Pattern 1: Subject + Verb

Subject Verb

Time flies.

Birds sing.

The lion roared.

My tooth is aching.

Who is speaking?

Two variants of this pattern should be noted:

1. The formal subject there is used when the subject of the verb to be is
indefinite. There, as used in this construction, is meaningless. The real
subject comes after the verb e.g.

There & Verb Subject

There is nothing more to do.

There were five of us in the room.

There will be a good meal for us at

home.

There are worse things than hard

work.

There were a lot of people there.1

“There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave to tell us

this.”

Shakespeare,
Hamlet

2. When the formal subject it is used. It in this construction is meaningless.

The real subject comes after the verb e.g.

It + Verb Subject

It seems that both of you were wrong.

It pays to give honest value for money.

It doesn’t matter what you think.

It (so) happened that he was short of money at that time.

1
Note the two uses of there. The first one is meaningless and unstressed; the second
one is an adverb of place and is stressed.

 SENTENCE PATTERNS

Pattern 2: Subject + Verb + Complement

Subject & Verb Complement

He is rich.

Nelson was a sailor.

This is my brother.

Seeing is believing.

Who are you?

That is what I want.

What he asked for was out of the question.

Are these the shoes that you were looking for?

I am in a hurry.

All I want is to help you.

The milk tastes sour.

The roses smell sweet.

The poet Chatterton died young.

The children are running wild.

Mr. Brown is looking old.

Keep calm!

The formal subject it is used also in this pattern. In this case the real subject of the verb
is generally an infinitive pattern or a clause, but other subjects are possible.
Formal Subject it & Verb Complement Subject

It is silly to talk like that.

It would be better to do as he says.

It’s obvious that you are prejudiced

It’s no use your saying that you

are sorry.

It was a pity that you didn’t think of that

earlier.

Is it a fact that the Robinsons are going

to

America?

It will be very nice when the good weather

comes.

It is easy for someone as wealthy as

you to

talk about giving to charities.

It was impossible for two such people to work

together happily.

All the complements mentioned so far have been complements of the subject. These
are called Subjective Complements.

Pattern 3: Subject & Verb + Adverb Complement

Subject & Verb Adverb Complement

They are here.1

He went to Manchester.

Go away!

He tries hard.

She cried as if her heart would break,

The formal subject there can also be used in this pattern.

Formal subject “there” +Verb +Subject Adverb Complement

There are fifteen students in my class.

There’s a lot of noise outside.

Is there any cheese in the larder?

Will there be a festival at Edinburgh next Year?

1
In exclamatory sentences the adverb comes before the subject, e.g., Here they are!

 SENTENCE PATTERNS
Pattern 4: Subject & Verb + Direct Object

Subject & Verb Direct Object

He did the work.

The postman delivers letters.
Do you know the answer?
The little boy can dress himself.
He said that he was going to Germany
tomorrow.

Pattern 5: Subject & Verb + Preposition + Prepositional Object

Subject & Verb Preposition Prepositional Object

I will wait for you.

She depends on me.
He succeeded in opening the
box.
Those tools belong to Fred.
Everyone was hoping for a fine day.
Don’t worry about the results of your
examination.
I was longing for him to invite me to the
party.1
They waited for me to pay the bill.1
You can rely on him to do everything
that is necessary.1

1
The object here is the accusative infinitive.

Pattern 6: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + Adverb Complement

Subject & Verb Direct Object Adverb Complement

I put the shoes in your cupboard.

He sent the letter by registered post.

Have you put the cheese in the fridge?

You will want this tomorrow.

The dog chased him for half a mile.

Put your coat on.1

Turn the gas off.2

He locked the house up.2

He gave all his money away.2

He engaged a gardener to do the hard work. 3

He felled the trees to let in more light.3

He engaged a gardener because he wanted sb. to do the hard

work.4

She treated her husband as if he were a child.4

1
The object here is the accusative infinitive. The accusative infinitive construction is
one in which the infinitive together with a noun or pronoun (in the objective case)
makes a close group that forms the object of a verb.
2
The Direct Object and the Adverbial Complement can be reversed in these cases,
e.g., Put on your coat.
3
The Adverb Complement here is an infinitive of purpose.
4
Here it is an adverb clause.

Pattern 7: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + Adjective

Subject & Verb Direct Object Adjective

I will get the dinner ready.

He held the door open.

The dye turned his hair green.

You have made the car dirty.

Can you get the window open?

She drinks her whisky neat.

A considerable number of verbs can be used in this pattern; some of the commonest
are:

bake, bend, boil, break, burst, cut, crush, fill, get, hold, keep, leave, make, pack, paint,
pull, push, set, wash, wipe.

Pattern 8: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + to be + Adjective (or Complement)

Subject & Verb Direct Object to be Adverb Complement

They told him to be careful.

I want you to be happy.

He likes his staff to be punctual.

This proves me (to be) right.

We all thought him (to be) a wealthy man.

I prefer my coffee (to be) hot.

