Basic Sentence Patterns: Simple Sentences
Part A. Analyzing the Sentences and Identifying the Four Basic Sentence Patterns

A simple sentence consists of one independent clause. A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb. It may contain other elements.The following story is made up of 16 simple sentences illustrating four basic sentence patterns.

Swimming: the Yangs' Favorite Leisure Activity

Swimming can be a relaxing and enjoyable sport. The water feels cool to the skin on a hot summer day. Mr. and Mrs. Yang often swim after getting home from work. They go to the public swimming pool in their neighborhood. The Yangs enjoy swimming in their neighborhood pool. Mr. Yang likes to swim to relieve stress after a day's work. Mrs. Yang encourages him to swim as often as possible. They sometimes take their daughter with them, too. Their daughter loves jumping into the water with a splash. The water in the pool is heated by several solar panels. On clear days, their skin is tanned by the sun. Their eyes are protected from the chlorine by swim goggles. Their spirits are lifted after half an hour of swimming. Mr. Yang, Mrs. Yang, and their daughter like to go swimming. This leisure activity tones their muscles and relaxes their minds. They take their swimsuits, goggles and towels to the pool. They swim in the evening, on Saturday morning, or on Sunday afternoon. After swimming, they return home hungry but very refreshed.

Sentence Analysis and Sentence Pattern Identification

Use these symbols [ ] _ _ < > ( ) to identify the parts of each sentence in patterns I, II, and III:

[subject]

_verb_ OR verb

<complement>

<direct object>

(prepositional phrases)

 

A. Pattern I. Subject + Intransitive Verb + Complement

 

[Swimming] can be a relaxing and enjoyable <sport>. (8 words)

 

The water feels cool to the skin on a hot summer day. (12 words)

 

Mr. and Mrs. Yang often swim after getting home from work. (12 words)

 

They go to the public swimming pool in their neighborhood. (10 words)

 

B. Pattern II. Subject +Transitive Verb + Object (n, pron, inf, ger)

 

The [Yangs] enjoy <swimming> (in their neighborhood pool). (8 words)

 

Mr. Yang likes to swim to relieve stress after a day's work. (12 words)

 

Mrs. Yang encourages him to swim as often as possible. (10 words)

 

They sometimes take their daughter with them, too. (8 words)

 

Their daughter loves jumping into the water with a splash. (10 words)

 

C. Pattern III. Subject+Verb (passive voice)

 

The [water] (in the pool) is heated (by several solar panels). (11 words)

 

On clear days, their skin is tanned by the sun. (10 words)

 

Their eyes are protected from the chlorine by swim goggles. (12 wds)

 

Their spirits are lifted after half an hour of swimming. (10 words)

 

D. Sentences with compound elements.

Put brackets [ ] around each compound element.

 

[Mr. Yang], [Mrs. Yang], and their [daughter] like to go swimming. (11 words)

 

This leisure activity tones their muscles and relaxes their minds. (10

words)

 

They take their swimsuits, goggles and towels to the pool. (10 words)

 

They swim in the evening, on Saturday morning, or on Sunday

afternoon. (12 w)

 

After swimming, they return home hungry but very refreshed. (9 words)

 

Q Why is the number of word listed after each sentence in part A?	A These sentences serve not only as an exercise for analysis of sentence patterns, but also as models for you to use in writing your own sentences. By studying the models, you can learn how to use adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, infinitives of purpose and other phrases to create details for your sentences.
Click here for a quick Review of Basic Sentence Elements: transitive vs. intransitive verbs, passive and active voice, and related terms.

Check the your analysis. Answer Key 1 | Answer Key 2

B. Now do the writing assignment.