Sentence Structure: Definition, Structure, Pattern Types and Examples

What is Sentence Structure?

Sentence structure is the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses within a sentence to convey meaning clearly and effectively. It involves how subjects, verbs, and objects are organised to create coherent and grammatically correct sentences. Understanding sentence structure helps in constructing sentences that are not only grammatically accurate but also easily understandable, ensuring that the intended message is communicated effectively.

Components and Parts of Sentence

1. Subject

The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. It is what or who acts as the verb.

• Example 1: The cat slept on the couch.
  (Subject: "The cat")

• Example 2: She enjoys painting.
  (Subject: "She")

• Example 3: The committee decided on the new policy.
  (Subject: "The committee")

2. Verb

The verb expresses the action or state of being in the sentence. It tells what the subject does or what happens to the subject.

• Example 1: The cat slept on the couch.
  (Verb: "slept")

• Example 2: She enjoys painting.
  (Verb: "enjoys")

• Example 3: The committee decided on the new policy.
  (Verb: "decided")

3. Object

The object receives the action of the verb. It can be a noun or pronoun that is affected by the action.

• Example 1: The cat slept on the couch.
  (Object: "The couch")

• Example 2: She enjoys painting.
  (Object: "painting")

• Example 3: The committee decided on the new policy.
  (Object: "the new policy")

4. Complement

A complement provides additional information about the subject or object, often describing or identifying it.

• Example 1: The sky is blue.
  (Complement: "blue")

• Example 2: She became a teacher.
  (Complement: "a teacher")

• Example 3: The movie made us happy.
  (Complement: "happy")

5. Adjunct

An adjunct adds extra details to the sentence but is not essential to its core meaning. It often describes when, where, how, or why something happens.

• Example 1: The cat slept on the couch last night.
  (Adjunct: "Last night")

• Example 2: She enjoys painting in her spare time.
  (Adjunct: "In her spare time")

• Example 3: The committee decided on the new policy after a lengthy discussion.
  (Adjunct: "after a lengthy discussion")

Some Tips on How to Make Sentences in English

To make sentences in English, follow these basic steps:

1. Start with a Subject: The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. It can be a noun (person, place, thing) or a pronoun (he, she, it).

• Example: She runs every day.

2. Add a Predicate: The predicate tells what the subject is doing or what is happening to the subject. It usually contains a verb (action or state of being).

• Example: She runs every day.

3. Include an Object (if needed): The object receives the action of the verb. Not all sentences require an object.

• Example: She reads books.

4. Use Complements (if needed): Complements complete the meaning of the subject or object. They can be adjectives or nouns that provide more detail.

• Example: She is a teacher.

5. Add Adjuncts (if needed): Adjuncts provide additional information about the action, such as when, where, or how something happens.

• Example: She runs every day in the park.

6. Construct Different Sentence Types: Use different types of sentences based on the purpose: declarative (statement), interrogative (question), imperative (command), or exclamatory (exclamation).

• Example of Declarative: She enjoys reading.

• Example of Interrogative: Does she enjoy reading?

• Example of Imperative: Enjoy reading.

• Example of Exclamatory: How much she enjoys reading!

By combining these elements, you can create clear and effective sentences in English.

Rules for Sentence Formation

Here are some key rules for sentence formation:

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

• Ensure the subject and verb agree in number (singular or plural).

• Example: She writes. / They write.

2. Correct Word Order

• Follow the standard word order for English sentences: Subject + Verb + Object (SVO).

• Example: She (Subject) reads (Verb) a book (Object).

3. Proper Punctuation

• Use appropriate punctuation marks to indicate the end of a sentence: period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!).

• Example: He is coming home. / Are you ready? / What a surprise!

4. Complete Thought

• Ensure the sentence expresses a complete thought and includes at least a subject and a predicate.

• Example: The cat sleeps.

5. Use of Articles and Determiners

• Use articles (a, an, the) and determiners (this, that, some) correctly to modify nouns.

• Example: She bought a new car.

6. Avoid Run-On Sentences

• Separate independent clauses with a period, semicolon, or conjunction to avoid run-on sentences.

• Example: I wanted to go, but it was raining.

7. Correct Use of Clauses

• Combine independent and dependent clauses correctly using conjunctions (because, although, if) for complex sentences.

• Example: I stayed home because it was raining.

8. Consistency in Tense

• Maintain consistent tense throughout a sentence or related sentences.

• Example: She was reading when he called.

9. Proper Use of Modifiers

• Place modifiers close to the words they modify to avoid ambiguity.

• Example: The tall man with the hat is my uncle. (Not: The man with the hat tall is my uncle.)