The commonest verbs with this pattern are:

believe, consider, declare, fancy, feel, find, guess, imagine, judge, know, like, prefer,
prove, see, show, suppose, suspect, think, understand, want.

Pattern 9: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement

Subject & Verb Direct Object Object Complement

He called his cat Sally.

They have made Richard captain of the football team.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

crowned Charles King of England.

Grandfather has made William his only heir.

We shall name this ship Princess Charlotte.

There are not many verbs that are used with this pattern. The chief ones are:

appoint, baptize, call, choose, christen, crown, elect, entitle, name, nominate, proclaim.
Pattern 10: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + Preposition + Prepositional Object

Subject & Verb Direct Object Preposition Prepositional Object

I gave it to 1 him.

Please explain this to me.

They offered the house to us.

They welcomed him to their home.

He owes a lot of money to George.

I will do the work for 2 you.

He bought some gloves for Mary.

Please thank him for me.

Save some sweets for your brother.

Excuse me for interrupting you.

I’ll never forgive him for that.

Tell me about 3 your work.

I told them of 4 you.

They accused him of stealing.

He threw a book at 5 me.

He spends a lot of money on 6 cigarettes.

Compare your work with 7 Henry’s.

I supplied him with money.

The commonest verbs with this pattern are:

1
with to: award, add, bring, carry, compare, deny, fasten, fetch, give, hand, join, move,
offer, owe, pass, pay, promise, read, refuse, sell, send, show, take, teach, tell, tie,
write.
2
with for: bring, buy, choose, cook, do fetch, forgive, leave, make, order, pray, praise,
punish, reach, save, write.
3
with about: ask, consult, question, re-assure, remind, tell, trouble, warn, worry, write.
4
with of: accuse, inform, remind, tell.
5
with at: aim, hurl, point, shoot, throw.
6
with on: answer, make, read, spend, waste, write.
7
with with: compare, fill, mix, provide, supply.

Pattern 11: Subject & Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Subject & Verb Indirect Object Direct Object

I gave him a lesson.

They sold me some bad apples.

He told me a lie.

Has he paid you what he owes you?

He wished them “A Merry Christmas”.

Did David leave his brother any sweets?

Your help has saved me a lot of work.

He did me a very good turn.

The most usual verbs with this pattern are:

ask, bring, buy, cause, deny, do, envy, find, get, give, hand, leave, lend, make, order,
owe, pass, pay, read, sell, send, show, spare, tell, throw, wish, write.

There are not many verbs that are used with this pattern. The chief ones are:

appoint, baptize, call, choose, christen, crown, elect, entitle, name, nominate, proclaim.

Pattern 12: Subject & Verb + (for)1 + Complement

Subject & Verb (for) Complement

He walked for ten miles.

The Headmaster spoke for an hour.

They argued for hours.

We have come a long way.

They waited for an hour before going away.

The river rose ten feet in the night.

The house cost £ 200,000.

That car will last (you) a lifetime.

1
for is used only in sentences expressing duration.

There are a great number of verbs with this pattern. Some of the most usual are:

climb, come, drive, drop, fall, fly, follow, grow, jump, march, move, ride, rise, run, sink,,
swim, walk, weigh, work.

Pattern 13: Subject & Verb + Infinitive (bare)

Subject & Verb Infinitive (bare)

He can sing.

Shall we join them?

I must go now.

Need I answer that question?

Dare you refuse to go?

You had better answer the question.

I would rather not go.

The verbs following this pattern are the Modal Verbs can, could, do, does, did, shall,
should, will, would, may, might, must need, dare, and the phrases had better, would
rather.

Pattern 14: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + Bare Infinitive

Subject & Verb Direct Object Bare Infinitive
I made him come.
Let him speak.
I heard her shout.
We saw the boy steal the money.
Watch me swim the river.
I have never known her come punctually.

The verbs with this pattern are chiefly:

bid, feel, have, hear, know, let, make, notice., see, watch.

Pattern 15: Subject & Verb + to-Infinitive

Subject & Verb Infinitive
I want to go away.
1
He ought to help you.
 We have1 to be home by 10 o’clock.
We are1 to see the Headmaster at once.
We must try to help him.
I don’t like to ask you.
Did you remember to feed the cat?
I didn’t dare to ask for a rise in my salary.

Some common verbs using this pattern are:

begin, cease, commence, continue, dare, decide, expect, forget, have, hope,
intend, lean, like, love, mean, offer, ought, prefer, pretend, promise, refuse,
remember, start, swear,try,, want, wish.
1
ought, have, and be (with the meaning illustrated above) are the only modal
verbs that take the Infinitive with to.

Pattern 16: Subject & Verb + Interrogative Word +to- Infinitive

Subject & Verb Interrogative Word Infinitive
I will remember how to do
this in future.
He will soon find out how to drive a
Tesla.
Do you know how to answer that
question?
Go and ask how to get from
the station to
our hotel.
I can’t decide where to go for our
holidays.
I’ve lost my pen and I can’t
think where to look for it.
He’s very greedy and never
knows when to stop eating.
I’ wondering what to do next.

