Sentence structures

Posted in My Past

  1. Subject – Verb

    examples:

    A dog (subj) plays (verb).

    subj – We use ‘A dog’ to refer to a non-specific dog. We use ‘the dog’ to mean a specific dog. This is to clarify the subject reference.
    verb – the verb ‘play’ must have an s, because our subj is 3rd singular.

    The cat (subj) runs (verb).

    subj – We must say ‘A cat’ to refer to any, non-specific cat. We use ‘the cat’ to mean a specific cat.
    verb – the verb ‘run’ stays in base form because our subj IS NOT 3rd singular.

    People play.

    subj – ‘people’ is plural, so we use the word to represent ‘in general’.
    verb – the verb ‘play’ is in base form because subj IS NOT 3rd singular.

    Boys fight.

    subj – ‘Boys’ is plural, so we use the word to represent ‘in general’.
    verb – the verb ‘fight’ is in base form because subj IS NOT 3rd singular.

    The plane flies.
    subj – ‘plane’ is 3rd singular. We use ‘The’ plane to clarify that it is a specific plane.
    verb – the verb ‘fly’ must add ‘ies’, because our subj is 3rd singular.

    The competition begins.

    subj – competition is singular, so we use ‘the/a’ to clarify subject reference as explained above.
    verb – the verb ‘begin’ must add ‘s’ because our subject is 3rd singular.

    China grows.

    subj – China is a specific place with a name, just like a person. So it is singular.
    verb – the verb ‘grow’ must add ‘s’ because our subject is 3rd singular.

  2. Subject – Verb (action) – Object

    Subject – who or what performs the action of the verb.
    Verb – expresses an action.
    Object – whoever or whatever receives that action

    Ricky plays volleyball.

    Subject – Ricky
    Verb – plays (we add ‘s’ because subj is 3rd singular)
    Object – volleyball

    My mom made spaghetti.

    Subject – My mom
    Verb – made (past tense)
    Object – spaghetti

    I eat beef.

    Subject – I
    Verb – eat (present tense: eat is ok in base form)
    Object – beef

    He rides a bike.

    Subject – He
    Verb – rides (present tense: ride + ‘s’ because subj is 3rd singular)
    Object – a bike

    The girl sits on the couch.

    Subject – The girl
    Verb – sits on (present tense: sit + ‘s’ because subj is 3rd singular)
    Object – the couch

  3. Subject + verb (action) + adverbs

    examples

    I played terribly
    subj – I, verb – played, adverb – terribly

    He sang beautifully.
    subj – He, verb – sang, adverb – beautifully

    She stood motionlessly.
    subj – She, verb – stood, adverb – motionlessly

    She undressed quickly.
    subj – She, verb – undressed, adverb – quickly

    I performed remarkably.
    subj – I verb – stay adv – remarkably

    The girl shouted excitedly.
    subj – The girl verb – shouted adverb – excitedly

    She dances beautifully.
    subj – She verb – dances adverb – beautifully

    I howled triumphantly.
    subj – I verb – howled adverb – triumphantly

    We drive crazily.
    subj – We verb – drive adverb – crazily

    The soldier dies miserably.
    subj – soldier verb – dies adverb – miserably

    My cat waits impatiently.
    subj – My cat verb – waits adverb – impatiently

  4. Linking verb – used to describe the subject. (non-action)

    • is/am/was/will be (singular), are/were/will be(plural)
    • appear
    • sound
    • feel
    • smell
    • become
    • look (linking and action)
    • seems

    Subject + linking verb (“is/am/are/was/were/will be”) + Subject Complement (noun or adjective)

    Ricky is a teacher.
    Subject – Ricky, linking verb – is, sub complement (noun) – teacher

    You are a monster!
    subject – You, linking verb – are, sub complement (noun) – a monster

    I am pretty.
    subject – I, linking verb – am, sub complement (adj) – pretty

    She was a boy.
    subject – She, linking verb – was, sub complement (noun) – a boy

    She will be a doctor.
    subject – She, linking verb – will be, sub complement (noun) – a doctor

    You are terrible!
    subject – You, linking verb – are, sub complement (adj) – terrible

  5. Subject + linking verb (‘sense’ – look/smell/seem/become) + subj complement (noun/adjective)

    linking verb
    object

    • The family hears a burglar.
    • I smell trouble.
    • The world becomes a desert.

