Sentence Patterns & Sentence Structures/ComponentsAccording to sentence structure, sentences have four types: simple sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence and compound-complex sentence.I. simple sentenceA simple sentence is one clause which contains one subject and one predicate verb only. There are seven basic sentence patterns if including.1. subject + linking verb + subject complement S + V + C (SC)I feel better.It tastes (smells) good.She is a great writer.They are on the playground now.2. subject + intransitive verb (vi) S + VShe cried.Birds fly.People laughed.3. subject + transitive verb (vt) or monotransitive verb + object S + V + OThey need help.She got a gift.Most of them speak Cantonese.4. subject +complex-transitive verb + object complement S + V + O + CWe made him our spokesman.We call her Amy.Many people find the book useful.They elected him president.5. subject + double-transitive verb or ditransitive + indirect object + direct object S + V + Oi + OdI show him a picture.Tom lent Andy a lot of money.Mr. Chen teaches the children English.Her parents buy clothes for her.6. subject + verb + adverbial S + Vi + AdI live in Guangzhou.All are staying at home.The team leaves at five.7. subject + verb + object + adverbial S + Vt + O + AdI put the material evidence in front of him.Her husband treated her cruelly.II. compound sentenceA compound sentence consists of at least two or more independent clauses, each containing a subject and a predicate, each describing an action complete in itself, and they are equally important. The clauses of the compound sentence are linked by connectives. The following conjunctions indicate different relations of clauses.1. coordination (and, not only…but also)My father is a teacher, and my mother is a teacher too.He can not only speak English, but also she can speak Japanese.2. transition (but, yet, nevertheless, however)He worked hard, yet he failed.She asked me to go back, but I didn’t want to go with her.She’s vain and foolish, however people like her.3. alternation (or, otherwise, either…or, nor)We must hurry up, or we will miss the train.Either you come to my home, or I come to your home.Her answer is not right, nor is yours.4. cause and effect (so, for, therefore, then, hence, thus)We have wasted much time here, so we must set off in early morning.You needn’t worry about, for they have arrived there safely.She failed in exam again, therefore she felt worse this time.III. complex sentenceA complex sentence consists of one independent clause (main clause) and one or more than one dependent clauses (subordinate clause), with a connective word denoting the relation between the two parts. The dependent clause depends on the independent clause. The dependent clause may play the part of a subject, a complement (predicative), an object, an attributive (adjective), an adverbial or an appositive in main clause. 1. subject clauseWhat’s done can not be undone.That he passed the entrance examination is true.It is not important whether you attend the meeting or not.2. complement clauseThis is what I need.China is no longer what it used to be.The fact is that he helps me with his Chinese.3. object clauseWe can’t tell whose answer is right.He often asks me what my name is.I don’t know where we are heading to now.4. attributive clauseHe is a man who has few words.This is the most interesting story that I’ve ever heard.Can you hand me the book that (which) is lying on the table?5. adverbial clausea). time (after, as, as soon as, before, once, since, till, until, when, whenever, while)My father often read newspaper after we finish dinner.I’ll write to you as soon as I get there.The doorbell rang when I was cooking.b). place (where, wherever)You can go where you like.I’ll follow you wherever you are.c). cause (as, because, now that, since)We all have to stay at home today because it’s raining all day long.Now that your father asked for you, I’ll let you go.They have lived here for twenty years since they moved to this town.d). reason (for fear that, in case, in order that, so that)She studied very hard so that she got scholarship every year.He went to bed very early in order that he could get up early the next morning.You should write down some notes in case you miss something.e). result (that, so (that), such…that…)It rained so hard that we couldn’t go anywhere.It is such an interesting book that I almost forget to dinner.f). comparison (as, than)He was so brave as you expect.She is much older than she looks.g). manner (as, as if, as though)You can spend your money as you wish.He treats me well as if he were my brother.h). condition (if, on condition that, so long as, unless)We can get high marks if we study hard.Your composition will be much better so long as you make few grammar mistakes.My parents wouldn’t let me watch TV