English questions---English sentence patterns and grammar

Sentences can be divided into simple sentences, parallel sentences and compound sentences according to their structure. Basic form: The basic form of a simple sentence consists of a subject plus a predicate. Various other sentence forms are developed from this sentence pattern, such as the five basic sentence patterns: (1) Subject + predicate (s.+predicate) This sentence pattern is referred to as the subject-predicate structure, and its predicate is generally less than Object verb, for example: Thingschange. Things change. Nobodywent.Nobody went. --Didyougobysea? Did you take the sea route? --NO, weflew. No, we are flying. (2) Subject + link verb + predicative (s.+linkv.+predicative) This sentence pattern is called the subject-linking structure. In fact, the link verb is also a predicate verb in form. The link verb and the predicative together form Compound predicate, for example: Mr.Turnerisanartist. Mr. Turner is a painter. (3) Subject + predicate + object (s.+predicate+o.) This sentence pattern can be called a subject-predicate-object structure. Its predicates are generally transitive verbs, for example: Weneverbeatchildren. We never beat children. (4) Subject + predicate + indirect object + direct object (s.+predicate+oi.+od.) This sentence pattern can be called a subject-predicate-object structure, and its predicate should be a transitive verb that can have double objects. One of the two objects is an indirect object and the other is a direct object. For example: Hegave the book to his sister. He gave the book to his sister. (5) Subject + predicate + object + object complement (s.+predicate+o.+o.c.) This sentence pattern can be referred to as the subject-predicate-object complement structure. Its complement is an object complement, which together with the object forms a compound object. Example: I found the book easy. I found the book easy. (Adjective easy as complement) I'll let him go. I'll let him go. (The infinitive go is used as a complement) Note: Sometimes the co-ordinated subjects of two or have the same predicate, or even co-ordinated with two subjects and two predicates. Such sentences are still simple sentences, for example: China and other countries in the east Asia are developing rapidly. China and other countries in East Asia are developing rapidly. (China and other countries co-ordinate subject) Mr. Wang and Ioften work together and help each other. Mr. Wang and I often work together and help each other. A complex sentence (ComplexSentence) consists of a main clause (PrincipalClause) and one or more subordinate clauses (SubordinateClause). The main clause is the main body of the sentence and can usually exist independently; the subordinate clause is a sentence component and cannot exist independently. A clause cannot stand alone as a sentence, but it also has a subject part and a predicate part, just like a sentence. The difference is that the clause must be introduced by a connective. Clauses Noun Clauses Sentences that function as nouns in a sentence are called Noun Clauses (NounClauses). The function of a noun clause is equivalent to a noun phrase. It can serve as subject, object, predicate, appositive, preposition object, etc. in a compound sentence. Therefore, according to its different grammatical functions in the sentence, noun clauses can also be called Subject clause, object clause, predicative clause and appositive clause. Subject Clause The clause that is the subject of a sentence is called a subject clause. The subject clause is usually introduced by the subordinating conjunctions that, whether, if and the connecting pronouns what, who, which, whatever, whoever and connecting adverbs such as how, when, where, why and other words. That has no word meaning in the sentence and only plays a connecting role; connecting pronouns and connecting adverbs retain their interrogative meanings and play a connecting role in the sentence, and serve as components of the subordinate clause. For example: What he wants to tell us is not clear. What he wants to tell us is not clear. If the what-clause itself clearly expresses a plural meaning, for example, the verb and complement of the what-clause are both plural, then the verb of the main clause can also be plural. For example: WhatIsayandthinkarenoneofyourbusiness. (What I say and what I think have nothing to do with you.) Note: When the noun clause introduced by what is the subject, the subject-verb agreement problem is extremely complicated. The famous scholar Professor Zhou Haizhong conducted in-depth research on this issue in his paper "On the Subject-Predicate Agreement of What-Clause as Subject" and gave 10 types of subject-verb agreement relationships. These consistent relationships deserve special attention from English learners and users. Sometimes, in order to avoid a top-heavy sentence, the formal subject it is often used instead of the subject clause as the formal subject at the beginning of the sentence, and the subject clause is placed at the end of the sentence. The predicate verb after the subject clause is generally in the singular form.

