The Sentence The Sentence PatternsPatterns

There are There are 1010. You need to . You need to know them.know them.

Pattern I, II and IIIPattern I, II and III

I: I: NP1 NP1 bebe ADV T/P ADV T/P

II: II: NP1 NP1 bebe ADJ ADJ

III: III: NP1 NP1 be be NP1NP1

Patterns I, II and III contain Patterns I, II and III contain forms of the verb “be”.forms of the verb “be”.

For now, it’s going to be easiest for For now, it’s going to be easiest for us to stick with the one word forms us to stick with the one word forms of be:of be:– AmAm– Is Is – Are Are – WasWas– WereWere

Pattern I:Pattern I:

The ADV T/P is an “adverb of time or The ADV T/P is an “adverb of time or place.” It describes where the NP is place.” It describes where the NP is or when the action was done.or when the action was done.

Adverbs of manner, condition or degree Adverbs of manner, condition or degree aren’t our concern in the first sentence aren’t our concern in the first sentence pattern. pattern.

You’ll notice, they won’t even fit after a You’ll notice, they won’t even fit after a “be” verb: “be” verb:

““I am I am carefullycarefully” *” * ““He was He was slightlyslightly” *” * ““The boy in the blue boots with the tarnished brass The boy in the blue boots with the tarnished brass

buckles was buckles was veryvery”. *”. *

Pattern I Examples:Pattern I Examples:

I am upstairs.I am upstairs.– ““upstairs” modifies the verb, telling the upstairs” modifies the verb, telling the

place.place. The dance was yesterday.The dance was yesterday.

– ““yesterday” modifies the verb, telling the yesterday” modifies the verb, telling the time. We could modify the NP as much as time. We could modify the NP as much as we like: “The homecoming dance,” “The we like: “The homecoming dance,” “The surprisingly boring homecoming dance”. surprisingly boring homecoming dance”. This doesn’t change the sentence’s This doesn’t change the sentence’s structure and so it doesn’t change the structure and so it doesn’t change the pattern.pattern.

More Pattern I Examples:More Pattern I Examples:

The girl was in the basement.The girl was in the basement.– ““in the basement” modifies the verb, telling in the basement” modifies the verb, telling

the place. Here we have a prepositional phrase the place. Here we have a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb of place, or an “adverbial acting as an adverb of place, or an “adverbial prepositional phrase.prepositional phrase.

The young girl was in the dank, dark, The young girl was in the dank, dark, creepy, rat-infested basement.creepy, rat-infested basement.– This is the same sentence. We’ve got a better This is the same sentence. We’ve got a better

sense of what the basement is like, but it’s still sense of what the basement is like, but it’s still a place where the girl was, and is therefore still a place where the girl was, and is therefore still functioning as an adverb.functioning as an adverb.

Pattern II:Pattern II: The ADJ in the third slot is a The ADJ in the third slot is a subject subject

complementcomplement. It describes the NP in the . It describes the NP in the first slot. first slot.

Sometimes prepositional phrases can Sometimes prepositional phrases can function as adjectives, just as they did as function as adjectives, just as they did as adverbs. A single adjective can often be adverbs. A single adjective can often be substituted for these adjectival substituted for these adjectival prepositional phrases. “ I am prepositional phrases. “ I am in a bad in a bad moodmood.” .” “I am “I am grumpygrumpy.” (You can’t do .” (You can’t do this with adverbial prepositional phrases.)this with adverbial prepositional phrases.)

Pattern II Examples:Pattern II Examples:

The house is blue.The house is blue.– ““blue” describes “the house”blue” describes “the house”

Sue was pretty. Sue was pretty. – ““pretty” describes “Sue”pretty” describes “Sue”

Max is in a funk.Max is in a funk.– ““in a funk” describes “Max”in a funk” describes “Max”– We could say, “Max is blue,” or “Max is We could say, “Max is blue,” or “Max is

overwrought.” overwrought.” – Since all those words are adjectives, so is the Since all those words are adjectives, so is the

phrase “in a funk;” we call it an adjectival.phrase “in a funk;” we call it an adjectival.

Pattern III:Pattern III:

The NP renames the NP in the first The NP renames the NP in the first slot. It is called a “subject slot. It is called a “subject nominative.” nominative.” – Sometimes the NP in the first slot is just a Sometimes the NP in the first slot is just a

name, and the NP in the third slot is a group of name, and the NP in the third slot is a group of words. Don’t be fooled: the NPs don’t need to words. Don’t be fooled: the NPs don’t need to be the same number of words.be the same number of words.

– Since prepositional phrases can only function Since prepositional phrases can only function as adjectives or adverbs, you know that a prep as adjectives or adverbs, you know that a prep phrase phrase standing alonestanding alone cannot be a subject cannot be a subject nominative. nominative.

Pattern III Examples:Pattern III Examples: Bob is a teacher.Bob is a teacher.

– ““teacher” renames “Bob”teacher” renames “Bob”

Sue is the best player on the SHHS lacrosse Sue is the best player on the SHHS lacrosse team.team.– ““the best player on the lacrosse team” all renames the best player on the lacrosse team” all renames

“Sue”“Sue”

Mr. Cooper is a just but fair man.Mr. Cooper is a just but fair man. – ““a just but fair man” has some crazy parts of speech in it a just but fair man” has some crazy parts of speech in it

– conjunctions, determiners, adjectives, nouns -- but it’s – conjunctions, determiners, adjectives, nouns -- but it’s still just an NP renaming the NP in the first slot. It still just an NP renaming the NP in the first slot. It renamesrenames Cooper. Cooper.

Classwork/HomeworkClasswork/Homework

Complete Complete Sentence Pattern WorksheetSentence Pattern Worksheet

Create 6 of your own sentences Create 6 of your own sentences using patterns I-IIIusing patterns I-III– Two sentences per patternTwo sentences per pattern– Make sure you try to come up with some Make sure you try to come up with some

adverbials (prepositional phrases acting adverbials (prepositional phrases acting as an ADV T/P)as an ADV T/P)

– Continue using past/present tense verbsContinue using past/present tense verbs– Try expanding your Noun Phrases NPsTry expanding your Noun Phrases NPs