unless I finished homework.i). concession (although, as, even if, even though, however, though, no matter how (what, when, where, etc.)) Although it’s raining outside, the workers are still working hard.Even if he failed the experiment again and again, he would give up.No matter what happened, I’ll stay on your side.6. appositive clauseThe news that Susan got married on July 1 is true.Joe sent me a message that he wouldn’t come that day.A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses (main clauses) and one dependent clause (subordinate clause). It is the combination of a compound sentence and a complex sentence. For example: Mr. Smith who is my teacher can not only play the piano, but also he can sing song.My uncle asked me to visit his house, which was not far from my home this afternoon, but I didn’t.I was late because it was raining, and I kept everybody waiting.The sentence—I was late, and I kept everybody waiting—is a coordinating compound sentence, and the sentence—I was late because it was raining—is a complex sentence. It belongs to an adverbial clause of cause in complex sentences.1）first, second, third, last（不推荐，原因：俗）2）firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally（不推荐，原因：俗）3）the first, the second, the third, the last（不推荐，原因：俗）4）in the first place, in the second place, in the third place, lastly（不推荐，原因：俗）5）to begin with, then, furthermore, finally（强烈推荐）6）to start with, next, in addition, finally（强烈推荐）7）first and foremost, besides, last but not least（强烈推荐）8）most important of all, moreover, finally9）on the one hand, on the other hand（适用于两点的情况）10）for one thing, for another thing（适用于两点的情况）Sentence CompositionsIn English, there are ten sentence compositions: subject, predicate, object, predicative, attributive, appositive, adverbial, complement, parenthesis (插入语) and address (呼语).Subject is the topic or theme of the sentence, which tells of what the sentence is about.1)n. Our teacher speaks very fast.2)pron. She likes playing tennis.3)num. Five is an odd number. (奇数) (偶数even)4)infinitive It is not easy to remember all these rules.5)gerund Learning grammar well is difficult.6)subject clause What I said is true.Predicate says something about the subject and bears the new information which the speaker or writer wants to transmit to the listener or reader. There are two types of predicates. If we use a verb or a verbal phrase as predicate, it is called simple predicate. If we use a link verb plus a predicative as predicate or a verb plus an infinitive (especially a modal verb plus an infinitive), it is called compound prediacte, e.g., Simple predicate1)v. He bought a dictionary yesterday.2)verbal phrase He is looking for his pen.Compound predicate1)link v. + predicative We are students.2)modal v. + infinitive I may be wrong.3)v. + infinitive We have to do something for them.Predicative expresses the status, characteristics or the quality of the subject.1)n. Mr Scott is a farmer.2)pron. That’s something we have always to keep in mind.3)num. My lucky number is seven. She was the first to learn about it.4)adj. His hair has gone white.5)adv. We are here.6)prep. phrase They are in the classroom.7)infinitive All I can do is t o send her a telegram.8)gerund My job is teaching them grammar.9)participle. Time is pressing. Let’s hurry up.10)predicative clause The suggestion is that we should recite wore words.Object represents the person or the thing that something is done to or the person who is concerned in the result of an action. Usually, an object is called a prepositional object when we put it after a preposition. In English there are four kinds of objects: direct object (a), indirect object (b), cognate object (c) and compound object (d), e.g.,She has ordered two tickets (a) for the seven-thirty show.He made an important discovery (a) recently.Please show me (b)your passport (a). = Please show your passport (a) to me (b).He bought me (b) a new coat (a). = He bought a new coat (a) for me (b).He lived a hard life (c) then. / He died a herioc death (c).The baby is sleeping a sound sleep (c). / Mary smiles a sweet smile (c).I wish to dream a beautiful dream (c ). / The child laughed a hearty laugh (c).He asked me to open the door (d). / I heard him singing the song (d) last night.We wish you happy (d).1)n. I’ve bought an English-Chinese dictionary.2)pron. They didn’t promise him anything.3)num. We need two. / I want the first.4)infinitive My father likes to swim in winter.5)gerund I enjoyed working with you.6)object clause Did you write down what she said?Attributive is used to modify a noun or a pronoun.1)n. He has bought a grammar book.2)adj. He gave a vivid description of the battle.3)pron. No difficulty whatsoever can stop our advance.4)num. There are two policemen in the street. / Please read the first paragraph.5)gerund This swimming pool is