  6. Subject + verb + adverb + adjective

    She snores too loud.
    subj – She, verb – snores, adverb – too, adjective – loud

    I am really tired.
    subj – I, verb – am, adverb – really, adjective – tired

    She is really pretty.
    subj – She, verb – is, adverb – really, adjective – pretty

    Xiao Fei is very tall.
    subj – Xiao Fei, verb – is, adverb – very, adjective – tall

    The show is really exciting.
    subj – The show, verb – is, adverb – really, adjective – exciting

    The lake is quite beautiful.
    subj – lake, verb – is, adverb – quite, adjective – beautiful

    My dog is incredibly happy.
    subj – dog, verb – is, adverb – incredibly, adjective – happy

    We will be slightly late.
    subj – We, verb – will, be adverb – slightly, adjective – late

  7. Subject + helping verb + main verb + object

    helping verb
    main verb

    Present Perfect – Subj + [have/has (helping verb)] + Past Participle (main verb)

    I have eaten squid.
    The turtle has eaten bugs since he was little.
    My friend has bought a new car.
    I have lived in LA for most of my life.

    Present Continuous – Subj + to be [am, is, are] + present participle (main verb)

    helping verb
    main verb

    I am playing video games.
    Ricky is correcting homework.
    My mom is cooking dinner.
    We are fixing the car.

    Can – ability

    I can speak three languages.
    I can play three sports.
    She can juggle.

  8. Subject + listed stative ’emotion’ feelings verb + (infinitive as object) + object complement

    stative feeling verb – hate, like, love, want, hope, prefer, wish, hope, desire, need
    stative thought verb – agree, remember, forget

    Other verbs to use with infinitives:

    agree: She agreed [to give].
    ask*: I asked him [to leave].
    decide: We decided [to go].
    help*: He helped [to clean].
    plan: She plans [to ]
    hope: I hope [to pass].
    learn: They learn how [to sing].
    want*: I want [to come].
    promise: I promise [to go].

    Note most stative ’emotion’ verbs work, but not all:

    I need [to know]. √
    I desire [to win]. √
    I love [to play]. √
    I like [to know]. √
    I hate [to go]. √
    I adore [to …] (X)
    I prefer [to eat]. √
    We care [to …] (X)
    I mind [to …] (X)
    I want [to be]. √
    I appreciate [to…] (X)
    I need [to eat]. √
    I wish [to donate]. √
    I hope [to win]. √
    I value [to…] (X)

    I forgot [to clean].
    subj – I, verb – forgot, object – to clean

    I will remember [to fight]
    subj – I, verb – remember, object – to fight

    Let’s agree [to disagree].
    subj – Let’s, verb – agree, object – to disagree.

    Let’s agree [to work].
    subj – Let’s, verb – agree, object – to work object

    I desire [to win].
    subj – I, verb – desire, object – to win.

    I prefer [to be].
    subj – I, verb – prefer, object – to be

    I want [to play].

    subj – I, verb – want, object – to play

    She wants [to eat].

    subj – She, verb – want, object – to eat

    I hope [to win].

    subj – I, verb – hope, object – to win

    The elders need [to rest].

    subj – elders, verb – need, object – to rest

  9. Subject + helping verb + adjective + (infinitive as object) + object complement

    I am reluctant(adj) [to quit].

    subject – I
    helping verb – am
    adj – reluctant,
    infinitive (acting as object) – to quit

    They are happy (adj) [to live].

    subject – We
    helping verb – are
    adj – happy
    infinitive (acting as object) – to live

    I am unable (adj) [to help].

    subject – I
    helping verb – am
    adj – unable
    infinitive (acting as object) – to help

  10. Subject + [am/have/has/is] + (object) + [infinitive as adjective]

    She is the girl (obj) [to marry].
    subject – She, verb – is, obj – girl,
    infinitive (acting as adjective to describe ‘girl’. ) – to marry

    English 101 is the class (obj) [to take].
    subject – English 101, verb – is, obj – class,
    infinitive (acting as adjective to describe ‘class’. ) – to take

    He has a joke (obj) [to tell].
    subject – He, verb – has, obj – joke,
    infinitive (acting as adjective to describe ‘joke’. ) – to tell

    We have a job (obj) [to do].

    subject – We, verb – have, obj – a job,
    infinitive (acting as adjective to describe ‘job’. ) – to do

    I have a wedding (obj) [to attend].

    subject – I, verb – have, obj – a wedding,
    infinitive (acting as adjective to describe ‘wedding’) – to attend

    That is the team(obj) to beat.
    subject – That, verb – is, obj – team,
    infinitive (acting as adjective to describe ‘team’) – to beat

  11. Subject + (action verb) + object + [infinitive as adverb] + complement

    Do the ‘in order’ test.

    I (earn) money [to live].

    test: I earn money ‘in order’ [to live]. √

    I (bought) a book [to read].

    test: I bought a book ‘in order’ [to read]. √

    I (ordered) a burger [to eat].

    test: I ordered a burger ‘in order’ to eat. √