07: Sentence patterns

This is Lesson #7 of a unit of 10.

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Teacher Slide

Objective: grammar

To understand the grammatical characteristics of the sentence patterns statement, question, command, and exclamation in English, and how they are used.

Objective: writing

To explore what role sentence patterns play in writing, and to apply this to the pupils’ own writing.

Terminology for pupils:

statement, question, command, exclamation

Let's look at two sentences:

• It's Saturday tomorrow.
• What did you eat for lunch?

What's the difference between these two sentences? When would you use these sentences?

• Sentence 1 is an example of a statement.
• Sentence 2 is an example of a question.

In English we have four different types of sentence patterns:

• statements
• questions
• commands
• exclamations

Statements

• Statements are used to tell other people about something. For example, I feel great today; This book is expensive.
• The 'do-er' (agent) of the action comes before the verb.

Look around the classroom. Make as many statements as you can about what you see.

Questions

• Questions are used to ask people for information. For example, What time is it?
• They begin with a word like who, what, why, when, do, will, etc.
• They end with a question mark.

Can you think of examples where we use statements and questions in the classroom?

In this exercise say whether each sentence is a statement or question (punctuation has deliberately been left out):

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Answers

Commands

• We use commands to tell people to do things (or not to do things). For example: Shut the door; Pass me the tomato ketchup; Don't lick your fingers.
• The 'do-er' is usually left out.
• They begin with a verb.

Exclamations

• Exclamations are used to show emotions such as surprise, anger or admiration. For example: What a mess you've made! and How hot it is!
• They begin with what a or how.
• They end with an exclamation mark.

In this exercise say whether each sentence is a command or exclamation (punctuation has deliberately been left out):

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Answers

Now let's think about sentence patterns in writing. Imagine that we could travel to the middle of the Earth, and that your friend Kadidja tried to persuade to come with her on the trip. She says this to you:

• Have you ever wondered what is in the middle of the Earth? Is there a nest of fire-breathing dragons? Is there a pot of shining gold? Is there an enormous lake filled with gigantic fish? What a mystery it is!
• Well, now we can find out. A brand new invention means that we can travel miles down into the Earth, exploring things that have never been seen before. The journey takes three weeks, and it will be dark and dangerous. Come with me if you want to find out what lies there!

Now look at these questions:

1. Would you go with Kadidja to the middle of the Earth? Why? Or why not?
2. Can you spot the different sentence patterns (statement, question, command, exclamation)?
3. What is each sentence pattern used to do? For example: It makes a statement, asks a question, etc.

Now create your own piece of writing. Try to use at least one statement, question, command and exclamation. You can choose from the following topics, or use your own topic:

• travel to the moon
• read more books
• go on more adventures

Can you think of three things you have learnt about sentence patterns?