NOTE: I apologize for making a slip of the tongue twice towards the end. I said “sentence” instead of “subject.” The pattern is subject + verb.
UPDATE: December 2022
I’ve since modified my understanding and explanation of the SVOO sentence type. I’ve considered whether or not a prepositional phrase can actually be called the indirect object. It would be more accurate to simply consider the entire prepositional phrase as the second object without naming it the “indirect object.” See my new lesson ditransitive verbs. Like you, I’m on an ongoing journey of learning! Thank you for allowing me to guide you and share my understanding as I continually aim to improve and refine it.
Part 2 of a two-part lesson on sentence structure. What common patterns do sentences follow? Learn the basic patterns of a simple sentence. Review the parts of a clause.
Index:
0:01 Why learn sentence patterns?
1:02 Lesson title
1:10 Pattern 1: SV
1:44 Pattern 2: SVO
2:31 transitive vs. intransitive verbs
3:55 What are adverbials? What do you need to know?
6:46 Pattern 3: SVC*
7:22 Linking verbs
8:54 Note on terminology (adverbials / adverbial complements)
11:13 Pattern 4: SVOO (indirect objects vs. direct objects) — I’ve since modified my understanding and explanation of SVOO and whether or not a prepositional phrase can actually be called the indirect object. It would be more accurate to simply consider the entire prepositional phrase as the second object without naming it the “indirect object.” See my new lesson ditransitive verbs. (Dec. 2022)
13:43 Pattern 5: SVOC
15:13 Practice task
17:52 Recall all 5 basic patterns
18:25 Lesson ending
*NOTE: There isn’t always agreement on what makes complements and adverbials different. Knowing that some adverbials are necessary (“obligatory adverbial”) makes the job of distinguishing these two elements even harder. I love grammar, but if labels start to get in the way of communication, then we should just follow the acceptable pattern and not argue over what each element of the sentence is called. I’ve read conflicting information on prepositional phrases functioning as subject complements. Many sources play it safe by only giving the two common examples of subject complements: a noun and an adjective. However, such a presentation leaves too many questions unanswered, in my opinion. I think it’s important to recognize that linking verbs connect necessary information about the subject. That information may take the form of a prepositional phrase. My example in the video is presented as an adverbial because it expresses location/position. (“She’s in her studio.”) A better example of a prepositional phrase functioning as a subject complement would be “in the mood”: I’m not in the mood to argue. “In the mood” could be substituted by singe-word adjectives: ready, willing, excited, etc. This substitution makes it easier to argue that “I’m not in the mood” is SVC.
👉More grammar lessons
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEA0D5FA42DB4C58
👉YT Member-only playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfQSN9FlyB6Q9KcdNzhIsJBnkYq7Z4REy
👉👉What do YouTube members get? More practice!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEKXieT70wByfvZwP1CxdPQ/join
Your monthly contribution supports my work on YT.
Click the JOIN button to view the perks.
🌟 Language tasks 2x/week on the community tab
🌟 Custom audio GIFs for chat apps https://emojam.app.link/dl
🌟 Access to a member-only archive of recorded livestreams (13+ hours)
Want EVEN MORE practice? Join me on Patreon. 👉http://patreon.com/englishwithjennifer
❇️Livestreams
❇️Bonus videos
❇️Exclusive practice tasks
👩🏫Are you interested in private lessons? View my calendar. https://www.englishwithjennifer.com/book-a-lesson/
Learn how to book a lesson here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-dDg4bg2F0
📹More videos each week on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/englishwithjenniferlebedev
Visit my Community tab for announcements and helpful posts:
https://www.youtube.com/user/JenniferESL/community
Follow me!
https://twitter.com/JLebedev_ESL
https://www.facebook.com/englishwithjenniferlebedev/
I offer more videos and exercises on my website.
http://www.englishwithjennifer.com/
ABOUT ME:
Former classroom teacher. Published author. Online instructor. I’ve been online since 2007, posting videos for students, blogging for teachers, and providing different forms of language support. My goal is to make language studies enjoyable and productive. For more info and resources, visit www.englishwithjennifer.com.
