In the following examples, the subjects are in bold, while the predicates are italicized:
Grandpa is asleep.
I prepared some coffee.
Aside from the subject and predicate, sentences also
contain complements. Complements (not to be confused with compliments) are words
that complete the meaning of a predicate. Two of the most important complements
are the direct and indirect object.
Direct objects are nouns or pronouns that come after action verbs. They act as the
receiver of the action verb. On the other hand, indirect objects name the person or
object that something is given to, or done for. It is important to note that indirect
objects cannot exist without a direct object. But a direct object can exist even without
an indirect object.
The Six Basic Sentence Types
. These patterns refer to the arrangements of the elements of a sentence.
S – IV
The S–IV pattern is the simplest sentence type. It includes a subject and an intransitive
verb. Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not have a direct object. Also S – IV – Adv
Take note of the subject and the intransitive verb in the following examples:
Peter sneezed.
Evil exists.
Fame ends.
S – TV – DO
Next, the S–TV–DO pattern includes a subject, a transitive verb, and a direct object.
Unlike intransitive verbs, transitive verbs are verbs that have a direct object.
Take note of the subject, transitive verb, and direct object in the following examples:
The Chinese people have interesting traditions.
S: Chinese people
TV: have
DO: traditions
She slapped me.
S: She
TV: slapped
DO: me
Students should respect their teachers.
S: Students
TV: respect
DO: teachers
S – LV – C
Then we have the S–LV–C sentence type. This includes a subject, a linking verb, and a
complement. Linking verbs are verbs that connect the subject with an adjective or
another noun. Common linking verbs include be, am, are, is, was, were, and seem. On
the other hand, a subjective complement is a word or a group of words that often
follow a linking verb. Subjective complements can either be nouns, pronouns, or
adjectives.
Take note of the subject, linking verb, and complements in the following examples:
Albus Dumbledore is the headmaster.
S: Albus Dumbledore
LV: is
C: headmaster
Pandas and polar bears are endangered species.
S: Pandas and polar bears
LV: are
C: endangered species
That girl should be a singer.
S: girl
LV: be
C: singer
S – TV – IO – DO
Next, S–TV–IO–DO sentence types includes a subject, a transitive verb, an indirect
object, and a direct object.
In the following examples, take note of the subject, the transitive verb, the indirect
object, and the direct object:
I gave the conductor our tickets.
S: I
TV: gave
IO: conductor
DO: tickets
Faith gave Josh a new jacket.
S: Faith
TV: gave
IO: Josh
DO: new jacket
Neil taught us the recipe.
S: Neil
TV: taught
IO: us
DO: recipe
S – TV – DO – OC
Next, the S–TV–DO–OC sentence type includes a subject, transitive verb, direct object,
and an objective complement. Unlike subjective complements, objective
complements describe a direct object. Generally, objective complements are nouns or
adjectives that describe direct objects.
Look at the following examples and take note of the subject, transitive verb, direct
object, and objective complement:
He called the girl beautiful.
S: He
TV: called
DO: girl
OC: beautiful
Dean defeated Sam fairly.
S: Dean
TV: defeated
DO: Sam
OC: fairly
The class elected Josephine as president.
S: The class
TV: elected
DO: Josephine
OC: president
