7.3: Common Sentence Structures

Basic Sentence Patterns

Subject + verb

The simplest of sentence patterns is composed of a subject and verb without a direct object or subject complement. It uses an intransitive verb, that is, a verb requiring no direct object:

• Control rodsremain inside the fuel assembly of the reactor.
• The development of wind power practically ceased until the early 1970s.
• The cross-member exposed to abnormal stress eventually broke.
• Only two types of charge exist in nature.

Subject + verb + direct object

Another common sentence pattern uses the direct object:

• Siliconconductselectricity in an unusual way.
• The anti-reflective coating on the the silicon cell reducesreflection from 32 to 22 percent.

Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object

The sentence pattern with the indirect object and direct object is similar to the preceding pattern:

• Iam writingher about a number of problems that I have had with my computer.
• Austin, Texas, has recently built its citizens a system of bike lanes.

Practice

Identify the basic sentence pattern of the sentences below:

1. All amplitude-modulation (AM) receivers work in the same way.
2. The supervisor mailed the applicant a description of the job.
3. We have mailed the balance of the payment in this letter.

[reveal-answer q=”77635″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer]
[hidden-answer a=”77635″]

1. This is a subject + verb sentence:
   • All amplitude-modulation (AM) receiverswork in the same way.
2. This is a subject + verb + indirect object + direct object sentence:
   • The supervisormailed the applicant a description of the job.
3. This is a subject + verb + direct object sentence:
   • Wehave mailed the balance of the payment in this letter.

[/hidden-answer]

Sentence Types

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is one that contains a subject and a verb and no other independent or dependent clause.

• One of the tubes is attached to the manometer part of the instrument indicating the pressure of the air within the cuff.
• There are basically two types of stethoscopes.
  • In this sentence, the subject and verb are inverted; that is, the verb comes before the subject. However, it is still classified as a simple sentence.
• To measure blood pressure, a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscopeare needed.
  • This sentence has a compound subject—that is, there are two subjects—but it is still classified as a simple sentence.

Command sentences are a subtype of simple sentences. These sentences are unique because they don’t actually have a subject:

• Clean the dishes.
• Make sure to take good notes today.
• After completing the reading, answer the following questions.

In each of these sentences, there is an implied subject: you. These sentences are instructing the reader to complete a task. Command sentences are the only sentences in English that are complete without a subject.

Compound Predicates

A predicate is everything in the verb part of the sentence after the subject (unless the sentence uses inverted word order). A compound predicate is two or more predicates joined by a coordinating conjunction. Traditionally, the conjunction in a sentence consisting of just two compound predicates is not punctuated.

• Another library media specialist has been using Accelerated Reader for ten years and has seen great results.
• This cell phone app lets users share pictures instantly with followers and categorize photos with hashtags.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, yet, for) and a comma, an adverbial conjunction and a semicolon, or just a semicolon.

• In sphygmomanometers, too narrow a cuff can result in erroneously high readings, and too wide a cuff can result in erroneously low readings.
• Some cuff hook together; others wrap or snap into place.

Practice

Identify the type of each sentence below:

1. The sphygmomanometer is usually covered with cloth and has two rubber tubes attached to it.
2. There are several types of sentences; using different types can keep your writing lively.
3. Words, sentences, and paragraphs are all combined to create a book.
4. Before giving up, take a deep breath and look at things from a different perspective.

[reveal-answer q=”745490″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer]
[hidden-answer a=”745490″]Put Answer Here

1. This sentence has a compound predicate—that is, there are two predicates, joined with the conjunction and:
   • is usually covered with cloth
   • has two rubber tubes attached to it
2. This is a compound sentence. There are two independent clauses joined together by a semicolon.
3. This is a simple sentence with a compound subject.
   • Subject: Words, sentences, and paragraphs
   • Predicate: are all combined to create a book
4. This is a command sentence with a compound predicate—that is, there are two predicates, joined with the conjunction and:
   • take a deep breath
   • look at things from a different perspective.

[/hidden-answer]

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• Revision, Adaptation, and Original Content. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution

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• Basic Patterns and Elements of the Sentence. Authored by: David McMurrey. Located at: https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/twsent.html. License: CC BY: Attribution