Basic Sentence Patterns and Passive Voice
The following four basic sentence patterns (BSPs) and the passive voice structure are the
primary structures from which more complex sentence structures are made. It is essential
that you learn (even memorize) these structures and that you be able to make up a
sentence to fit each pattern on the spur of the moment.
Four Basic Sentence Patterns
1. BSP 1: noun + verb
o Jim laughs.
o Constance sighed.
o Canaries sing.
o The man escaped.
2. BSP 2: noun + verb + noun
o Jim drives a truck.
o Canaries eat seeds.
o The thief bribed the jailor.
3. BSP 3: noun + L-verb + noun
o Jim is a fireman.
o Canaries are birds.
4. BSP 4: noun + L-verb + adj.
o The thief was clever.
o Canaries are yellow.
Passive Voice Transformation
You make a passive voice by "crossing over" a BSP 2. In other words, you make the
second noun in the BSP2 into the subject of your new sentence; you expand the verb by
adding a helping verb and changing the verb form to a passive; you put the first noun of
the BSP2 into a prepositional phrase and tack it on to the end of the sentence. In short, a
BSP2 turns into BSP 1 + optional prepositional phrase.








The letter interested Louise.
Louise was interested in the letter.
Jim drives a truck.
The truck is driven by Jim.
Canaries eat seeds.
Seeds are eaten by canaries.
The thief bribed the jailor.
The jailor was bribed by the thief.