A Sentence

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. A sentence either makes a statement about something or asks a question. It normally has a subject and a verb. Here is a simple subject - verb sentence:

Pilots fly.

You can modify this simple sentence by adding more details:

Canadian fighter pilots fly CF18s.

The first two words in the new sentence are an adjective phrase that modifies the subject pilots; CF18s is the direct object of the verb fly. You now have another familiar sentence pattern, subject - verb - direct object.

CF instructors give the fighter pilots flight tests.

In this new sentence, with a new subject (CF instructors), the fighter pilots have become an indirect object of the verb (give) since they are on the receiving end of the direct object (flight tests). Here we have a third common sentence pattern, subject - verb - indirect object - direct object.

Land forces consider air support essential.

The word essential tells the reader something about the direct object of the sentence (air support), and thus it is called the object complement. A fourth common sentence pattern is thus subject - verb - direct object - object complement.

Dave is a pilot.

In this final sample sentence, a form of the verb to be—or a verb that indicates a state of being or condition, such as feel, seem, appear, grow, become—links the subject (Dave) to a word or words that describe or complement it (a pilot). A fifth basic sentence follows the pattern subject - verb - subject complement.

These are the five basic patterns of English sentences. Modifying words and phrases and dependent clauses can be added, but essentially every sentence you write will follow the structure of one of these five sentences.