Sentence Patterns

William B. Spivey, Ph.D.

From: Strengthening Your Writing

www.writingexpress.net

3 ACTION PATTERN
S + V1, V2, and V3.
The surfer waded into the ocean, paddled on his board to deeper
water, and caught a big wave.

ACTION EXPANDERS
(AKA - Adverb Phrase/Clause Modifiers)
May be used before or after main sentence trunk.
WHEN: Ask when your subject did the action. Begin with:
as after before during since until when while
When group, S + V.
S + V + When group.
After the speaker stood up, the rattlesnake frightened everyone.
WHERE: Ask where your subject did the action. Begin with:
above across against along alongside among around at
before behind below beneath beside between beyond by
down from in inside into near off on out outside
over past through to toward under up upon
Where group, S + V.
S + V + Where group.
The snake lay still alongside the railroad tracks.
WHY: Ask why your subject did the action. Begin with:
because since so so that to + action (infinitive) in order to due to
Why group, S + V.
S + V + Why group.
The cook fixed what was wrong so that he could go home.
HOW: Tell how your subject did the action. Begin with:
with/without/by
like/as
ly word
How group, S + V
S + V + How group S + How group + V.
As if there were nothing else to do, the navigator made plans.

UNDER WHAT CONDITION: Ask under what condition the subject did the action.
Begin with:
although if though even though even if unless despite in spite of
Condition group, S + V.
S + V + Condition group.
An athlete ordered new equipment, although it was very expensive.

Sentence Patterns
William B. Spivey, Ph.D.

From: Strengthening Your Writing

www.writingexpress.net

NOUN EXPANDERS
(AKA - Adjectival Modifiers) Ask what kind of or which one:
DESCRIBER GROUPS
Describer + S + V.
The spicy food tasted especially unusual.
Describer, describer + S + V.
The melodious, rustling sound awakened our attention.
S, describer and describer, V.
The cake, velvety and moist, sat on the kitchen counter.

WITH/THAT/ING/ED GROUPS (AKA - Prepositional Phrases,

Adjective Clauses, and Participial phrases)
S + W/Without + V. (prepositional phrase)
The singer with the colorful costume moved toward the audience.
S + That + V. (adjective clause)
who = people which = things that = any noun
The performer who was so inspiring gestured widely.
S + ING group + V. (present participial phrase)
The speaker holding an award waved to everyone.
S + ED group + V. (past participial phrase)
The gymnast dressed in blue jumped up and down.

RENAMER GROUP (AKA - Appositive Phrase)

S, Renamer group, V.
The musician, a creative genius who insisted on perfection, accepted an
outstanding achievement award.

SENTENCE EXPANDERS
ING/ED Groups (AKA - Participial Phrases)
ING, S + V.
S + V, ING.
Wanting to make the best decision, the senator sat down to think.
ED, S + V.
S + V, ED.
The student grew nervous, disturbed by his pursuers.

Sentence Patterns
William B. Spivey, Ph.D.

From: Strengthening Your Writing

www.writingexpress.net

NOUN-Part Groups (AKA - Absolute Phrases)

NOUN-part + ING group
S + V, Noun-part + ING.
Noun-part + ING, S + V.
The gigantic ape lumbered through the forest, its body crushing everything in its
path.
Its teeth shredding the flesh, the ferocious tiger devoured its meal.
NOUN-part + ED group (absolute phrases)
S + V, NOUN-part + ED.
NOUN-part + ING, S + V.
The football player stood before the fans, his jaws clenched.
Her legs wrapped around the opponents head, the wrestler concentrated
intensely.
NOUN-part + Where group
S + V, NOUN-part + Where.
NOUN-part + Where, S + V.
The pianist performed with precision, her fingers firmly on the keys.
Her eyes straight ahead, the actress waited for a signal.
NOUN-part + Describer group
S + V, NOUN-part + Describer.
NOUN-part + Describer, S + V.
The lawyer addressed the group, her voice clear and resonant.
His mind alert, the scientist turned on the machine.
NOUN-part + Like/As group
S + V, NOUN-part + Like/As.
NOUN-part + Like/As, S + V.
The surfer emerged from the ocean, her hair like a wet, stringy mop.
His voice like a hen cackling, the clown laughed.
NOUN-part + Renamer of the part
S + V, NOUN-part + Renamer.
NOUN-part + Renamer, S + V.
The wizard stepped in front of the fire, his scepter a symbol of power.
The small flashlight a beacon in the dark, the spy lumbered into the forest.
NOUN-part + Infinitive group
S + V, NOUN-part + Infinitive, NOUN-part + Infinitive.
The students worked late, some to concentrate on the details, others to
finish the task.
S + V, NOUN-part + Infinitive, NOUN-part + Infinitive, and NOUN-part + Infin.
The family took a vacation, Mother to rest, Dad to recuperate from stress,
and the children to play.

DESCRIBER group (AKA - Adjective Cluster)

S + V, describer group.
The girl mowed the lawn, eager to earn some extra money.

RENAMER group (AKA - Free Noun Cluster)

S + V, Renamer group.
The cook entered the kitchen, a portly chef with graying hair.