Normal Sentence Pattern in English

SUBJECTS

The subject is the agent of the sentence in the active voice; it is the person or thing that does the action of sentence, and it normally precedes the verb. Every sentence in English must have a subject. (In the case of commands, the subject is understood). The subject may be a single noun

Example:

Coffee is delicious

Milk contains calcium

The subject may be a noun phrase. A noun phrase is a group of words ending with a noun (it CANNOT begin with preposition)

Example:

The book is on the table

The new, red car is John’s

Others example of subjects:

We girl are not going to that movie

George likes boats

Marry, John, George, and I went to a restaurant last night.

The weather was very bad yesterday.

The chemistry professor cancelled class today.

The bank closed at two o’clock.

In some sentence there is not a true subject. However, it and there can often act as pseudo-subject and should be considered as subjects when rules call for moving the subject of a sentence.

Example:

It is a nice day today.

There was a fire in that building last month.

There were many students in the room.

It is raining right now.

VERB

The verb follows the subjects; it generally shows the action of the sentence. Note: every sentence must have a verb. The verb may be a single word

Example

John drives too fast

They hate spinach

The verb may be a verb phrase. A verb phrase consists of one or more auxiliaries and one main verb. The auxiliaries always precede the main verb.

Examples

John is going to Miami tomorrow. (Auxiliary-is, main verb-going)

Jane has been reading that book. (auxiliary-has, been; main verb-reading)

Examples of verbs and verb phrases:

She will go to Boston next week.

Jane is very tall

She must have gone to the bank

Joe has gone home

Marry is watching television.

It was raining at six o’clock last night.

COMPLEMENT

A complement completes the verb. It is similar to the subject because it is usually a noun or noun phrase; however, it generally follows the verb when the sentence is in the active voice. Note: every sentence does not require a complement. The complement CANNOT begin with a preposition. The complement CANNOT begin with a preposition. A complement answers the question what? Or whom?

Examples of complements

John bought a cake yesterday. (What did john buy?)

Jill was driving a new car. (What was Jill driving?)

He wants to drink some water (what does he want to drink?)

She saw john at the movies last night (whom did she see at the movies?)

They called Marry yesterday (whom did they call?)

He was smoking a cigarette. (What was he smoking?)

MODIFIER

A modifier tells the time, place, or manner of the action. Very often it is a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition phrase. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with preposition and ends with a noun. Note: A modifier of time usually comes last if more than one modifier is present

Examples of prepositional phrase:

In the morning, at the university, on the table

A modifier can also be an adverb or an adverbial phrase.

Example:

Last night, hurriedly, next year, outdoors, yesterday

Note: every sentence does not require a modifier. A modifier answers the question when? Where? Or how?

Examples of modifier

John bought a book at the bookstore                       (where did john buy a book?)

                                 Modifier of place

Jill was swimming in the pool   yesterday               (where was Jill swimming?)

                                Modifier of place    modifier of time             (when was Jill swimming?)

He was driving very fast                                          (How was he driving?)

                        Modifier of manner

The milk is in the refrigerator                                   (where is the milk?)

                           Modifier of place

She drove the car on Main Street                            (where did she drive?)

                                      Modifier of place

We ate dinner at seven o’clock                                (when did we eat dinner?)

                                  Modifier of time

Note: The modifier normally follows the complement, but not always. However, the modifier, especially when it is a prepositional phrase, usually cannot separate the verb and the complement.

Incorrect: She drove on the street the car

                        Verb                            complement

Correct: she drove  the car on the street

                           verb      modifier

EXERCISE

Identify the subject, verb, complement, and modifier in each of the following sentence. Remember that not every sentence has a complement or modifier. Examples:

Jill / is buying / a new hat / in the store

Subject  verb phrase      complement      modifier of place

Betty / is shopping / downtown

Subject    verb phrase        modifier of place

1. George is cocking dinner tonight.
2. Henry and Marcia have visited the president
3. We can eat lunch in this restaurant today.
4. Pat should have bought gasoline yesterday.
5. Trees grow.
6. it was raining at seven o’clock this morning
7. She opened a checking account at the bank last week.
8. Harry is washing dishes right now.
9. She opened her book.
10. Paul, William, and Mary were watching television a few minute ago

Based on: M. A. Pyle and M. E. Munoz (1985). Cliffs TOEFL Preparation Guide. Singapore: John Willey and Sons