Teaching Sentence Patterns

Teaching Sentence Patterns:

Why they’re needed

Oftentimes, when being asked by students, “How can I improve my English performance [grammarwise]?,” I tend to be very recurrent in my answer: “Your sentence structures are very inconsistent at times. Why? Because you are using your native language sentence structures with English words.”

The language transfer of mother tongue structures is a common practice when learning a foreign language. And this can stop by having students stick to the seven sentence patterns English possesses. It is possible that some sentence patterns in both languages (mother tongue and target language) overlap, but students are bound to make mistakes in the seven patterns do not operate properly in their speech production. To better speak, write, read, and listen, the learning of the seven sentence patterns is a must.

Sentence Pattern #1: N+V(+Adv)

The understanding of how adverbials can be added to the root structure will definitely help students write and speak much accurately.

I jog.
I jog in the park.	Place
I jog in the park every morning.	Place + Time
I jog in the park quickly every morning.	Place + Manner + Time
I jog in the park quickly every morning to stay fit.	Place + Manner + Time + Reason

Sentence Pattern #2: N+V+N

Comprehending why nouns can take a DO (direct object) position in a sentence is also crucial for a better use of the fours skills. Take a look at the following sample sentences.

N (subject)	Verbal Form	N (DO)
Our municipality	is (now) building	new sidewalks around the community
China and India	export	many kinds of tea.
The audience	didn’t like	the presentation.
Toyota	will launch	a new car model next year.
Andre Vermulen	presented	an interesting topic (on our last teacher’s conference).

Sentence Pattern #3: N+LV+N

In this third pattern, the learner must comprehend that the linking verb establishes a relationship between two nominal (head nouns). This is done so to build a connection between the two nouns that refer to the same place, object, or person. The second noun in the structure becomes a subject complement (SC).

N	Linking Verb	N (SC)
Alice	is	a wonderful nurse.
I	want to become	a Hebrew teacher.
The National Theater	has remained	an architectural jewel.
Willy	will (eventually) be	a psychologist.
	Become	a professional.

Sentence Pattern #4: N+LV+Adj

In this fourth pattern, the adjective or adjectival at the end of the structure serves as a subject complement, too. This adjectival modifies the head noun in subject position.

N	Linking Verb	N (SC)
It	feels	silky.
The soup	tasted	good.
The tramp	grew	tired of walking.
The guests	appear	happy (at the party).
That bug	looks	big.

Sentence Pattern #5: N+V+N+N

No all languages place indirect objects (IO) in the same way. Here's important to understand how this sequence of IO and DO go in the English sentence to avoid mistakes. In addition, comprehending the structure transformation in English can allow students understand and use the language better.

N	V	N(IO)	N(DO)
Tan	brought	his mother	a nice gift.
Transformation: Tan brought a nice gift for his mother.
I	will send	you	the data.
Transformation: I will send the data to you.
Luis	(always) buys	his kids	pastries.
Transformation: Luis always buys pastries for his kids.
The teacher	assigned	her students	homework.
Transformation: The teacher assigned homework for her students.
Chris	owes	me	a big favor.
Transformation: Chris owes a big favor to me.

Beware:

CORRECT: Yesterday, our professor explained the sentence patterns to us.

WRONG: Yesterday, our professor explained us the sentence patterns.

Sentence Pattern #6: N+V+Nx(DO)+Nx(OC)

Fully comprehending this pattern can facilitate learners to phrase and voice opinions correctly. Needless to mention that this structure is used for more than opinions since both nouns (DO and OC) refer to the same person, animal, object, or place.

N	V	Nx (DO)	Nx (OC)
The president	will appoint	Taylor	ambassador.
The audience	consider	the lecturer	a bore.
FARC	kept	the journalists	prisoners (for a year).
The parents	christen	their baby	Casimiro
The class	have labeled	Nils	a hero.

Sentence Pattern #7: N+V+N(DO)+Adj(OC)

This other sentence structure is also useful to phrase and voice opinions. However, the important feature of this pattern is that the adjective modifies the direct object, providing a quality to this noun.

N	V	Nx (DO)	Nx (OC)
The rough sea	made	the women	seasick.
Mom	slammed	the door	closed.
I	prefer	my beef	rare.
Lucas	considers	Uma	intelligent.
Dad	washed	the walls	clean.

The difference in word order in sentence structures or patterns is a key component in language learning. We, no doubt, can find similarities and differences in the way we phrase and voice thoughts and emotions. But what remains wrong is the transfer of sentence patterns from one’s mother tongue into English.

Learning the patterns guarantees not only being understood better but also comprehending others more accurately. The proper use of these seven patterns will assist learners in their reading, writing, speaking, and listening at a higher level making their learning easy and meaningful.

ETo fully develop and comprehend this teaching issue, it’s advisable to research and expand these areas:

1	Practices for sentence patterns
2	Sentence Patterns in ELT
3	Grammar Teaching and the 7 Sentence Patterns
4	Communicative Use of Sentence Patterns
5	Sentence Patterns in Writing and Speaking Lessons

Professor Jonathan Acuña-Solano

ELT Instructor & Trainer based in Costa Rica

Curricular Developer at CCCN

Senior ELT Professor at Universidad Latina

Freelance ELT Consultant four OUP in Central America

For further comments or suggestions, reach me at:

@jonacuso – Twitter

jonacuso@gmail.com – Gmail

Other blogs and sites I often write for my students at the university are:

1. http://bin-02.blogspot.com/	2. http://bin-04.blogspot.com/
3. http://bin-06.blogspot.com/	4. Computering Applications in Education

Flores Mora, B. et al (2002) Basis English Syntax. San José: Editorial de la Unversidad de Costa Rica

Also available at google scholar. Click here. 

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Teaching Sentence Patterns by Jonathan Acuña