The usual verbs taking this construction are:

ask, consider, decide, discover, enquire, explain, find out, forget, guess, know,
learn, remember, see, settle, tell (=know), understand, wonder.

Pattern 17: Subject & Verb + Direct Object + to-Infinitive

Subject & Verb Direct Object to- Infinitive
I’ll ask him to help us.

They want me to give them a

lesson.

He taught his cat to open the door.

She likes her guests to feel at home.
 I warned him not to be late.
He dared me to climb the
mountain.

Usual verbs:
advise, allow, ask, can’t bear, beg, cause, choose, dare (= challenge),
encourage, expect, force, get, hate, help, intend, invite, leave, like, love, mean,
(=intend), order, permit, persuade, prefer, remind, teach, tell, tempt, urge, want,
warn, wish.

Pattern 18: Subject & Verb + DIRECT OBJECT + Interrogative Word +to- Infinitive

Subject & Verb Direct Object Interrogative Word

+ to- Infinitive

Show him how to do the

exercise.

I had to tell him how to make a call.

You must teach the children how to behave

properly.

Can you advise me where to go

for a meal?

Don’t forget to tell me where to turn

off this

main road.

Usual verbs:

advise, ask, inform, remind, show, teach, tell

Pattern 19: Subject & Verb + Gerund

Subject & Verb Gerund

He loves skating.

Your hair needs cutting.

Stop wasting my time!

Would you mind passing the sugar?

I can’t bear seeing performing animals.

Do you remember seeing that film in London?

Verbs followed by the gerund:

advise, avoid, consider, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse,
fancy, finish, forbid1, imagine, mind (=object to), miss, postpone, practice, risk, stop,
suggest, understand.

The gerund is used after nearly all phrasal verbs.

It’s used too, after the phrases: it’s no good, it’s no use, is worth, to be fond of, capable
of, sick of, look forward to.

Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive:

The following verbs may take the gerund or the infinitive, sometimes depending on the
meaning to be expressed:

begin, can’t bear, cease, continue, dread, forget, hate, intend, learn, like, love, omit,
prefer, regret, remember, need, neglect, start, try.
1
This verb can be used also with the accusative infinite construction, e.g., He forbade
me to drive his car.

Pattern 20: Subject & Verb + DIRECT OBJECT + PRESENT

PARTICIPLE

Subject & Verb Direct Object Present

Participle

He kept me waiting.

We saw him playing football.

I caught them stealing cans of

beer.

I can smell something burning.

Our fast car left the others standing.

Usual verbs:

catch, feel, find, hear, imagine, keep, leave, listen to, look at, notice,
see, set, smell, start, watch.

Pattern 21: Subject & Verb + DIRECT OBJECT + PAST

PARTICIPLE

Subject & Verb Direct Object Past

Participle

I want my fish fried, not boiled.

You should get those shoes mended.

They have just had their house painted.

We heard the music played by the band.

When they opened the

safe, they found the money gone.

We saw big trees torn up by their

roots.

Usual verbs:

feel, get, have, hear, like, make, prefer, see, want, wish.

Pattern 22: Subject & Verb + (that) + Noun Clause

Subject & Verb (that) + Noun Clause

He said (that) they would come and see us.

He intended that his son should inherit the

business.

I hear (that) you are going to America next

week.

I expect (that) you are surprised at the

news.

Usual verbs:

acknowledge, admit, arrange, believe, can’t bear, confess, don’t care,

declare, demand, deny, expect, explain, fear, hope, imagine, intend,
know, notice, propose, recommend,, say, see, show, suggest,
suppose, think, understand, wonder.

Pattern 23 (A): Subject & Verb + Direct Object + (that) +

Noun Clause

Subject & Verb Direct Object (that) +

Noun Clause

I told him (that) he must work harder.

He warned us (that) the road was a
bad one.

That experience taught her (that) honesty is the

best policy.

I finally convinced him (that) he had been

mistaken.

Pattern 23 (B): Subject & Verb + Direct Object + Interrogative

Word + Noun Clause

Subject & Verb Direct Object

Interrogative Noun Clause

He told James why

he must work harder.

The teacher showed the students how

they should answer

the question.

I seem you what I want

you to do.

Can you tell me whose

statue that is?

Will you please inform us when

the goods we ordered

will be
dispatched?

Usual verbs:

convince, inform, remind, satisfy, teach, tell, warn

Pattern 24 (A): Subject & Verb + so

Subject & Verb so

I think so.

He hopes so.

I am afraid so.

Frequently the order is inverted, e.g.,

So I believe.

So I’ve heard, etcetera.

Pattern 24 (B): Subject & Verb + not

Subject & Verb not

The negative construction has not instead of so:

I hope not.

He’s afraid not, etc.

The verbs using this construction are:

be afraid, believe, expect, hope, say, suppose, think

The verbs hear, notice, see can be used only with Pattern 24 A