5 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 rods remain 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:
- Silicon conducts electricity in an unusual way.
- The anti-reflective coating on the the silicon cell reduces reflection 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:
- I am writing her 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:
- All amplitude-modulation (AM) receivers work in the same way.
- The supervisor mailed the applicant a description of the job.
- We have mailed the balance of the payment in this letter.
Show Answer
- This is a subject + verb sentence:
- All amplitude-modulation (AM) receivers work in the same way.
- This is a subject + verb + indirect object + direct object sentence:
- The supervisor mailed the applicant a description of the job.
- This is a subject + verb + direct object sentence:
- We have mailed the balance of the payment in this letter.
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 stethoscope are 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:
- The sphygmomanometer is usually covered with cloth and has two rubber tubes attached to it.
- There are several types of sentences; using different types can keep your writing lively.
- Words, sentences, and paragraphs are all combined to create a book.
- Before giving up, take a deep breath and look at things from a different perspective.
Show Answer
Put Answer Here
- 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
- This is a compound sentence. There are two independent clauses joined together by a semicolon.
- This is a simple sentence with a compound subject.
- Subject: Words, sentences, and paragraphs
- Predicate: are all combined to create a book
- 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.