Sentence Structure

Why Verbs Matter So much!

Verbs--Most Important Word in the sentence!

They determine the structure of the sentence

Two kinds of Verbs: Action and Linking

Action Verbs Show an Action…this is something we

could see or do; most verbs (in the infinitive form):

To Think to jumpTo Run to loveTo Smile to dreamTo Eat to studyTo sleep to kickTo drive to compute

Linking Verbs Show a state of being When A form of the verb “to Be” is

the main verb…it’s linkingBe Am IsAre Was WereBeen Being Also, Become & Seem

Verbs with multiple personalities…

Some verbs can be linking verbs or Action Verbs

appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste, and turn.

How do you tell the difference?

What do I do Now? Try to substitute the verb for a

form of the verb “to be” like “am,” “is,” or “are.”

Try it Sylvia tasted the spicy squid

eyeball stew……substitute “is” for the verb…

Sylvia is the stew? I don't think so! Tasted, therefore, is an action verb in this sentence, something Sylvia is doing.

Try it The squid eyeball stew tasted

good.

The squid eyeball stew is good? Makes sense…must be linking!

Try it I smell the delicious aroma of a

mushroom and papaya pizza baking in the oven.

The mushroom and papaya pizza smells heavenly.

Note…This won’t work with “to appear”

Figure it out…which is an action?The blue Jay appeared happy to see

the bird feeder.Or

The blue jay suddenly appeared on the branch near the bird feeder. (try to substitute an action verb)

Back to Action Verbs

There are two kinds of action verbs--transitive &

intransitive

In tra ns it ive V e rbsN o D ire ct O b je ct

V e rb is c om p le te on its o w n

T ra n s it ive V e rbsH a s a d ire c t ob je ct

N e ed s to d ire c t o b jec t to com p le te its th o ug h t, to re c e iv e its ac tion

A c tio n V e rbs

Realize though, that many verbs are both transitive and intransitive

Action verbs-Intransitive

Intransitive VerbsExamples:

Huffing and puffing, we arrived at the classroom door with only seven seconds to spare.

OrJames went to the campus cafe for a

steaming bowl of squid eyeball stew.

Action Verbs--Transitive Verbs

Again, these subject patterns may have adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, etc. These are the main structural units of the sentence.

S V DO Everyone loves Raymond. How to find the Direct Object. Find the subject and verb, then ask

“Who” or “what” everyone Loves who or what?

S V DOSylvia kicked Juan under the table.Subject? Verb? Subject Verb who or what?

S V IO DOHow to find the indirect objectFind the subject and verbFind the direct object, subject and verb

who or whatAsk “to/for whom” or “to/for what”When someone Gets the direct object,

there is an indirect object

S V IO DOJosh built a Sand Castle on the

Beach. Vs. Josh built his sister a sand castle on

the beach.

Double Checking indirect objects

Can you make the indirect object into a prepositional phrase using “to” or “for”

To explain the broken lamp, we told mom a lie.

What’s the indirect object? Check, make it into a prepositional

Phrase

Summing up action verbs

Subject Complement

A subject complement is the adjective, noun, or pronoun that

follows a linking verb.

Linking verbs Sentence Patterns

Linking Verbs

3 Sentence Patterns

S LV PN

A predicate noun or subject complement—The Predicate Noun or pronoun RENAMES the subject

S LV PA

A predicate adjective or subject complement describes the subject of the sentence

S LV adverbial

An adverbial is a phrase or clause acting as an adverb often in the form of a prepositional phrase answering the questions where? or when?

S LV PN, exampleA Ferret is a type of Weasel.My mother is a lawyer in providence.

Steve is the best student in the

class. To double check: use an = Ferret=weasel

S LV PAA ferret is furry and fuzzy.Brandon becomes embarrassed when

people compliment his skill.The exchange student was French. Double check, can the adjective be

moved in front of the subject? The furry ferret…

S LV adverbMy birthday was yesterday.

The ferret is in the garage.

The ghost is in the attic.

S LV PronounWhen a Pronoun is used as a Subject Complement, you use the Subject Pronouns:I you s/heWe they Who

Examples Don’t get mad at me for pulling

your hair. It was he.

Remember the wonderful poet we were talking about. This is she.

Hello, it is I, your wonderful teacher.

To Review