English Sentence Structure

One way to understand sentence structure is to understand the most common sentence patterns. 

Subject + verb

The simplest of sentence patterns is composed of a subject and verb without a direct object or subject complement. It uses an intransitive verb, that is, a verb requiring no direct object:

• Control rods remain inside the fuel assembly of the reactor.
• The development of wind power practically ceased until the early 1970s.
• The cross-member exposed to abnormal stress eventually broke.
• Only two types of charge exist in nature.

Subject + linking verb + subject complement

Another simple pattern uses the linking verb, any form of the to be verb without an action verb.

• The chain reaction is the basis of nuclear power.
• The debate over nuclear power has often been bitter.
• Folding and faulting of the earth's surface are important geologic processes.
• Windspeed seems to be highest during the middle of the day.
• The silicon solar cell can be difficult and expensive to manufacture.

Subject + verb + direct object

Another common sentence pattern uses the direct object:

• Silicon conducts electricity in an unusual way.
• The anti-reflective coating on the the silicon cell reduces reflection from 32 to 22 percent.

Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object

The sentence pattern with the indirect object and direct object is similar to the preceding pattern:

• I am giving her my favorite watch.
• Austin, Texas, has recently built its citizens a system of bike lanes.

Subject + verb + direct object + object complement

The sentence pattern using the [direct object] and object complement is not common but worth knowing.

• The plant shutdown left the entire area an economic disaster.
• The committee declared the new design a breakthrough in energy efficiency.
• The low cost of the new computer made competition much too difficult for some of the other companies.

Passive voice pattern

The passive voice is not ordinarily considered a "pattern," but it is an important and often controversial construction. It reverses the subject and object and, in some cases, deletes the subject. (See the section on problems with the weak use of the passive.) Compare these example active and passive voice sentences.