1. Descriptive Grammar – 2S, 2016 Mrs. Belén Berríos Droguett
Sentence Patterns
Descriptive Grammar – 2S, 2016
Mrs. Belén Berríos Droguett

2. We use patterns to analyze as well as to construct sentences
The use of Patterns
We use patterns to analyze as well as to construct sentences
The same rules that we use of the analysis of sentences can be used to identify certain repeated or common structures
The identification of these structures helps us to create new grammatically well-formed sentences, clauses or phrases
The following patterns to be presented are based on the concept of simple, compound and complex sentences

3. Sentence Patterns
The patterns here presented are focused on the relation of Subject and Verb (Predicator)
These patterns work with different form of sentences, thus, declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, imperatives; as well as positive/negative, active and passive
The 24 patterns which will be presented are mostly focused on simple sentences; numbers 22 and 23 acknowledged complex sentences
By the end of the presentation, there will be presented some key words and forms in relation to compound and complex sentences

4. Subject + Verb + Complement The sun is shiny
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb
The sun shines
Subject + Verb + Complement
The sun is shiny
Subject + Verb + Adverbial (AvP)
The sun is up
Subject + Verb + Direct Object
He likes the sun
Subject + Verb + Adverbial (PP)
The sun shines on the sky

5. Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial He likes the sun on the sky
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial
He likes the sun on the sky
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adjective
He likes the tea very cold
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + to be + AjP (Complement)
He prefers the tea to be cold
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement
He calls his boyfriend dear

6. Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial (PP)
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial (PP)
He drinks the tea in the balcony
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
He gave his boyfriend a new jacket
Subject + Verb + for (duration) + Adverbial
They walk for one hour
Subject + Verb + infinitive (bare form)
They would get married

7. Subject + Verb + Direct Object + infinitive (bare form)
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + infinitive (bare form)
He heard him sing
Subject + Verb + to – infinitive
They need to go away
Subject + Verb + wh-word + to-infinitive
He decided what to do
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + to-infinitive
He invited him to travel

8. Subject + Verb + Direct Object + wh-word + to- infinitive
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + wh-word + to- infinitive
He taught him how to dance
Subject + Verb + present participle
They enjoy dancing
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + present participle
They like their dogs playing
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + past participle
He prefers the shoes brushed

9. Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb + that + Noun Clause
They admit that they would like to get married
(a) Subject + Verb + Direct Object + that + Noun Clause
He told me that they are planning to get married
(b) Subject + Verb + Direct Object + wh-word + Noun Clause
I convinced them where they should have the wedding
(a) Subject + Verb + so
They expect so
(b) Subject + Verb + not
They expect not

10. However there are certain elements we can have in mind to identify:
Sentence Patterns
Compound sentences: they are actually two sentences put together by a conjunction, its more common pattern is:
Sentence 1 + conjunction + Sentence 2
However there are certain elements we can have in mind to identify:
Connectors which appear with a comma: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Connectors which appear with a semicolon and comma: however, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, therefore
We can then state two possible patterns:
S + P, and S + P or S + P; however, S + P

11. There are some typical relations we can identify:
Sentence Patterns
Complex sentences also can show us some possible patterns, in this case, the relation between the Main Clause and its Subordinate Clause
There are some typical relations we can identify:
Cause – Effect: because, since, so that
Comparison – Contrast: although, even though, though, whereas, while
Place – Manner: where, wherever, how, however
Possibility – Condition: if, whether, unless
Relation: that, which, who, whom
Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until

12. From this, we can identify the following patterns:
Sentence Patterns
Usually, the presented connectors appear at the beginning of subordinate clause, indicating the type of relation between them
From this, we can identify the following patterns:
SP + connector + SP or
Connector + SP, SP or
S + connector + P + SP
Finally, it is also possible have the combination of compound and complex sentences, being the patterns:
SP, and SP because SP or Because SP, SP, but SP

13. She enjoys books  Books she enjoys SPO  OSP
bASIC AND dERIVED
A Basic structure is a model shared by speakers, which by most, it is considered the common, normal, correct form to organize or create a sentence
Derived structure, on the other hand, refers to the change of these structures in order to give emphasis to certain elements by the speakers, or simple simplify the form
Example:
She enjoys books  Books she enjoys
SPO  OSP

14. Omission of relative pronouns:
Another phenomenon which can appear or happen among sentences is the omission of certain elements; there we can identify:
Omission of relative pronouns:
E.g. The places that they have visited  The places they have visited
Omission in comparative clause:
E.g. Charles completed the marathon faster than Jerry completed the marathon  Charles completed the marathon faster than Jerry
Omission in coordinate constructions:
E.g. Charles is at the bank and Jerry is at the bank  Charles and Jerry are at the bank
Charles was tired and Charles was sleepy  Charles was tired and sleepy
Tag questions:
E.g. They should buy the house, shouldn’t they (unlinked coordination – two clauses)

15. Some specific names in relation to Omission are:
Relative pronoun omission
Ellipsis
Branching coordination
Coordination reduction

16. E.g. He would happily help you  Happily he would help you
Other Changes
Split of constituents: division of elements inside a sentence or phrase by another element which can be naturally moved. This movements can be either for meaning purposes or looking for a more natural expression
E.g. He would happily help you  Happily he would help you
Can you explain me the problem?  You could explain me the problem
Double Analysis:
Passive reconsidered
E.g. Their dogs caught the intruder  The intruder was caught by their dogs
Subject raising
E.g. Charles wanted his dogs to sleep in the room  Charles wanted that his dogs sleep in the room
Jerry preferred they sleep in the living room  Jerry preferred them to sleep in the living room

17. Existential Clauses: sentences beginning with “there”
Changes
Cleft structures: a single clause is split into two separate clause like- parts
E.g. Charles has visited his mother every week  It was Charles who visited his mother every week
Existential Clauses: sentences beginning with “there”
E.g. There are two dogs on the sofa  Two dogs are on the sofa
Extraposition: a construction where a NCl, as a subject, is postponed to the end of the MCl, replaced by “it”
E.g. What he has done was horrible  It was horrible what he has done

18. Fronting of subordinate clause object: move the subordinate clause to the beginning by extraposition
E.g. It was difficult to understand the class  The class was difficult to understand
Substitution of PP for Indirect Object
E.g. Jerry sent Charles an  Jerry sent an to Charles
Postponement of postmodifiers
E.g. Their moment to make a decision has arrived  Their moment has arrived to make a decision