXAMPLES

NOUNConcrete NounThe table is round.

Abstract NounHappiness should be mine.

Uncountable NounWater is important for our life.

Countable NounThe tables are here.

PRONOUNThey came here yesterday.

NOUN PHRASEAdjective NounThe round table is in Marthas room.

Noun NounBirthday parties are always my favourite.

Ing verb NounThis travelling bag is expensive.

Past participle NounThe handwritten letter was on the table.

NOUN CLAUSETHAT clauseThat the world is round is clear.

IF/WHETHER clauseWhether he understands the matter or not is not my business.

Question Word clauseWhy she left her husband is a big question to us.

GERUNDWalking through the night alone is dangerous.

TO-INFINITIVETo let her go is difficult.

What Makes a Verb in a Sentence?A verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. There are three categories of verbs: action, linking, and helping verbs.Action and linking verbs are main verbs.Helping verbs are not main verbs because they only help action and linking verbs.A helping verb and a main verb working together are called a verb phrase.The following table will help you understand the kind of English verbs.ACTION VERBSLINKING VERBSHELPING VERBS

throw, swim, fly, kickbe, appear, seem, grow, smell, become, feelModal auxiliaries (can, may, must, should, will, would, etc.)

do, does, did

will, shall

has, have, had

Sentence: I will eat the bananas.willhelping verb

eatmain verb (action verb)

will eatverb phrase

Sentence: I have been feeling happy.have beenhelping verb

feelingmain verb (linking verb)

have been feelingverb phrase

Put a tick ( ) in a sentence.1. Young children learn English as another language.( )2. How young children learn English as another language. ( )3. Spoken language comes naturally before reading and writing. ( )4. Understanding is always greater than speaking. ( )5. Different language experiences with girls. ( )Now, find some simple sentences in the reading text given to you in the previous lecture. Decide which one is the subject and the verb. 12