CHAPTER 1

ENGLISH SENTENCE
PATTERNS
Objectives:
- General: The students are able to develop basic English sentence patterns.
- Specific:
1. The students are able to develop simple sentence patterns.
2. The students are able to develop compound sentence patterns.
3. The students are able to develop complex sentence patterns.
4. The students are able to develop compound-complex sentence
patterns.

A key component to make sentences in writing is that it should not only

make sense grammatically, but the ideas should also connect and flow
smoothly from one to another. One way to make sentences flow smoothly is
to use various sentence patterns.
Key parts to every sentence:
1) Subject: the who or what in the sentence doing the action or
expressing the relationship or condition in the sentence
Jos is fluent in Portuguese.
2) Verb: expresses the action, condition, or relationship to the subject
Myrna speaks German.
Review these basic English sentence patterns:
A. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject, verb, and expresses a complete
thought.
1. Jos studied for the exam.
2. Elaine and Stephanie needed someone to proofread their

Simple
sentence:
papers.
S-V

3. He reviewed the sentence card and wrote practice sentences.

NOTE: A simple sentence can have more than one subject

(compound subject) and more than one verb (compound verb). (See
numbers 2 and 3 above).
A. When we make simple English sentences, we usually follow the SubjectVerb-Object pattern.
Steps:
1. put the subject and the adjectives such as fat, thin etc. or any words
describing the subject at the beginning of the sentence
2. put the verb and some adverbs such as often, usually etc. after the
subject
3. put the object of the verb, the adjectives or other words describing the
object and the adverbs describing the verb at the end of the sentence
Example:
Subject

Verb

Paul
Mary
My father and mother
The fat girl
That little boy

often eats
ate
are eating
has eaten
will eat

Object
biscuits.
two apples quickly.
mangoes now.
a watermelon.
some bread soon.

b).

Some verbs can be followed by two objects without an and

connecting them.
One of these objects is called the direct object and the other the indirect
object. Below is the pattern of a sentence containing both direct object and
indirect object:
Subject Verb Indirect Object Direct Object
Example:
Subject
I
My parents
We
They

c).

Verb
gave
always tell
have lent
are asking

Indirect Object
my sister
me
him
the teacher

Direct Object
a birthday
present.
stories.
some money
some questions.

Sometimes a preposition is put in front of the indirect object. The

pattern of such sentence is:
Subject Verb Direct Object Preposition Indirect Object

Subject
My friend
His parents

Verb
has sent
bought

Direct
Object
a letter
a computer

Preposition
to
for

Indirect
Object
me.
him.

The examples of the other simple sentence patterns.

S (Subject); V (Verb); O (Object); A (Adverbial); C (Complement); DO
(Direct Object);
IO (Indirect Object); Prep (Preposition)
1. We are studying English now.
S
V
O
A
2. She is happy.
S
V
A
3. It is a computer programme.
S V
C
4. She is working in the laboratory.
S
V
A
5. The student sent us his research proposal.
S
V
IO
DO
6. The student sent his research proposal to
us.
S
V
DO
Prep
IO
7. The scientist has carried out his experiment carefully.
S
V
O
A
8. The board of reviewers pronounced it the best research
today.
S
V
O
C
A
B. Compound Sentence
When you want to join two complete sentences to become compound
sentence, use a semicolon; a comma and a coordinating conjunction; or a
semicolon, conjunctive adverb, and comma.
1. Jos wrote his paper; his classmates then gave him feedback on his
writing.
2. Jos studied, but Chris fell asleep.

Compound Sentence
S-V; S-V
S-V, conjunction S-V

S-V; conj. Adverb, S-V.

3. Jos passed the exam; however, Chris failed it.

4. The problem of nuclear engineering have been very much
specialized; therefore, people now speak of it as a distinct branch
of engineering.

Chart I
Compound Sentence with Coordinating Conjunctions
Sentence

Are you going the party,

Connector
(Coordinating
conjunction)
or

Sentence

will you stay?

Ana is a vegetarian,

yet

she is very big.

I did not know the way to

my hotel.
I dont eat rice,

so

I asked a porter.

nor

do I drink ice.

but

very clearly as well.

and

at last he
understood.
he was very ill this
year.

