Sentence Pattern Quiz: Mastering English Structure

This sentence follows a simple structure where the subject performs an action on an object.

Subject: The restaurant (who is performing the action)

Verb: served (the action itself)

Direct Object: three kinds of barbeque (what receives the action of the verb)

This sentence has a subject performing an action directly on an object.

Subject: Jane Austen (who is performing the action)

Verb: wrote (the action itself)

Direct Object: six full novels (what was written)

This sentence includes an object complement, which renames or describes the direct object.

Subject: The people (who is performing the action)

Verb: elected (the action itself)

Direct Object: the young candidate (who received the action)

Object Complement: governor (further explains the direct object)

This sentence has both a direct and indirect object. The indirect object is who or what receives the direct object.

Subject: My mother (who is performing the action)

Verb: gave (the action itself)

Indirect Object: me (to whom the action is directed)

Direct Object: new shoes (what was given)

This sentence structure indicates that someone performs an action for someone else.

Subject: That boy (who is performing the action)

Verb: gave (the action itself)

Indirect Object: me (who the action was directed towards)

Direct Object: the time of day (what was figuratively given)

The linking verb "is" connects the subject to its complement, providing more information.

Subject: Pride and Prejudice (what is being described)

Linking Verb: is (connects the subject to the complement)

Complement: Jane Austen's most famous novel (describes the subject)

This sentence uses a linking verb to connect the subject to a complement that describes it.

Subject: Maryanne (who is being described)

Linking Verb: is (connects the subject to the complement)

Complement: one of the sisters in Sense and Sensibility (provides information about the subject)

The object complement in this sentence gives more information about the direct object.

Subject: Many (who are doing the considering)

Verb: consider (the action itself)

Direct Object: Jane Austen (who is being considered)

Object Complement: England's most celebrated novelist (describes Jane Austen)

This sentence structure shows the subject performing an action on a direct object.

Subject: Elizabeth I (who performed the action)

Verb: ruled (the action itself)

Direct Object: England (what was ruled)

This sentence structure shows that the subject performs an action that involves both a direct object and an indirect object (someone or something that is affected by the action).

Subject: The author (who is performing the action)

Verb: dedicated (the action itself)

Direct Object: the book (what was dedicated)

Indirect Object: her children (to whom the book was dedicated)

In this sentence structure the verb "felt" acts as a linking verb, connecting the subject "she" to the complement describing her emotional state.

Subject: She (who is being described)

Linking Verb: felt (connects the subject to the complement)

Complement: happy and relieved (describes her emotional state)

This sentence has a subject acting upon a direct object.

Subject: The family (who is performing the action)

Verb: hikes (the action itself)

Direct Object: the Appalachian Trail (what receives the action of the verb)

Here, the object complement renames or describes the direct object, providing more information about the result of the action.

Subject: The committee (who is performing the action)

Verb: appointed (the action itself)

Direct Object: him (who received the action of being appointed)

Object Complement: chairman (describes or renames the direct object)

In this case, the verb "turned" acts as a linking verb, connecting the subject "weather" to its complement, which describes its state.

Subject: The weather (what is being described)

Linking Verb: turned (connects the subject to the complement)

Complement: cold and stormy (describes the state of the weather)

This sentence has a simple subject-verb structure. While "at the mail carrier" provides context, it functions as a prepositional phrase, not an object.

Subject: The dog (who is performing the action)

Verb: barked (the action itself)Sources and related content