1. SV

Subject + Verb

Subject + Verb (intransitive)

(intransitive verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (intransitive)

She ran.

The books have been sold.

SVA

Basic Structures with Adverbials (Adjuncts)

Also called:
S-V-OpA Subject + Verb + Optional Adverbial

Subject + Verb (intransitive) + Adverbial (optional)

She ran outside.

2. SVP

Subject + Verb + Subject Predicative

Subject + Verb (linking, copular) + Subject Predicative (Complement of the Subject)

Also called:
SVC_S or SVSC Subject + Verb + Subject Complement,
S-V-C Subject + Verb + Complement,
S-V-SP Subject + Verb + Subject Predicative

Options for V = be (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been), become (becomes, becoming, became), feel, get, seem, a verb that can be replaced by a form of be or become.

Options for P = adjective phrase, adverb phrase, prepositional phrase, noun phrase, nominal clause

(linking verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (linking) + Subject Predicative (adjective)

John is happy.

The meeting was last night.

She was outside.

Subject + Verb (linking) + Subject Predicative (noun)

John is a person.

Jan is the leader.

Subject + Verb (linking) + Subject Predicative (pronoun)

I am her.

3. SVAC

Subject + Verb + Adverbial Complement

Subject + Verb (linking, copular) + Adverbial Complement (Complement of the Verb)

Also called:
S-V-AC Subject + Verb + Adverbial Complement
S-V-ObA Subject + Verb + Obligatory Adverbial

(linking verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (linking) + Adverbial (required)

The kids are here.

Inverse order

Here are the kids.

4. SVO

Subject + Verb + Object (Indirect or Direct)

Subject + Verb (transitive > monotransitive) + Direct Object (Complement 1)

Subject + Verb (transitive > monotransitive) + Indirect Object (Complement 1)

Also called: SVO_D Subject + Verb + Direct Object

(transitive verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Object (noun)

She sold the books.

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Direct Object (prepositional phrase)

She ran to the store.

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Indirect Object (noun)

She told us.

I promise you.

Inverse structure

(hyperbaton)

This I’ve got to see!

Basic Structures with Adverbials (Adjuncts)

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Direct Object (noun) + Adverbial (optional)

I had a ball last night.

5. SVOO

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Subject + Verb (transitive > ditransitive) + Indirect Object (Complement 1) + Direct Object (Complement 2)

(transitive verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Indirect Object + Direct Object (noun clause: nominal that-clause)

She told me that she was hungry.

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Indirect Object + Direct Object (noun)

She made me a pie.

I tell you everything.

I bought you lemons.

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Direct Object (noun) + Indirect Object (phrase)

I tell everything to her.

I bought lemons for you.

Basic Structures with Adverbials (Adjuncts)

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Direct Object (noun) + Indirect Object (phrase) + Adverbial (optional)

Give me a warning next time.

6. SVOP

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Predicative

Subject + Verb (transitive > complex-transitive) + Direct Object (Complement 1) + Object Predicative (Complement 2)

There is a predicative relationship between the direct object and the object predicative/object complement. (Greenbaum,1996, 3.19) Meaning an element in the predicate that goes with (complements) the object.

Also called:
SVOC_o Subject + Verb + Object + Object Complement
Subject + Verb + Object + Transitive Resultative

Options for P = noun, adjective, adjective phrase, adverb phrase, prepositional phrase, noun phrase, nominal clause

(transitive verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Object + Object Predicative (adverbial)

The movie left me wondering what happened.

She considers it done.

He considers her a worthy candidate.

She dyed her hair pink.

He shot the man dead.

[Raid] kills bugs dead.

Passive construction

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Object + Object Predicative (Passive Resultative)

The man was shot dead.

The lake was frozen solid.

The clerk was run ragged.

[The truck is] built Ford tough.

7. SVOAC

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial Complement

Subject + Verb (transitive > ditransitive) + Direct Object (Complement 1) + Adverbial Complement (Complement of the Verb)

Also called:
SVO_DA Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial
S-V-DO-A Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Adverbial
S-V-DO-ObA Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Obligatory Adverbial

(transitive verbs)

Basic Structures

Subject + Verb (transitive) + Object + Adverbial

She put the book away.