I not only spoke very

carefully,
I repeated my question
several time,
He failed,

for

Chart II
Compound Sentence with Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive
Adverbs
however
nevertheless
therefore
otherwise
accordingly
thus
in fact

Indicating
contrast

result

Examples
She went home;
however,
he stayed.
He went home; thus,
you
cant see him.

furthermore

augmentation

then
meanwhile

time

The dog is clever;

furthermore, it is
wakeful.
He will exercise, then
he will win.

C. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains one independent or main clause and one or
more dependent or subordinate clauses.
Another way to join two complete sentences together is to use a
subordinating conjunction to connect these sentences.
1. Because he had studied hard, Jos aced the exam.
2. Jos aced the exam because he had studied hard.
Chart III
Complex Sentence with Adverbial Clauses
Main Clause
Subject
Pioneers
Danger
Everyone
Families
People
The pioneers
Life

Verb

Subordinate
Conjunction

Sub Clause
Subject

Verb

struggled
waited
cooperated
helped each
other
continued to
move
struggled

as
wherever
if
when

all pioneers
they
danger
sickness

do.
went.
threatened.
came.

although

hardships

were severe.

because

they

became
easier

as

time

dreamed of a
better life.
passed.

Chart IV
Adverbial Clauses
Type of
Clauses

Subordinate
Conjunction

Examples

Time

when
while
since
before
time
after
once.

until
as soon as
as long as
by the

now that

He can meet you when he

finished his work. or
When he finished his work,
he can meet you.
She was reading while
Bobby was playing

Place

where
wherever

Cause/Reason

because
since
as
now that

Condition

if
on condition
unless
that
provided that

if it rains, I wont come.

Contrast

though
although
even though

Although it rained, I came.

Purpose

so
so that
in order that

They climbed higher so (so

that, in order that) they can
see more.

Result

so + adjective/adverb +
that, such (a) + noun +
that,
so that
as if
as though

She is so tall that she can

reach the ceiling

as
so + adjective/adverb +
as, than

Manner
Comparison

Chart V

We live where the river

crosses.
whereas
as long as
because of

He couldnt come because

he was ill.
Now that Ive finished my
module, I can go out.

She looks as if she is dead.

She work as hard as me.
He works harder than me.

Complex Sentence with Adjective Clause

Referring to

Relative Pronoun
who/that (subject)

person

whom/that (object)
whose (possessive)

thing

which/that

time

when

place

where

reason

why

Examples
People who lived 4000 km away
heard it.
People whom they know lived
4000 km away heard it.
People whose houses are 4000
km away heard it.
Here is the book which/that
describes my journey.
This is the year when the Olympic
Games are held.
This is the town where you were
born.
Give me your reasons why you
went there.

Chart VI
Complex Sentence with Noun Clauses as Subject
Noun Clause/Subject

Verb

Object/Complement

is not

true.

What you hear

That Mrs. Sabil is a doctor

is

true.

That she leads a busy life

is

true.

That her husband is usually at

home

is

true.

Chart VII
Complex Sentence with Noun Clauses as Object
Subject
I

Verb
happen to know

Noun Clause/Object
where they spent Christmas.

remember

when they arrived in Bali.

He

asked me

wether the rain always arrives late.

wish

wish

wish

that I could buy a car next year.

(future)
that I knew where he was now.
(present)
that I had come to the party last
night. (past)

D. Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound complex sentence contains two or more independent or main
clauses and one or more dependent or subordinate clause.
Join three complete sentences together by adding a subordinating
conjunction and a comma and coordinating conjunction.
1. Jos wrote a rough draft, and he went to the tutoring center
because he needed help.
2. Although he hadnt studied, Chris expected to pass, but he was
wrong.
Connecting Ideas Using Coordinators and Subordinators
The following chart shows coordinators and common subordinators used
when moving from point to point within a paragraph.

