WORD & PHRASE PATTERNS

1. Verbs - Verbs are words that show action. They do not always stand alone. Often we combine state-of-being verbs with action verbs to form verb phrases. A phrase is two or more words serving as one part of speech. 2. Nouns Words that name are called nouns. 3. Pronouns Pronouns take the place of nouns in a sentence. 4. Subject Each verb of a sentence has a noun or pronoun subject. The subject usually comes before the verb and answers the question: Who or what does this action? 5. Compound Verbs More than one verb may be used in a sentence. Often we use a common part of speech called a conjunction (and, but, or) or a comma to combine two or more verbs in a sentence. Two or more separate verbs make a compound verb. [The performer sang and danced.] 6. Compound Subjects More than one subject may be used for a verb. Often we use the conjunction and or a comma to combine nouns and pronouns as the subject of the verb. Two or more separate subjects make a compound subject. 7. Adjectives Adjectives are words that describe and modify nouns and pronouns. One-word adjectives normally come immediately before the word they modify and answer the questions: Which one? or How many? 8. Comparatives When we compare two things, we add er to the adjective. When we compare more the two things, we add est to the adjective. 9. Adverbs Adverbs are words that give added meaning to verbs and sometimes to other adverbs and adjectives. Adverbs usually follow the verb they modify. They tell When, Where, Why and How the action of the verb takes place. 10. Prepositional Phrases The most common type of phrase in the English language is the prepositional phrase which is used as an adjective or adverb. Prepositions are usually small words that show how one word relates to another in the sentence. Many everyday expressions using a verb together with a preposition are part of the English language, they become a verb phrase for the sentence.

CLAUSE PATTERNS 1. The Predicate A sentence is predicated or based on the verb. For this reason we call the verb and usually all other words following the verb the complete-predicate. The verb or verb-phrase is referred to as the simplepredicate. 2. The Subject The other major part of the sentence is the subject. The complete subject is usually all the words that come before the simplepredicate in the sentence. The simple-subject is the noun or pronoun subject of the simple predicate in the sentence. 3. The Clause A clause is a group of words with a simple subject and a simple predicate. A clause may or may not be a sentence. 4. Independent and Dependent Clauses When a clause stands alone as a complete thought the clause is independent. When it cannot stand alone it is dependent. 5. The Complex Sentence An independent and dependent clause may be joined together to form a complex sentence. 6. The Compound Sentence Two or more independent clauses may be joined to form a compound sentence. 7. The Compound-Complex Sentence A complex sentence with two or more independent clauses.

VERB TENSE & VERBAL PATTERNS 1. Present Tense Verbs The basic form of the verb itself and its ing form. The present tense shows a present fact or an action progressing. The ing verb always comes as a verb-phrase. 2. The Present Participle as Verbal The ing form of a present tense verb is called a present participle. This may serve as an adjective in a sentence. Such verbs are verbal adjectives. A verbal is a verb form that can be used as another part of speech. They can be used as an adjective or verb phrase in a sentence. 3. The Present Participle Phrase As a verbal, the present participle is often combined with a prepositional phrase. The result is a participle phrase serving as an adjective. The participial phrase often follows the noun it modifies. 4. The Gerund as Verbal The ing form of the present tense verb may also be used as a noun. This verbal noun is known as a Gerund. 5. The Gerundial Phrase The ing gerund is often combined with other words or a prepositional phrase to form a gerundial phrase. The Gerundial phrase is used as a noun. 6. The Present Infinitive as Verbal The present tense verb also forms the present infinitive by combining the word to to the word. The result is a verbal that is used mostly as a noun but may also be used as an adjective or adverb. 7. Forming the Future Tense The present tense of a verb is also used to form the future tense of the verb. The helping verbs shall and will are combined with the present tense verb to show that the action is to take place in the future. Shall is used most commonly to express an obligation or ask a question. 8. The Past Tense - The past tense form of the verb is composed of the past tense and past participle. Words that form the past tense and past participle by adding ed to the present tense are called regular; verbs that do not are called irregular. 9. The Past Participle as Verbal The pat participle can be used as an adjective. 10. The Past Infinitive as Verbal The past infinitive is formed by adding to with have (or other helping words) with the past participle of the verb. 11. Wishing for the Future Perfect We also form a future tense by using helping words and the past participle. The action of the verb will have been perfectly completed in the future. (We will have eaten by the time you arrive)