Commonly used sentence patterns are as follows: ⑴ It + be + noun + that clause ⑵ It + be + adjective + that clause ⑶ It + be + past participle of verb + that clause ⑷ It + intransitive verb + that clause Also note that it is used to express surprise and disbelief in the subject clause , regret, should be so, etc., the predicate verb should use the subjunctive mood "(should)+do". Commonly used sentence patterns are: Itisnecessary(important, natural, strange, etc.) that...Itissuggested(requested, proposed, desired, etc.)that... Object clause noun sentence A clause used as an object is called an object clause. The correlative words that guide the object clause are roughly the same as the correlative words that guide the predicate clause of the subject clause. They can be used as the objects of predicate verbs or prepositions and non-predicate verbs in the sentence. 1. The object clause introduced by the connective that When the object clause is introduced by the connective that, that does not serve as any component in the sentence and is often omitted in spoken or informal styles. However, if the clause is a parallel sentence, the second The "that" before each clause cannot be omitted. For example: HehastoldmethathewillgotoShanghaitomorrow. He has told me that he is going to Shanghai tomorrow. We must never think (that) weare good in everything while others are good in nothing. We must never think that we are good in everything and others are bad in nothing. Note: After demand, order, suggest, decide, insist, desire, request, command, doubt and other verbs expressing requirements, orders, suggestions, decisions, etc., the object clause often uses "(should) + verb prototype". For example: I insist that she (should) do her work alone. I insist that she do her work alone. Thecommanderorderedthattroops(should)setoffatonce.The commander ordered the troops to set off immediately. 2. Object clauses introduced with related words such as who, whom, which, whose, what, when, where, why, how, whoever, whatever, whichever are equivalent to special questions. It should be noted that the word order of the sentence should be declarative word order. For example: I want to know what he has told you. I want to know what he has told you. 3. For object clauses introduced with whether or if, the order of the subject and predicate cannot be reversed, and the order of the declarative sentence is still maintained. In addition, when using whether and if to mean "whether", generally only whether can be used instead of if in the following situations: a. When introducing a subject clause and at the beginning of the sentence; b. When introducing a predicative clause; c. When introducing a clause When used as the object of a preposition; d. When there is "ornot" after the clause; e. When it is followed by the infinitive of the verb. For example: Whether there is life on the moon is an interesting question. Whether there is life on the moon is an interesting question. 4. Pay attention to the tense echo in the object clause. When the verb of the main clause is in the present tense, the clause uses different tenses according to its own sentence situation. For example: hestudiesEnglisheveryday. (The clause uses the simple present tense) hestudiedEnglishlastterm. (The clause uses the simple past tense) Iknow(that)hewillstudyEnglishnextyear. (The clause uses the simple future tense) hehasstudiedEnglishsince1998. (The clause uses the present perfect tense) When the verb of the main clause is in the past tense ( Except could, would), the clause must use the corresponding past tense, such as simple past tense, past continuous tense, past future tense, etc.; when the clause expresses objective truth, scientific principles, natural phenomena, the clause still uses the present tense. state. For example: TheteachertoldusthatTomhadleftusforAmerica. 5. In negative object clauses caused by verbs such as think, believe, imagine, suppose, etc., the verb in the above main clause should be changed into the negative form. That is, move the negative form in the subordinate clause to the main clause. For example: We don’t think you are here. We don’t think you are here. I don’t believe he will do so. Predicative Clause A clause that serves as a predicative in a sentence is called a predicative clause. The correlative words that introduce predicative clauses are roughly the same as those that introduce subject clauses. The predicative clause is located after the linking verb and is sometimes introduced with asif. Its basic structure is: subject + linking verb + that clause. For example: The fact is that we have lost the game. The fact is that we have lost the game.

