The Sentence Patterns There are 10. You need to know them. 10

Pattern I, II and III I: NP1 be ADV T/P I: NP1 be ADV T/P II: NP1 be ADJ II: NP1 be ADJ III: NP1 be NP1 III: NP1 be NP1

Patterns I, II and III contain forms of the verb “be”. For now, it’s going to be easiest for us to stick with the one word forms of be: For now, it’s going to be easiest for us to stick with the one word forms of be: –Am –Is –Are –Was –Were

Pattern I: The ADV T/P is an “adverb of time or place.” It describes where the NP is or when the action was done. The ADV T/P is an “adverb of time or place.” It describes where the NP is or when the action was done. Adverbs of manner, condition or degree aren’t our concern in the first sentence pattern. Adverbs of manner, condition or degree aren’t our concern in the first sentence pattern. You’ll notice, they won’t even fit after a “be” verb: You’ll notice, they won’t even fit after a “be” verb:  “I am carefully” *  “He was slightly” *  “The boy in the blue boots with the tarnished brass buckles was very”. *

Pattern I Examples: I am upstairs. I am upstairs. –“upstairs” modifies the verb, telling the place. The dance was yesterday. The dance was yesterday. –“yesterday” modifies the verb, telling the time. We could modify the NP as much as we like: “The homecoming dance,” “The surprisingly boring homecoming dance”. This doesn’t change the sentence’s structure and so it doesn’t change the pattern.

More Pattern I Examples: The girl was in the basement. The girl was in the basement. –“in the basement” modifies the verb, telling the place. Here we have a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb of place, or an “adverbial prepositional phrase. The young girl was in the dank, dark, creepy, rat-infested basement. The young girl was in the dank, dark, creepy, rat-infested basement. –This is the same sentence. We’ve got a better sense of what the basement is like, but it’s still a place where the girl was, and is therefore still functioning as an adverb.

Pattern II: The ADJ in the third slot is a subject complement. It describes the NP in the first slot. The ADJ in the third slot is a subject complement. It describes the NP in the first slot. Sometimes prepositional phrases can function as adjectives, just as they did as adverbs. A single adjective can often be substituted for these adjectival prepositional phrases. “ I am in a bad mood.”  “I am grumpy.” (You can’t do this with adverbial prepositional phrases.) Sometimes prepositional phrases can function as adjectives, just as they did as adverbs. A single adjective can often be substituted for these adjectival prepositional phrases. “ I am in a bad mood.”  “I am grumpy.” (You can’t do this with adverbial prepositional phrases.)

Pattern II Examples: The house is blue. The house is blue. –“blue” describes “the house” Sue was pretty. Sue was pretty. –“pretty” describes “Sue” Max is in a funk. Max is in a funk. –“in a funk” describes “Max” –We could say, “Max is blue,” or “Max is overwrought.” –Since all those words are adjectives, so is the phrase “in a funk;” we call it an adjectival.

Pattern III: The NP renames the NP in the first slot. It is called a “subject nominative.” The NP renames the NP in the first slot. It is called a “subject nominative.” –Sometimes the NP in the first slot is just a name, and the NP in the third slot is a group of words. Don’t be fooled: the NPs don’t need to be the same number of words. –Since prepositional phrases can only function as adjectives or adverbs, you know that a prep phrase standing alone cannot be a subject nominative.

Pattern III Examples: Bob is a teacher. Bob is a teacher. –“teacher” renames “Bob” Sue is the best player on the SHHS lacrosse team. Sue is the best player on the SHHS lacrosse team. –“the best player on the lacrosse team” all renames “Sue” Mr. Cooper is a just but fair man. Mr. Cooper is a just but fair man. –“a just but fair man” has some crazy parts of speech in it – conjunctions, determiners, adjectives, nouns -- but it’s still just an NP renaming the NP in the first slot. It renames Cooper.

Classwork/Homework Complete Sentence Pattern Worksheet Complete Sentence Pattern WorksheetSentence Pattern WorksheetSentence Pattern Worksheet Create 6 of your own sentences using patterns I-III Create 6 of your own sentences using patterns I-III –Two sentences per pattern –Make sure you try to come up with some adverbials (prepositional phrases acting as an ADV T/P) –Continue using past/present tense verbs –Try expanding your Noun Phrases NPs