Sentence structure: subject, verb, object, etc

Sentence structure

The parts of a sentence are the subject, verb, object, complement and adverbial. A statement begins with the subject and the verb. There are five main structures which we can use to make a simple statement.

1 Subject Verb

My arms are aching. Something happened.

2 Subject Verb Object
/ need a rest.
Five people are moving the piano.

The subject and object can be a pronoun (e.g. I) or a noun phrase (e.g. the piano).

3 Subject Verb Complement
This piano is heavy.

It was a big problem.

The complement can be an adjective (e.g. heavy) or a noun phrase (e.g. a big problem). The complement often comes after be. It can also come after appear, become, get, feel, look, seem, stay or sound. For adjectives and word order see Unit 104B.

4 Subject Verb Adverbial
It is on my foot.
Their house is nearby.

An adverbial can be a prepositional phrase (e.g. on my foot) or an adverb (e.g. nearby).

5 Subject Verb Object Object
It s giving me backache.
David bought Melanie a present.

We use two objects after verbs like give and send (see Unit 3).

B Adverbials

We can add adverbials to all the five main structures. My arms are aching terribly. I really need a rest. Of course this piano is heavy. Fortunately their house is nearby. To everyone's surprise, David actually bought Melanie a present yesterday.

34, 36 Word order in questions 113 Adverbs and word order page 377 Seem, look etc in American English

2 Exercises

1 Parts of the sentence (A)

Mike and Harriet are on holiday. They have written a postcard to David and Melanie. Look at each underlined phrase and say what part of the sentence it is: subject, verb, object, complement or adverbial. ► We're having a great time. object

1 The weather is marvellous. 4 We're on a farm.

2 We really enjoy camping. 5 We like this place.

3 It's great fun. 6 The scenery is beautiful.

2 Sentence structure (A)

After moving the piano, the five friends had a rest and a cup of tea.

Look at this part of their conversation and then write the letters a)- e) in the correct place.

► Subject + verb b

1 Subject + verb + object

2 Subject + verb + complement

3 Subject + verb + adverbial

4 Subject + verb + object + object .............

3 Word order (A)

Put the words in the correct order and write the statements.

► is / Melanie / very nice Melanie is very nice.

1 football / likes / Tom ………………………………………………

2 an accident / David / had ………………………………………………

3 moved / the piano / we ………………………………………………..

4 a tall woman / Harriet / is ………………………………………………..

5 sat / on the floor / everyone ………………………………………………..

6 gave / some help / Mike's friends / him ................................................................................

4 Adverbials (B)

These sentences are from a news report. Write down the two adverbials in each sentence. Each adverbial is a prepositional phrase or an adverb.

► Prince Charles opened a new sports in Stoke
centre in Stoke yesterday. yesterday

1 He also spoke with several young
people.

2 The sports centre was first
planned in 1994.

3 Naturally, the local council could not
finance the project without help.

4 Fortunately, they managed to obtain
money from the National Lottery.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 2636