Section 8.9 A Systematic Approach to Pattern Identification
Identifying a sentence pattern reliably requires a consistent procedure. Students who skip steps or try to match patterns from memory often make the same mistakes: mistaking adverbials for arguments, confusing linking and transitive uses of the same verb, or misreading Pattern 5 as Pattern 6. The seven-step process below eliminates these errors by working through the sentence methodically, from the verb outward. Apply it to every practice sentence until the steps become automatic.
Step-by-Step Process.
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Find the main verb (not auxiliaries like has, will, been)
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Identify the subject (the NP before the verb)
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Set aside adverbials (time, place, manner, reason phrases)
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Check for be first → If yes, Pattern 2 (Copular Be)
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Apply the be substitution test → If it works, Pattern 3 (Linking)
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Examine what follows the verb:
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Nothing → Pattern 1 (Intransitive)
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One NP → Pattern 4 (Transitive)
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Two NPs or NP + AdjP → Continue to step 7
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For two elements after the verb, ask: Do they refer to the same thing?
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Same thing → Pattern 6 (DO + OC)
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Different things → Pattern 5 (IO + DO)
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Worked Example.
Sentence: “On Tuesday, the committee unanimously declared the proposal inadequate.”
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Main verb: declared
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Subject: the committee
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Adverbials: On Tuesday (time), unanimously (manner)—set aside
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Is it be? No
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Be substitution: Not applicable here
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What follows verb: the proposal (NP) + inadequate (AdjP)
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Same thing? Yes—the proposal is described as inadequate
Answer: Pattern 6 (DO + OC)
