Basic Sentence Patterns
Understanding sentence patterns is essential for building grammatically correct and meaningful sentences in English. A sentence pattern refers to the typical arrangement of parts of a sentence, such as subject, verb, object, complement, and adjunct. Once you learn these patterns, you’ll be able to form simple to complex sentences with clarity and confidence.
Let’s explore the most common sentence patterns in English:
1. S + V (Subject + Verb)
This is the simplest sentence pattern. It contains just a subject and an intransitive verb (a verb that doesn’t need an object).
Examples:
Birds fly.
He sleeps.
They laugh.
Explanation :
In this pattern, the verb does not require an object to complete its meaning. The subject performs an action, and that’s enough for the sentence to make sense.
2. S + V + O (Subject + Verb + Object)
This is the most common pattern in English. It includes a transitive verb (a verb that needs an object to complete the meaning).
Examples:
She reads a book.
We watch movies.
He plays football.
Explanation :
The object receives the action. Without the object, the sentence would feel incomplete. For example, “She reads” is correct but lacks clarity about what she reads.
3. S + V + C (Subject + Verb + Complement)
This pattern includes a linking verb (like “is,” “become,” “seem”) and a complement, which gives more information about the subject.
Examples:
He is a teacher.
The sky looks blue.
They became tired.
Explanation :
The complement is usually a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames the subject. The verb does not show action but a state of being.
4. S + V + O + O (Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object)
This pattern includes two objects: one indirect and one direct.
Examples:
She gave me a gift.
He told us a story.
They sent her a message.
Explantion :
Indirect Object: the person who receives something (e.g., me, us, her)
Direct Object: the thing that is given (e.g., a gift, a story, a message)
This pattern is useful when the action involves giving, telling, or sending something to someone.
5. S + V + O + C (Subject + Verb + Object + Complement)
Here, the object is followed by a complement that gives more information about the object.
Examples:
They elected him president.
We found the room empty.
She painted the wall red.
Explantion :
The object complement describes the result or condition of the object. This pattern is common with verbs like make, name, find, call, elect, etc.
6. S + V + A (Subject + Verb + Adjunct)
This pattern uses adjuncts (also called adverbials) to add extra information like time, place, or manner.
Examples:
He works hard.
They played in the park.
She will arrive tomorrow.
Explanation :
Adjuncts are not essential to complete the sentence but provide helpful details. You can remove the adjunct, and the sentence still makes sense.
Why Sentence Patterns Matter:
Help learners form correct and complete sentences
Improve clarity and structure in both spoken and written English
Essential for building complex and compound sentences later
Make grammar learning easier and more organized
Quick Tip for Learners:
Try creating 2–3 examples of each pattern using real-life situations. Practice converting simple patterns like S+V into more complex ones like S+V+O+C.