SENTENCE PATTERNS
Sentence Parts
Subject – verb – direct object or subject complement -- modifiers
1A
genome is all the genetic material in the chromosomes
of an organism.
2 The
human genome includes about three billion base pairs
that make up human DNA.
3 The
Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, was a
13-year, international effort to identify the 20,000-25,000
human genes and make them accessible for further
biological study.
4 This
research has catalyzed biotechnology.
Sentence Patterns
Subject – verb – direct object or subject complement
1.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 53 points. S-V
2.
The students worked the algebra problems. S-V-DO
3.
A virus is a pathogen.
S-V-SCN
OR
All members are present. S-V-SCA
4.
Jane’s boss offered her a raise. S-V-IO-DO
5.
I consider you my best friend. S-V-DO-DOCA
OR
The women found the candidate’s language offensive. S-V-DO-DOCA
1. S + V
The subject is followed by an intransitive
verb , which takes no direct object.
(Note: In the diagrams, “NP” = noun phrase.)
Even if the verb is followed by a prepositional phrase, the
verb is still intransitive if it does not take a direct object.
Ex:The children are sleeping in the next room.
Who is calling at this hour?
2. S+ V + D O
The subject is followed by a transitive verb,
which has a direct object.
Note: There are now 2 nouns in the sentence: NP1= subject; NP2=
direct object.
My brother is taking his wife on a cruise.
3a. S + LV + SC
A linking verb is followed by a subject
complement (adjective) that describes the
subject (SCA).
The SCA may be a prepositional phrase.
3b. S + LV + SCN
A linking verb is followed by a subject
complement (noun) that renames the
subject (SCN).
Note: The second noun, the subject complement, is still designated as
NP1 because it refers to the same thing (Mr. James = teacher).
3c. S + LV + ADV(Time/Place)
A linking verb may also be followed by an
adverb indicating where or when.
• The adverbial indicating where or when may be a
prepositional phrase.
More Linking Verbs
• The linking verb may be a word similar to “be,”
such as “seem,” “appear,” “become,” or “looks.”
• Or, it may be a verb relating to the senses.
Grandma’s house always smelled like moth balls.
NP1
subject
LV
ADJ
subjective complement
The air feels wintry today.
NP1 LV
subject
ADJ
subjective complement
4. S + V + IO + DO
A transitive verb may be followed by an
indirect object and then a direct object.
A test for an indirect object is to put the DO first and the IO
after it with “to” or “for.” Ex. Smithers gave a raise to the
employees.
Note: There are now 3 different nouns in the sentence: NP1, NP2, and
NP3.
5a. S + V + DO + DOCA
The transitive verb is followed by a direct
object, and the direct object is followed by
an object complement (adjective or noun).
The DOCA describes the direct object.
5b. S + V + DO + DOCN
The DOCN renames the direct object.
Note: Just like the SCN, the DOCN refers to the same
thing: Jacobsen=friend.