That’sjustwhatIwant. This is where our problems. That is why hedidn’t come to the meeting. That’s why he didn’t come to the meeting. It looks like it's going to rain. It looks like it's going to rain. It should be noted that when the subject is reason, the predicative clause should be introduced with that instead of because. For example: The reason why he was late was that the missed the train by one minute this morning. Note that whether can introduce predicative clauses, but the synonymous if is usually not used to introduce predicative clauses. Appositive clause An appositive clause describes the specific content of the noun that precedes it. Appositive clauses are usually introduced by that. Nouns that can be used in appositive clauses include advice, demand, doubt, fact, hope, idea, information, message, news, order, problem, promise, question, request, suggestion, truth, wish, word etc. For example: The news that we won the game is exciting. The news that we won the game is exciting. Ihavenoideawhenhewillcomebackhome.Ihavenoideawhenhewillcomebackhome.Ihavenoideawhenhewillcomebackhome. The thought came to him that Mary had probably fallen ill. He thought that Mary had probably fallen ill. The difference between an appositive clause and an attributive clause: that, as a relative pronoun, can guide the attributive clause and act as a sentence component, and can be omitted when serving as an object in the clause; when that guides an appositive clause, it functions as a conjunction and has no actual meaning and does not serve as a conjunction. Sentence components generally cannot be omitted. Compare the following two examples: Ihadnoideathatyouwerehere. (that introduces an appositive clause and cannot be omitted) Have you got the idea (that) this book gives you of life in ancient Greece? (that introduces an attributive clause, serves as an object, and can be omitted) Other clauses that clause 5.1) The clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction that is called a nominal that-clause. That only plays the role of connecting the main clause and the subordinate clause. It does not serve as any component in the subordinate clause and has no meaning in itself. The noun that-clause can serve as subject, object, predicate, appositive and adjective object in the sentence, for example: Subject: Thatsheisstillaliveisherluck. She is still alive because of luck. Object: John said that the was leaving for London on Wednesday. John said that he was going to London on Wednesday. Expression: The fact is that no one has seen him recently. The fact is that no one has seen him recently. Appositive: The fact that the has not been seen recently disturbs everyone in his office. No one has seen him recently, this fact makes everyone in the office uneasy. Adjective object: I am glad that you are satisfied with your job. I am glad that you are satisfied with your job. 5.2) When that-clause is the subject, it is usually used as the antecedent, and the that-clause is placed at the end of the sentence, for example: It is quite clear that the whole project is doomed to failure. It is clear that the entire plan is doomed to fail. It's a shame that you should have to leave.

That-clauses with it as the formal subject have the following four different collocation relationships: a.It+be+adjective+that-clause Itisnecessarythat...It is necessary...Itisimportantthat...It is important...Itisobviousthat...Obviously...b.It +be+-ed participle +that-clauseItisbelievedthat…people believe…Itisknowntoallthat…well known…Ithasbeendecidedthat…decided…c.It+be+noun+that-clauseItiscommonknowledgethat……is common knowledgeItisasurprisethat…surprisingly… …Itisafactthat…the fact is…d.It+intransitive verb+that-clause Itappearsthat…it seems…Ithappensthat…it happens…Itoccurredtomethat…I suddenly remembered…wh-clause 6.1) A noun clause introduced by a wh-word is called a noun Sexual wh-clause. Wh-words include connecting pronouns such as who, whom, whose, whoever, what, whatever, which, whichever and connecting adverbs such as where, when, how, and why. In addition to the same grammatical function as that-clause, the Wh-clause can also serve as a preposition object, object complement, indirect object, etc., for example: Subject: How the book will sell depends on its author. How the book sells depends on the author himself. Direct object: Inone's own home one can do what one likes. You can do whatever you want at home. Indirect object: The club will give whoever wins a prize. The club will give a prize to the winner. Expression: My question is who will take over president of the Foundation. My question is who will take over the president of the Foundation. Object complement: She will name him whatever she wants to. She will name him whatever she wants. Appositive: Ihavenoideawhenhewillreturn. I don’t know when he will return. Adjective object: I'm not sure why she refused their invitation. I'm not sure why she refused their invitation. Prepositional object: That depends on where we go. That depends on where we go. 6.2) When the Wh-clause is used as the subject, the antecedent it is often used as the formal subject, and the wh-clause is placed at the end of the sentence, for example: It is not yet decided who will do that job. It has not yet been decided who will do the job. It's still unknown when they are going to get married. if, whether clause 7.1) yes-no type interrogative clause subordinating conjunction if, whether introduced noun clause is transformed from a general interrogative sentence or a selective question, so it is also called a yes-no type interrogative clause and a selective interrogative clause respectively. , its function is the same as that of a wh-clause, for example: Subject: Whatever the plan is feasible remains to be proved. Whether this plan is feasible remains to be confirmed. Object: Letusknowwhether/ifyoucanfinishthearticlebeforeFriday. Please let us know if you can finish the article before Friday. Expression: The point is whether we should lend him money. The point is whether we should lend him money. Appositive: They are investigating the question whether the man is trustworthy. They are investigating whether he is trustworthy. Adjective object: She'sdoubtfulwhetherweshallbeabletocome. She doubts whether we can come. Object of preposition: I worry about whether he can pass through the crisis of his illness. I worry about whether he can pass through the crisis of his illness. 7.2) Selective interrogative clauses Selective interrogative clauses are composed of the correlative words if/whether...or or whether...ornot, for example: Please tell me whether/if they areSwedishorDanish. Please tell me whether they are Swedish or Danish.

