Teaching with Sentence Patterns / Syntax Patterns

Syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases in a language. It includes word order and grammar rules. The order of words in a sentence conveys meaning and reordering the words can change the meaning. 

Students do not need to know the grammatical terms to form sentences. However, they do need to practice a sentence pattern until it becomes automatic. 

There are many ways to use sentence patterns to teach multilingual students (English learners). They can be used to practice both oral and written sentences. Emergent, beginning, intermediate, and advanced students can all benefit from learning, understanding, and practicing sentence patterns. 

Emergent students or those with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE) can be encouraged to speak and write using sentence patterns. Different patterns can be used to teach and reinforce a wide variety of English grammar and vocabulary.

Pattern 1 - Subject + Be Verb + Noun. Simple statements and vocabulary

• I am a student.
• It is a pencil.
• They are my friends. 

Pattern 2 - Subject + Be Verb + Adjective. Describe people or objects

• My neighbor is Chinese.
• The sky is blue.
• The game was great!

Pattern 3 - There + BE + Subject. Events and location

• There was a storm last night.
• There are two pencils on the table.
• There will be a beautiful sunset tonight.

Pattern 4 -Subject + Verb + Adverb. Tell when or where

• I arrived late.
• My birthday is today.
• She is studying inside.

Pattern 5 - Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective. Describe people or objects using senses.

• The teacher looks sad today.
• I feel tired.
• The pie tastes terrible
• It smells dusty in the attic.

Pattern 6 - Subject + Intransitive Verb.

• The sun is shining!
• The boat sank.
• They will come soon.

Pattern 7 - Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object (Who or what?)

• I bought new shoes.
• He threw a stick for his dog.
• We will eat spaghetti tonight.

Pattern 8 - Subject + Transitive Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object.

• I can give you a pen.
• We have built them a new garage.
• He will make them breakfast.

Pattern 9 - Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object + Adjective (Object Complement).

• The dog licked his bowl clean.
• The tinsel made the Christmas tree sparkling.

Pattern 10 - Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object + Noun (Object Complement).

• We elected her Homecoming Queen.
• We consider him a wonderful student.

TEACHONG METHODS

1. Different Tenses

Challenge students to make sentences using different tenses.

• I make a cake.
• I am making a cake.
• I made a cake yesterday.
• I have made a cake before.
• I will make a cake for the party.

2. Add Parts of Speech

Have students add adjectives & nouns, or adverbs, or prepositional phrases.

• She sang them a song.
• The young mother sang her newborn twins a soft, sweet lullaby.

• It is a squirrel. 
• The furry, brown animal scurrying up the tree is a common gray squirrel. 

3. Expand the Sentence

Tell students to add details to a simple sentence. Answer the questions: Who? What? When? Where? and Why?

• He likes grapes.
• My best friend, Sam, likes to eat green grapes t green grapes for a snack after school everyday. 

Expanding sentences is a great warm-up exercise. Assign a small group to produce one sentence together. This will generate good discussions and arguments over word choice, grammar, punctuation, and word order. Write the resultant sentences on the board to reinforce writing longer, more complex sentences with details. These will eventually be incorporated into students' speech, reports, and other written assignments.

4. Generate New Sentences

Encourage students create their own sentences using a sentence pattern.

5. Identify Different Sentence Patterns in a Reading Passage.

Analyse sentence patterns in a short selection.

Sentence patterns can be used in multiple ways for all levels of multilingual / English learners. They can be used to teach and increase both speaking and writing skills. Sentence patterns also help to clarify how English word order and grammar work together to create and convey meaning.