Subject Verb Being Adverb of Time or Place In the English language, there are ten basic sentence patterns

according to the type of verb used. The verb of being is followed by an adverb of time or place. Adverbs are words that describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Examples of verbs of being: is are was has been have been had been

Pattern 1-1: Adverbs of time or place indicate when or where I was here last week.

Pattern 1-2: The adverb of time or place as a prepositional phrase My friends are at the office. Subject Verb of Being Adjective The verb of being is followed by an adjective. Adjectives are words that describe the subject. Examples of verbs of being: is are was has been have been had been

Pattern 2-1: Subject + V-be + ADJ The boy is very enthusiastic. Pattern 2-2: Subject + V-be + ADJ Her voice was quite lovely. Subject Be Verb Subjective Complement (Noun) The verb of being is followed by a noun that describes the subject (subjective complement). Examples of verbs of being: is are was has been have been had been

Pattern 3: Subject + V-be + Subj. Comp. I have been a student for twenty years. The subjective complement has the same numerical designation as the subject because the two are actually the same (i.e. I = student).

Subject + Linking Verb + Subjective Complement (Adj) The linking verb is followed by an adjective that describe the subject (subjective complement). Examples of linking verbs: smell taste look feel seem become appear grow

Pattern 4: Subject + LV + ADJ The cake on the table looks delicious. Subject-Linking Verb-Subjective Complement (Noun) The linking verb is followed by a noun functioning as a subjective complement. In this sentence pattern, a linking verb pins or connects a label on the subject. The label that was mentioned earlier is what we call subject complement. Subject Complement (Subj, Comp.) = a phrase that follows a linking verb; it describes or complements the subject. Pattern 5: Subject + LV + Subj. Comp. Example 1: At an early age, I became a violinist. The verbs that can be used in this pattern are the true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc]. There are also few linking verbs which do not use the be but functions like it. Examples are, seem, look, grow, appear, feel, look, prove, smell, remain, sound, turn and taste. These verbs also function as action verbs. Subject-Verb-Intransitive The action verb does not need not need to have a direct object - - -- that with or without the direct object, the sentence would still be complete. Such action verbs are called intransitive verbs. Most action verbs can be intransitive verbs depending on how they are used in a sentence. Some examples of intransitive verbs: arrive go sneeze lie sit die

Pattern 6: Subject + IV Example 1: My supervisor will arrive. (direct object is not needed) Example 2: My supervisor will arrive by 7:00 pm.

Subject-Transitive Verb-Direct Object The action verb is followed by a direct object. These verbs are called transitive verbs. Some examples are: kick want paint write eat clean To determine if a verb is transitive, ask whom? or what? after the verb. If you can find the answer in the sentence, then the verb is transitive. For example: I saw Johnny Depps latest movie. saw what? Johnny Depps latest movie Therefore, saw is a transitive verb. Pattern 7: S + TV + DO I saw Johnny Depps latest movie.