This week, I learned all about the three different sentence patterns:
1) S-Vi (subject followed by an intransitive verb)
She ran.
2) S-Vt-O (subject followed by a transitive verb and direct object)
She ate food.
3) S-LV-SC (subject followed by a linking verb and subject complement)
She felt stuffed.
An “S-Vi” sentence is the simplest kind, but the “S-Vt-O” is the type of sentence that I seem to see most frequently.
I also learned how to identify the differences between a simple sentence, complex sentence, and a simple verb and COMPLEX VERB; I HAD AN IDEA of what these were before but was not able to explain it sufficiently. A complex sentence is a sentence that has two sentences put together that each could be complete sentences on their own. There is a comma and a coordinating conjunction in between each “mini-sentence.” (Eg: He ran, and she rode her bike.) A simple sentence, obviously, is just one. (Eg: He ran.) A complex verb is when there are two or more verbs aka actions in the sentence. (Eg: He ran and rode his bike.) But a simple verb only has one verb. (Eg: He rode his bike.)
I really enjoyed learning the cool acronym to help remember all of the coordinating conjunctions that are used in a complex sentence. FANBOYS – For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
However, I felt like there was a little confusion in our class and in the world in general about when to use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. I’m not sure why so many people have problems with it because it was always seemed rather obvious to me. I think that I was just taught it in the simplest way possible—if each part of the sentence could be a complete sentence on its own, you add a comma and coordinating conjunction between them. Otherwise, you don’t. It’s as simple as that!
QUESTION: I’m still not entirely sure when a verb is a linking verb and when there is a subject complement. Is it when you are describing something, and the subject complement is a description or feeling? Is it then a linking verb as soon as there is a subject complement/if there is a subject complement then the verb is automatically a linking verb? Or are there some limitations on it?
I'm not sure if there are certain limitations. I was under the impression that a Linking verb has to have a subject compliment, hence the "linking."
ReplyDeleteHere is what I wrote in my blog about linking verbs:
Linking Verbs: The easiest way for me to remember if it’s considered a linking verb is if I use the equal sign. Does subject = description. The description part is considered the subject complement; which means it COMPLETES the subject. An example of this is, “Sally looks pretty.” When deciding if it’s a linking verb I simply place an equal sign in and see if it makes sense, sally = pretty; It works!
Not sure if that makes any sense...
Actually now that I reread it I'm second guessing myself and I'm not sure if thats correct...Hopefully Barbara will set us straight.
I agree with the equals sign trick to locate linking verbs. I also know that linking verbs have a subject but not a dirct objective. The subject is thus complimented by way of the linking verb. For example, "Seth feels pretty." Feels is the linking verb, with Seth being the subject, and pretty being the compliment.
ReplyDeleteYes, LV + SC by definition automatically go together.
ReplyDeleteAs for "complex" sentences and verbs: you mean "Compound," not "complex." We'll get to complex sentences this week.
STay tuned!