How Sentences Work: Principles of Sentence Architecture

Principles of Sentence Architecture: Core Sentence Forms

In English, all sentences can be reduced to three basic structures, known as core sentences:

• Subject-Verb ($S-V$): A subject paired directly with an action verb.
• Subject-Verb-Object ($S-V-O$): A subject performing an action on a direct object.
• Subject-Linking Verb-Complement ($S-LV-C$): A subject connected by a linking verb to a word or phrase that describes or renames it.

Examples of Core Sentence Patterns

• Subject-Verb ($S-V$):

  • Example: "A guy snores."
  • Subject ($S$): "A guy"
  • Verb ($V$): "snores"

• Subject-Verb-Object ($S-V-O$):

  • Example: "A girl does her homework."
  • Subject ($S$): "A girl"
  • Verb ($V$): "does"
  • Direct Object ($O$): "her homework"

• Subject-Linking Verb-Complement ($S-LV-C$):

  • Example: "Another guy seems confused."
  • Subject ($S$): "Another guy"
  • Linking Verb ($LV$): "seems"
  • Subject Complement ($C$ / Predicate Adjective): "confused"

Component Parts of Core Sentences

Understanding sentence architecture requires analyzing each fundamental component part:

• Subject ($S$):

  • Definition: Answers the question "Who or what is doing something?"
  • Example 1: In "Silos is the first baseman", "Silos" is the subject ($S$).
  • Example 2: In "Pujols carried the glove", "Pujols" is the subject ($S$).

• Verb ($V$):

  • Definition: Represents what the subject is doing, thinking, being, or becoming.
  • Example: In "Pujols carried the glove", "carried" is the verb ($V$).

• Linking Verb ($LV$):

  • Definition: A verb that connects the subject to a complement that renames or describes it, rather than showing physical or mental action.
  • Example: In "Silos is the first baseman", "is" functions as the linking verb ($LV$).

• Subject Complement ($SC$) and Predicate Terms:

  • Definition: A word or phrase that follows a linking verb to complete the meaning of the sentence by describing or renaming the subject.
  • Predicate Noun: A noun that renames the subject.
  • Example: In "Silos is the first baseman", "first baseman" is a predicate noun functioning as a subject complement ($SC$).
  • Predicate Adjective: An adjective that describes the subject.
  • Example: In "Another guy seems confused", "confused" is a predicate adjective functioning as a subject complement.

• Direct Object ($DO$):

  • Definition: Answers the question "Who or what is having something done to him/her/it?" It is the noun receiving the action directly.
  • Example: In "Pujols carried the glove", "glove" is the direct object ($DO$).

• Indirect Object ($IO$):

  • Definition: The noun or pronoun indicating to whom or for whom the action of the verb is performed.
  • Example Structure Analysis: "Pujols gave the young fan his signed jersey."
  • Subject ($S$): "Pujols"
  • Verb ($V$): "gave"
  • Indirect Object ($IO$): "the young fan"
  • Direct Object ($DO$): "his signed jersey"

Source Citation

• Authors: David A. Jolliffe and Hephzibah Roskelly
• Section Title: "Sentences"
• Source Work: Writing America: Language and Composition in Context, AP Edition
• Publication Details: Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print.