beautiful.6)participle The sleeping boy is my brother.There are some boys playing outside.She is takig care of the newly-born child.We must solve the problem left by history.7)infinitive I have a lot of homework to do.8)adv. The buildings around are of modern construction.9)prep.The book on the desk is mine.10)attributive clause The boy who went to the library is our monitor.Appositive is the further information after a noun or a pronoun referring to “who” or “what”.1)n. This is Mr Zhou, director of our hospital.2)pron. He himself finished it.3)num. We two will go shopping this afternoon.4)infinitive My job, to teach them grammar is hard.5)gerund Her task, looking after these children is important.6)appositive clause I had no idea that you were here.Adverbal is usually used to modify a verb, an adjective, an dverb or a sentence. There are ten kinds of adverbials in English.1)adverbial of time He is to fly to London tomorrow.2)adverbial of place The meeting was held in Xinjiang.3)adverbial of manner The workers there are paid by the week, not by the month.4)adverbial of cause Because of the warm and sunny weather, oranges grow very well here.5)adverbial of purpose We do it in this way so as to save time.6)adverbial of result He returned home to find his father dead.7)adverbial of condition Without plants, animals could not live in the world.8)adverbial of concession In spite of all his efforts, he failed.9)adverbial of comparison he worked as fast as a skilled worker.10)adverbial of degree He love his son very much.When we use an adverbial, we may choose one of the following parts of speech, phrases or clauses.1)n. It weighs almost a ton.2)adv. He runs very fast.3)adj. He got home, cold and hungry.4)prep. We are learning grammar in the classroom.5)infinitive. They study hard in order to pass the TEM4.6)participle. I like to sit there doing nithing.7)adverbial clause. He got up early so that he might catch the morning train.8)absolute construction.(1)n. / pron. + n. He talked about his friends, all of them film stars.(2)n. / pron. + adj. His face pale with rage, Borg rose to speak.(3)n. / pron. + adv. Dinner over, we decided to play bridge.(4)n. / pron. + prep. The teacher came in, (with) a book in his hand.(5)n. / pron. + infinitive. Much work to do, I don’t think I’ll have time to come and see you.(6)n. / pron. + participle. Some boys making so much noise, I could n’t study. / The question settled,we began our work.Complement is used to form complete semantic meaning of a sentence. There are subject complement (S.C.) and object complement (O.C.).1)n. We call her Zhang Sir. (O.C.) / She is called Zhang Sir. (S.C.)2)adj. The letter made him sad. (O.C.) / He was made sad. (S.C.)3)adv. I’ll let him out. (O.C.) / He will be let out. (S.C.)4)prep. We regard her as our friend. (O.C.) / She is regarded as our friend. (S.C)5)infinitive. The teacher made us recite the words. (O.C.) / We were made to recite the words. (S.O.)6)participle. I saw him crossing the street. (O.C.) / He was seen crossing the street. (S.C.)Parenthesis is one or more words introduced as an added explanation or thought, and in writing usually enclosed at both ends by a bracket or a comma.1)infinitive To be frank, I don’t quite agree with you.2)participle Judging from your accent, you must be from Scotland.3)prep. phrase This, in my opinion, is only one of the minor issues.4)adj. Sure enough, enemy planes came again the next day.5)adv. Honestly, I don’t need it at the moment.6)clause. What is more, 40 per cent of the families would get an income of over 10 000 yuan.7)sentence. The cross-talk, I think, was both intersting and instructive.Direct address is used to address somebody in the conversation.1)n. Hurry up, children!2)pron. You, stand up!3)person’s name. Tom, come here!Comparision—more effective?I love living in the city. I have a wonderful view of the entire city. I have an apartment. I can see the Golden Gate Bridge. I can see many cargo ships pass under the bridge each day. I like the restaurants in San Francisco. I can find wonderful food from just about every country. I don’t like the traffic in the city.I love living in the city of San Francisco. I have a wonderful view of the entire city from my apartment window. In addition, I can see the Golden Gate Bridge under which many cargo ships pass each day. I also like San Francisco because I can find wonderful restaurants with food from just about every country; however, I don’t like the traffic in the city.Example: How many clauses?1. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously, but, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.2. Furthermore, he (a successful scientist) is not only critical of the work of others, but also of his own, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb impartial and objective investigation.。
