Sentences and Sentence Patterns    Verbs    Verbals    Verb Tense
 Sentence Structure    Sentence Clarity and Combining   Sentence Patterns     Run on sentences

Identifying Sentences:  Nearly every complete sentence has at least a verb and subject.
A more complete analysis of the structure and makeup of sentences can be examined in:

Diagramming Sentences  Diagrams of moderately long and complex sentences are accompanied by explanations for both
beginners and experienced diagrammers.   www.geocities.com/gene_moutoux/diagrams.htm

Subject

Verb

Object
The subject of the sentence:
who or what the sentence is about

 

What does the subject do?
The infinitive form of all verbs
begins with "to"
    to ______ (some action) 
      (or a Verb Phrase)
If the root fits after "to"
and makes sense, it's a verb.
(to eat, to walk)

 What or who is the action done to or for?

The object of the action of the verb can be either direct or indirect. Or it can be an objective (prepositional) phrase.
 
The object represents to whom or for whom the action takes place...

Noun or a Pronoun

Action or State of being  (to be)

Noun or Pronoun

Sentence Patterns:English word order is normally SUBJECT - VERB - OBJECT.
 Following are the commonly used sentence patterns:
1. SUBJECT - VERB:                                                                               Coyotes howl.
2. SUBJECT -VERB-OBJECT:                                                              Elephants frighten mice.
3. SUBJECT - VERB - INDIRECT OBJECT - DIRECT OBJECT:  Mary baked Fred a cake
4. There - VERB – SUBJECT: 1                                                             There have been objections.
5. AUXILIARY - SUBJECT - VERB?                                                    Do coyotes howl in the distance?
6. AUXILIARY - SUBJECT - VERB - OBJECT?                                Have mice ever frightened elephants?
7. AUXILIARY - SUBJECT - VERB - INDIRECT OBJECT - DIRECT OBJECT?   Will Mary bake Fred a cake?
8. OBJECT - AUXILIARY- SUBJECT - VERB?                                 What did the mice frighten?
9. VERB - there - SUBJECT? 1                                                              Were there any objections?
 10. AUXILIARY - there - VERB - SUBJECT? 1                                 Have there been any objections?
Common patterns of commands (imperative sentences) are derived from the first three statement patterns.
Many exclamatory sentences are also derived from patterns of statements.
            There have been a hundred objections!                                   Mary baked Fred a cake!
Such Sentences as the following, usually take an exclamation point:
            How many objections there were!                                            What a cake Mary baked Fred!
A sentence pattern such as the following may be a statement, a question or an exclamation:
            Mice Frighten elephants.       Mice frighten elephants?        Mice frighten elephants!
1There used as an introductory work or filler is an expletive, which is never the subject.

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Sentence Structure Sentence Patterns   172-200 Sentence Structure
Run-on Sentences Run-on/Comma Splice/Fused 188 Quiz: RUN-ON SENTENCES

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