but

Consequenc
e
so

Alternativ
e
or

yet

for

nor

and
also
moreover
furthermore
in addition

nevertheless

consequently

however
in contrast
on the other
hand

therefore
as a result

along with

even though

because

Addition
Coordinating
conjunctions
(compound
sentence)
Conjunctive
adverbs
Transitional
expressions
(compound
sentence)
Subordinating

and

Contras

conjunctions
(complex
sentence)

in addition
to

although

since
while
though

Activity
A. Simple Sentence
Exercise 1
Rearrange the words in correct order to make complete sentences.
Example:
the fat cat / a mouse / is chasing.
The fat cat is chasing a mouse.
1. that thin girl / is drinking / milk now
2. the robbers yesterday / the police / caught
3. our teacher / like /we
4. my mother / my baby sister / is looking after
5. has just written / a letter / the tall man
6. the students / have solved / some Mathematics problems
7. her aunt tomorrow / will visit / Mary
8. newspapers every day / my boss / reads
9. enjoyed / the movie / the audience
10. the cook / some chocolate cakes / has made
Exercise 2
Rearrange the words in correct order to make complete sentences.
Example:
my sister / a birthday cake yesterday / me / baked
My sister baked me a birthday cake yesterday.
1. the short man / has bought / some crayons from the stationery shop / his
son
2. the policeman / has just shown / the driver / his driving license
3. the patient / gave / some medicine / the nurse
4. brought / me / a bouquet of flowers last week / my uncle
5. the shopkeeper / the customer / is paying / two hundred dollars
6. he / his brother / the secret / has never told
7. a postcard from Japan / sent / her / her best friend
8. did not lend / his new model car / the child / his classmate
9. her mother / cooked / her / some congee
10. has ever given / any help / the blind woman / no one in the street
Exercise 3
Rewrite each of the following sentences by placing the word in brackets
before the indirect object.
Example: My brother showed me his new wallet. (to)
My brother showed his new wallet to me.

1. The postman took her a letter yesterday. (to)

2. The dog owner gives his dog a bone every day. (to)
3. The students sent their teacher a present. (to)
4. The gardener handed me some flowers. (to)
5. My mother has already taken my father a cup of coffee.(to)
6. She found me a seat in the concert last Sunday. (for)
7. Betty has painted her best friend a beautiful picture. (for)
8. We bought our uncle a pair of gloves on his birthday. (for)
9. The tailor made the princess a new dress. (for)
10. Judy has baked me some chocolate cookies. (for)
B. Compound Sentence
Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks with the following Conjunctive Adverbs:
however
nevertheless
otherwise

thus, in fact
accordingly
meanwhile
furthermore
consequently
then
therefore

Example:
He doesnt enjoy himself at the party and wants to go home, _________________ he is not feeling well.
Answer: He doesnt enjoy himself at the party and wants to go home, in
fact he is not feeling well.
1. We worked very efficiently yesterday and finished early
_________________ we got a reward
2. He hurt his ankle, _________________ he kept on walking as he did not
want to be left behind.
3. She wants her daughter to play the piano at a concert,
_________________ she has to sent her to a conservatory to study.
4. There are a number of cases of flu in the neighborhood,
_________________ if you dont feel well go to the doctor immediately
5. I do not like jazz, _________________ I enjoyed the concert as the
members of the band played excellently.
6. The teacher wants to go out with the class at the end of the semester.
_________________ he make a schedule of the places they want to visit.
7. I worked very hard yesterday, _________________ I am allowed a holiday
today.
8. The new students are practicing very hard for the coming sport event.
_________________ they are keen to win.
9. Will you please lay the table? _________________ Ill warm the soup.

10.
I have made a schedule for tomorrow. First well go to Ancol,
_________________ well proceed to Taman Mini.
C. Complex Sentence
Exercise 5
Underline the Adverbial Clauses from these sentences.
Example: When one girl broke her leg, she sat down
Answer: When one girl broke her leg, she sat down
1. If you were in a hurry, you would not go by beach.
2. You would go by taxi because that is faster.
3. As communication improves, changes occur.
4. One family left the other more sadly than we can imagine.
5. After planes were built, birds were not necessary for communication.
6. Because he was hungry, he went to the cafeteria.
7. The men walked to JL. Irian more slowly than they had before.
8. In order to finish the work, he didnt sleep.
9. We should take our bags with us, since she goes by herself.
10.
I am always tired although I have a good nights sleep.
Exercise 6
Write down the Adjective Clauses from these sentences.
Example: The toys _________________ were returned to him. They belong to
the boy
Answer: The toys which belong to the boy were returned to him.
1. She hurried home to feed the birds _________________ The birds were
sick.
2. The president appointed Ali, _________________, to become the manager.
He is thirty years old.
3. The appartment _________________ is one of the most expensive
buildings.
It is on the third floor.
4. The children _________________ went to look at the band.
They were playing in the garden.
5. Joko _________________ failed in the exam
He is an only child.
6. The shopkeeper asked for police protection.
He had been robbed.
7. The people _________________ were given help.
Their houses were burned down.
8. 1984 is one of the novels _________________

It is read by IKIP students.

