We have already learned about sentence patterns consisting of just one noun and an intransitive verb. Sometimes we also add an adverb to this pattern.

Some verbs are followed by adverb particles. In grammars these are often called phrasal verbs. Examples are: put on, take off, give away, bring up, call in etc.

The object is always a noun or its equivalent.

He built a house. (Here the object is a noun.)

I love him. (Here the object is a pronoun.)

The attribute of a subject can be an article, an adjective, a noun in the possessive case or a possessive adjective.

Study the following sentences.

Children play football.

Sometimes more and most are used with adjectives that usually take –er and –est. This usually happens when a comparative form is not followed immediately by than. Forms with –er are also possible in most of these situations.

This and these are used to talk about people and things which are close to the speaker.

Can you put this book on that table? (Here the book is lying in a position close to the speaker but the table isn’t.)

When think means ‘have an opinion’, it cannot be used in the progressive form.

‘What do you think of my hair color?’ ‘Frankly, my dear, it is a disaster.’ (NOT What are you thinking of my hair color?)