SENTENCE

PATTERNS

Sentence Parts

Subject – verb – direct object or subject complement -- modifiers

1 A genome is all the genetic of an organism. material in the chromosomes 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.

2.

3.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 53 points. S-V The students worked the algebra problems . S-V-DO A virus is a pathogen . S-V-SCN OR 4.

All members are present . S-V-SCA 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 LV ADJ subject subjective complement The air feels wintry today.

NP1 LV ADJ subject 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.