Idon'tcarewhetheryouliketheplanornot.Idon'tcarewhetheryouliketheplanornot. The difference between if and whether: 1. Whether can only be used before the infinitive of the verb. For example: Example 8I can’t decide whether to stay. I can’t decide whether to stay. 2. In the fixed combination of whether...ornot. Such as: Example 9 I want to know whether it’s good news or not. I want to know whether it’s good news or not. 3. After a preposition, you can only use whether. Such as: Example 10 His father is worried about whether he loses his job. His father is worried about whether he will lose his job. 4. When the object clause is placed at the beginning of the sentence to express emphasis, you can only use whether. Such as: Whether this is true or not, I really don’t know. Whether this is true or not, I really don’t know. (Example 11 Whether they can finish the work on time is still a problem. Whether they can complete the work on time is still a question. - This example is a subject clause, which is wrong. Thanks for pointing it out) 5. When using if will cause ambiguity, only use whether. For example: Example 12 Could you tell me if you know the answer This sentence has two meanings: "Can you tell me if you know the answer?" or "If you know the answer, please tell me, okay?". Use whether to avoid ambiguity. Adjective clauses Attributive clauses (AttributiveClauses) serve as attributives in a sentence, modifying a noun or pronoun. The modified noun, phrase or pronoun is the antecedent. Attributive clauses usually appear after the antecedent and are introduced by relative words (relative pronouns or relative adverbs). Meaning: It is a sentence in the attributive position. The relative adverb why is mainly used to modify nouns expressing reasons (mainly the reason), and it is also used as an adverbial adverb of reason in an attributive clause. For example: We don’t know the reason why he didn’t show up. We don’t know why he didn’t come. Shedidn’t tell me the reason why sherefused the offer. She didn’t tell me the reason why she turned down the offer. Unlike the relative adverbs when and where, why can be replaced by that or omitted. Such as: That’s one of the reasons (why, that) I asked you to come. This is one of the reasons why I asked you to come. In addition, unlike the relative adverbs when and where which can guide non-restrictive attributive clauses, why can only guide restrictive attributive clauses but not non-restrictive attributive clauses. For example: The main reason he lost his job was because of his drinking. Wrong: Themainreason, whyhelosthisjob, wasthatthedrank. Positive: Themainreasonwhyhelosthisjobwasthatthedrank.when The relative adverb when is mainly used to modify nouns that express time, and it is used as a time adverbial in attributive clauses. Such as: There comes a time when you have to make a choice. The time comes when you have to make a choice. Gone are the days when they could do what they liked. Gone are the days when they could do what they liked. We’ll put off the picnic until next week, when the weather may be better. We’ll put off the picnic until next week, when the weather may be better. Be careful not to think that when the antecedent is a time noun, you must use the relative adverb when to guide the attributive clause. At the same time, you also need to look at what component it serves in the attributive clause - if it is used as a time adverbial in the attributive clause, use when; if it is not used as a time adverbial in an attributive clause, but as a subject or object, then you cannot use when, but use that, which, etc. For example: Don’tforgetthetime(that,which)I’vetoldyou. Don’t forget the time I told you. The relative pronoun that/which is used as the object of the verb told in the attributive clause. Because it is used as the object, it can also be omitted. The relative adverb where is mainly used to modify nouns indicating location, and it is also used as an adverbial of location in an attributive clause. Such as: This is the village where he was born. This is the village where he was born. That’s the hotel where we stayed last summer. That’s the hotel where we stayed last summer.

Barbary was working in Aubury, where she went to work daily. Barbary was working in Aubury, where she went to work by bus every day. As with the previous case of when, be careful not to think that the relative adverb where must be used to guide the attributive clause when the antecedent is a place noun. At the same time, it also depends on what component it serves in the attributive clause - if it is in the attributive clause If it is used as an adverbial of place, use where; if it is not used as an adverbial of place in an attributive clause, but as a subject or object, then you cannot use where, but use that, which, etc. Such as: Heworksinafactorythat[which]makesTVsets. He works in a television factory. The relative pronouns that/which are used as subjects in attributive clauses. Also note that where can sometimes be used to introduce an attributive clause after an abstract noun. For example: We have reached a point where a change is needed. We have reached a point where a change is needed. There are cases where the word “mighty” is used as an adverb. In some cases, the word “mighty” can be used as an adverb. He got into a situation where it was hard to decide what was right and wrong. He got into a situation where it was hard to tell right from wrong. Idon’twantajobwhereI’mchainedtoadeskallday. I don’t want a job where I sit at a desk all day.