10. Avoiding Fragmented Sentences

• Avoid sentence fragments that lack a main clause or complete thought.

• Example: While we were at the store. (Fragment) / While we were at the store, we bought some groceries. (Complete Sentence)

Types of Sentence Pattern

Here are the main types of sentence patterns with brief descriptions:

1. Simple Sentence

• Contains a single independent clause.

• Example: She reads books.

2. Compound Sentence

• Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction or semicolon.

• Example: She reads books, and he watches movies.

3. Complex Sentence

• Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• Example: She reads books because she loves learning.

4. Compound-Complex Sentence

• Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• Example: She reads books because she loves learning, and he watches movies on weekends.

5. Declarative Sentence

• States a fact or opinion and ends with a period.

• Example: The sky is blue.

6. Interrogative Sentence

• Asks a question and ends with a question mark.

• Example: Are you coming to the party?

7. Imperative Sentence

• Gives a command or request and ends with a period or an exclamation mark.

• Example: Please close the door. / Close the door!

8. Exclamatory Sentence

• Expresses strong emotion and ends with an exclamation mark.

• Example: What a beautiful day!

Sentence Pattern Examples with Answers

1. Subject + Verb

• The cat purrs.

• Children play.

• The sunsets.

• She sings.

• The car stopped.

• It rains.

• The phone rang.

2. Subject + Verb + Object

• He kicked the ball.

• She made dinner.

• They watched a movie.

• The dog chased the cat.

• John wrote a letter.

• She baked cookies.

• They solved the puzzle.

3. Subject + Verb + Complement

• The sky is clear.

• The food tastes great.

• Her dress looks beautiful.

• The team is excited.

• The weather seems nice.

• The answer is correct.

• The idea sounds interesting.

4. Subject + Verb + Adjunct

• He runs fast.

• They arrived late.

• She speaks loudly.

• The train left early.

• I work efficiently.

• The birds flew south.

• She studies hard.

5. Adjunct + Subject + Verb + Object

• In the garden, she planted flowers.

• On the table, he placed the book.

• During the class, they discussed the topic.

• At the store, I bought groceries.

• In the morning, she jogged around the park.

• On weekends, we visit our grandparents.

• At the airport, he checked his luggage.

6. Subject + Verb + Object + Object

• She gave him a book.

• The teacher showed us a video.

• They offered her a job.

• John sent Mary an email.

• The chef cooked us a meal.

• The company provided employees bonuses.

• He taught his brother a lesson.

Check Your Understanding of Sentence Structure

1. Which sentence is an example of a simple sentence?

The cat sleeps.

2. Identify the compound sentence:

a) She enjoys reading, and she loves to write.

b) While she was reading, the phone rang.

c) Because it was raining, we stayed indoors.

3. Which of the following is a complex sentence?

a) He studied for the test, so he passed.

b) Although she was tired, she finished her homework.

c) They went to the store and bought groceries.

4. Choose the compound-complex sentence:

a) I went to the park, and I met my friends who were already there.

b) She likes coffee, but he prefers tea.

c) They went to the market because they needed vegetables.

5. Which sentence is interrogative?

a) Please close the door.

b) Can you help me with this?

c) The movie was fantastic.

6. Identify the imperative sentence:

a) How did you solve the problem?

b) Please submit the report by Friday.

c) She went to the office.

7. Which sentence is exclamatory?

a) I can't believe you won the game!

b) Do you want to go for a walk?

c) She is reading a book.

8. Select the declarative sentence:

a) What time does the meeting start?

b) Please take out the trash.

c) The conference starts at 10 AM.

9. Determine the sentence pattern: “She reads books and listens to music.”

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

10. Choose the correct sentence structure: “He finished his homework after he ate dinner.”

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

Find Out if You Got them All Right from the Answers Below.

1. The cat sleeps.

2. She enjoys reading, and she loves to write.

3. Although she was tired, she finished her homework.

4. I went to the park, and I met my friends who were already there.

5. Can you help me with this?

6. Please submit the report by Friday.

7. I can't believe you won the game!

8. The conference starts at 10 AM.

9. Compound Sentence

10. Complex Sentence

Takeaways from this Page

• Understanding Sentence Components: Recognise the main parts of a sentence, including the subject, predicate, object, complement, and adjunct. Each plays a specific role in constructing meaningful sentences.

• Sentence Patterns: Learn different sentence structures, such as simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. Each pattern helps convey ideas clearly and effectively.

• Application: Use knowledge of sentence parts and patterns to improve writing clarity and coherence, ensuring sentences are well-structured and easy to understand.