9. The race _________________ Was held in Jakarta.
It was joined by Malaysians.
10.
Mr. Buyung _________________ is the best lawyer in town.
He is sitting there.
Exercise 7
Write down the Noun Clauses in the following sentences.
Example: John wondered what is in the box
You Write: _________________ what is in the box
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The club will give a reward to whoever wins a prize.

Joko asked his mother to read what she had written.
She worried about how ill her best friend was.
That is what Joko and Mary think.
We know whose work was the worst.
At Ngurah Rai Airport dancers will welcome whoever arrives from
abroad.
7. We didnt know what happened in Tanjung Priok.
8. In the fifteenth century many people believed that the world was flat.
9. He doesnt remember where he bought the book.
10.
Do you know when and where they saw the film?
Exercise 8
Combine each of the following pairs of sentences to form one sentence
containing a noun clause.
Example: He went home. It was seven oclock.
You Write: He went home when it was seven oclock.
1. They forget this. Poetry is very natural for Children.
2. People say most poetry must be read slowly.
3. Please let me know. Why did he do it?
4. They give courses. They need help.
5. Words have meaning. It is a fact.
6. The sports committee gives rewards. Who wins the game.
7. One must think of this. What do the words mean?
8. It is clear. Poets use figurative language.
9. One reason is this. A few words suggest big ideas.
10.
We know this. It contains many of lifes noblest thoughts.
D. Compound Complex sentence
Exercise 9

Identify the independent and subordinate clauses in the following sentences

and determine whether they are complex or compound-complex. You can
check your answers below.
1. Jason decided to stay up late because he had a lot of homework to do.
2. If you hurry, we might get to school on time.
3. Although Monica had a cold, she went to school because she had a
test.
4. While washing the car, Todd slipped on the soap and he fell.
5. Dad takes the train to work even though he has a car.
6. After Mom arrived, she put the disk in the DVD player and we watched
a great movie.
7. Even though his heart pounded with dread, Ben bolted up the stairs,
and he checked out the strange noise.
8. Molly baked brownies since she had nothing else to do.
9. Karen made a list of what was needed, and she double-checked it so
she wouldn't forget anything.
10.
Frank had a good sense of humor, so he laughed a lot.
Mixture
Exercise 10
Choose the letter of the word of group of words that best completes the
sentence.
1. Today the true story of ____ at Litle Bighorn remains a mystery.
(A)happened
(B)it happened
(C)what happened
(D)
what happening
2. For more than a decade, ____ that certain species are becoming scarce.
(A)the warnings of bird-watchers
(B)warn the bird-watchers
(C)bird-watchers have warned
(D)
a warning for bird-watchers
3. Early in the eighteenth century, Halley accurately predicted when ____ of
1682 would return.
(A)the comet
(B)was the comet
(C)the comet was
(D)
had the comet
4. No single factor explains why ____ vary so greatly among individuals.
(A)aging affects
(B)the effects of aging
(C)aging has an effect
(D)
the aging effect

5. Lack of clarity about ____ the party in the coming year will be removed at
the partys convention.
(A)will lead
(B)lead
(C)they will lead
(D)
who will lead
6. We do not ____ the bow drill was first developed for woodworking or fire
making.
(A)whether it
(B)know whether it
(C)know whether
(D)
sure whether
7. Minute Man National Historical Park is a monument to where ____ .
(A)the beginning of the Revolutionary War
(B)in the beginning of the Revolutionary War
(C)the Revolutionary War to begin
(D)
the Revolutionary War began
8. Tests on colors of cars were conducted at the University of California to
determine ____ the safest colors for cars.
(A)which
(B)which were
(C)if
(D)
how were
9. The National Institute of Dental Research estimates ____ in fluoridated
areas have about 25 percent less tooth decay than children elsewhere.
(A)for school children
(B)school childrens
(C)that school children
(D)
that for school children
10. The process of photosynthesis explains how ____ able to use the
energy in sunlight to manufacture foods from the simple chemicals in air
and water.
(A)green plants
(B)green plants are
(C)planting greens
(D)
with green plants are

