SENTENCE PATTERNS 1-20

PATTERN 1
Description: Compound Sentence: semicolon, no conjunction
Pattern: S V; S V.
Example: Talent is only one side of the equation; hard work is the other.
PATTERN 1A
Description:(Variation) Compound Sentence: semicolon, conjunctive adver
Pattern: S V; conjunctive adver, S V.
Example: Talent is very important; however, hard work is essential.
PATTERN 1B
Description:(Variation) Compound Sentence: semicolon, coordinatin! conjunction
Pattern: S V, coordinatin! conjunction S V ; S V.
Example: Talent is very important, ut hard work is essential; you must have
oth to e successful.
PATTERN 1C
Description:(Variation) Compound Sentence: semicolon, no conjunction
Pattern: S V; S V ; S V.
Example: Talent is important; hard work is essential; to!ether they make a
winnin! comination.
PATTERN 2
Description: Compound Sentence it! Elliptical construction
Pattern: S " D# or SC; S$ D# or SC
Example: " red li!ht means stop; a !reen li!ht$ !o.
PATTERN %
Description: Compound Sentence it! Explanator& Statement
Pattern: 'eneral statement: speci(ic example
Example: #arwin$s %ri!in of Species forcily states a harsh truth: only the
fittest survive.
PATTERN )
Description: A Series it!out a Con*unction
Pattern: A$B$C
Example: The &nited States has a !overnment of the people$ y the people$ for
the people+
PATTERN )A
Description:(Variation) A Series it! a "ariation
Pattern: A or B or C
Example: #espite his handicaps, ' have never seen (arry an!ry or cross or
depressed.
PATTERN ,
Description: " Series with )alanced *airs
Pattern: " and ), C and #, + and ,.
Example: -y love is day and ni!ht, winter and summer, war and peace, aundance
and hun!er.
PATTERN -
Description: An .ntroductor& series o( Appositi/es
Pattern: Appositi/e$ appositi/e$ appositi/e00summar& ord S "
Example: Vanity, !reed, corruption00 which serves as the novel$s source of
conflict.
PATTERN 1
Description: An .nternal Series o( Appositi/es or 2odi(iers
Pattern: S 00appositi/e$ appositi/e$ appositi/e00"
Example: The necessary qualities for political life00!uile, ruthlessness, and
!arrulity00she learned y carefully studyin! his father$s life.
PATTERN 1A
Description:(Variation) a Sin3le Appositi/e or a Pair
Pattern: S 00appositi/e00"
Example: " sudden e/plosion00artillery fire00si!naled the e!innin! of a
arra!e.
PATTERN 4
Description: Dependent Clauses in a Pair or in a Series
Pattern: .(+++$ i(+++$ i(+++$ t!en S "
Example: 'f you clothes are made of cotton$ if you wash them with soap$ if you
han! them on the line$ you may not need a faric softener.
PATTERN 5
Description: 0epetition of a 1ey Term
Pattern: S V key term, repeated key term
Example: 2Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however
lon! and hard the road may e 3. . .4.2 5inston Churchill
PATTERN 5A
Description:(Variation) Some 5ord repeated in a *arallel Structure
Pattern: S V repeated key word in same position
Example: 6is 3reatest discoveries$ his 3reatest successes$ his 3reatest
influence upon daily life came to +dison only after repeated failure+
PATTERN 16
Description: Emp!atic Appositi/e at End$ a(ter a Colon
Pattern: S " ord: appositi/e
Example: "irport thieves have a common tar!et: unwary travelers.
PATTERN 16A
Description:(Variation) Appositi/e (sin3le or pair or series7 a(ter a Das!
Pattern: S " ord00appositi/e
Example: "djustin! to a new jo requires one quality aove00a sense of humor.
PATTERN 11
Description: .nterruptin3 2odi(ier Beteen S and "
Pattern: S (modi(ier t!at !ispers7 "
Example: The hunter 7a common si!ht in 8ew 6ampshire woods durin! the winter9
carried a lar!e calier rifle.
PATTERN 11A
Description:(Variation) A 8ull Sentence as .nterruptin3 2odi(ier
Pattern: S00a (ull sentence00"
Example: :uliet$s famous question;;25herefore art thou, 0omeo.2;;is often
misunderstood+
PATTERN 12
Description: 'ntroductory or Concludin! *articiples
Pattern: *articipial *hrase, S V 7or reverse9
Examples: (au!hin! at his foolish ehavior, she fell ackwards in her chair.

PATTERN 1%
Description: A Sin3le 2odi(ier #ut o( Place (or Emp!asis
Pattern: 2odi(ier$ S "
Example: To e!in with, some ideas are just plain difficult.
PATTERN 1)
Description: *repositional *hrase )efore S;;V
Pattern: *repositional *hrase S V 7or V S9
Example: #urin! the lon! winter months, Tom toiled as a trapper.
PATTERN 1,
Description: %ject or Complement )efore S;;V
Pattern: %ject or Complement S V
Example: 6is kind of sarcasm 7,9' do not like.
PATTERN 1,A
Description:(Variation) Complete 'nversion of 8ormal *attern
Pattern: %ject or Complement or modifier V S
Example: #own the field and throu!h the tacklers ran the 6eisman Trophy winner.
PATTERN 1-
Description: Paired Construction
Pattern: T!e more S "$ t!e more S "
Example:The more ' saw of his work, the more ' knew ' didn$t want to purchase it
PATTERN 1-A
Description:(Variation) " *aired Construction for Contrast %nly
Pattern: " 2this, not that2 or 2not this ut that2 construction
Example: <enius, not stupidity, has limits.
PATTERN 11
Description: Dependent Clause as Su9*ect or #9*ect or Complement
Pattern: S :dependent clause; "
Example: 5hat a man cannot ima!ine cannot e created.
PATTERN 14
Description: A9solute Construction An&!ere in Sentence
Pattern: A9solute construction$ S "
Examples: The ,rench defeated, the <ermans advanced on *aris.
PATTERN 15
Description: The Short, Simple Sentence for 0elief or #ramatic +ffect.
Pattern: S V
Example: *erseverance pays.
PATTERN 15A
Description:(Variation) " Short =uestion for #ramatic +ffect
Pattern: 'nterro!ative word standin! alone. <uestion 9ased solel& on intonation
Examples: 5hy not.
>ou really care.
PATTERN 26
Description: The #elierate ,ra!ment
Pattern: -erely a part of a sentence
Examples: ,ine.
,irst, the nuts and olts.