Answer key
Exercise 1
1. That thin girl is drinking milk now.
2. The police caught the robbers yesterday.
3. We like our teacher.
4. My mother is looking after my baby sister.
5. The tall man has just written a letter.
6. The students have solved some Mathematics problems.
7. Mary will visit her aunt tomorrow.
8. My boss reads newspapers every day.
9. The audience enjoyed the movie.
10.
The cook has made some chocolate cakes.
Exercise 2
1. The short man has bought his son some crayons from the stationery
shop.
2. The driver has just shown the policeman his driving license.
3. The nurse gave the patient some medicine.
4. My uncle brought me a bouquet of flowers last week.
5. the costumer is paying the shopkeeper two hundred dollars.
6. He has never told his brodher the secret.
7. Her best friend sent her a postcard from japan.
8. The child did not lend his classmate his new model car.
9. Her mother cooked her some congee.
10.
No one in the street has ever given the blind woman any help.

Exercise 3
1. The postman took a letter to her yesterday.
2. The dog owner gives a bone to his dog every day.
3. The students sent a present to their teacher.
4. The gardener handed some flowers to me.
5. My mother has already taken a cup of coffe to my father.
6. She found a seat for me in the concert last Sunday.
7. Betty has painted a beautiful picture for her best friend.
8. We bought a pair of gloves for our uncle on his birthday.
9. The tailor made a new dress for the princess.
10.
Judy has baked some chocolate cookies for me.
Exercise 4
1. therefore (result)
2. however (contrast)
3. consequently (result)
4. therefore (result)
5. nevertheless (contrast)
6. Accordingly (result)
7. thus (result)
8. Furthermore (augmentation-penambahan)
9. Meanwhile (time)
10.
then (time)
Exercise 5
1. If you were in a hurry,
2. because that is faster.
3. As communication improves,
4. than we can imagine.
5. after planes were built, _________________
6. Because he was hungry,
7. than they had before.
8. In order to finish the work,
9. since she goes by herself.
10.
although I have a good nights sleep.
Exercise 6
1. She hurried home to feed the birds that/which were sick.
2. The president appointed Ali who is thirty years old to become the
manager.
3. The appartment which/that is on the third floor is one of the most
expensive buildings.
4. The children who were playing in the garden went to look at the band.
5. Joko who is an only child failed in the exam.
6. The shopkeeper who had been robbed asked for police protection.
7. The people whose houses were burned down were given help.
8. 1984 is one of the novels which/that is read by IKIP students.

9. The race which/that was joined by Malaysians was held in Jakarta.

10.
Mr Buyung who is sitting there is the best lawyer in town.
Exercise 7
1. whoever wins a prize object
2. what she had written object
3. how ill her best friend was object
4. what Joko and Mary think object
5. whose work was the worst object
6. whoever arrives from abroad object
7. what happened in Tanjung Priok object
8. that the world was flat -- object
9. where he bought the book object
10.
when and where they saw the film object
Exercise 8
1. They forget that poetry is very natural for children.
2. People say that most poetry must be read slowly.
3. Please, let me know why he did it.
4. They give courses to whoever needs help.
5. It is a fact that words have meaning.
6. The sports committee gives rewards to whoever wins the game.
7. One must think of what the words mean.
8. It is clear that poets use figurative language.
9. One reason is that a few words suggest big ideas.
10.
We know that it contains many of lifes noblest thoughts.
Exercise 9
(The independent clauses are boldfaced, the subordinate clauses are italic,
and conjunctions are Roman.)
Jason decided to stay up late because he had a lot of homework to do.
1.
(complex)
2. If you hurry, we might get to school on time. (complex)
Although Monica had a cold, she went to school because she had a
3.
test. (complex)
While washing the car, Todd slipped on the soap and he fell.
4.
(compound-complex)
5. Dad takes the train to work even though he has a car. (complex)
After Mom arrived, she put the disk in the DVD player and we
6.
watched a great movie. (compound-complex)
Even though his heart pounded with dread, Ben bolted up the stairs,
7.
and he checked out the strange noise. (compound-complex)
8. Molly baked brownies since she had nothing else to do. (complex)
Karen made a list of what was needed, and she double-checked it
9.
so she wouldn't forget anything. (compound-complex)
10 Frank had a good sense of humor, so he laughed a lot. (complex)

.
Exercise 10
1. C
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. D
6. C
7. D
8. B
9. C
10.
B