Introduction
As one of the most important exams for Chinese high school students, the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), or commonly known as Gaokao, is highly competitive and determines students’ access to higher education opportunities in China. Among all subjects in Gaokao, English is considered as one of the most challenging ones, largely due to the complex grammar, sentence structures, and vocabulary. Therefore, mastering English sentence patterns is essential for excelling in the Gaokao English exam. This article will provide a comprehensive list of English sentence patterns frequently used in Gaokao and help students improve their English writing skills and Gaokao performance.
Basic sentence patterns
The basic sentence structure in English consists of subject, verb, and object. Therefore, the most common sentence patterns in English are these:
Subject + Verb (S+V)
Subject + Verb + Object (S+V+O)
Subject + Verb + Complement (S+V+C)
Variations of basic sentence patterns
With the variations of verbs, objects, and complements, the basic sentence patterns can be expanded in various ways:
Subject + Linking verb + Adjective (S+LV+A)
Subject + Linking verb + Adjective + Noun (S+LV+A+N)
Subject + Linking verb + Noun (S+LV+N)
Subject + Verb + Adverb (S+V+Adv)
Subject + Verb + Object + Object complement (S+V+O+OC)
Subject + Verb + Subject complement + Object (S+V+SC+O)
Subject + Verb + Adverbial (S+V+Advcl)
Subject + Verb + Indirect object + Direct object (S+V+IO+DO)
Complex sentence patterns
Complex sentence patterns involve using subordinating conjunctions to connect the main clause and subordinate clause:
Complex sentence with adjective clause: Subject + Verb + which/that + Clause (S+V+AC)
Complex sentence with noun clause: Subject + Verb + what/who/which/that + Clause (S+V+NC)
Complex sentence with adverbial clause: Main clause + Subordinating conjunction + Clause (MC+SC+AC)
Conclusion
As you can see, English sentence patterns are diverse and complex. Mastering these patterns can not only help you improve your English proficiency but also enhance your performance in the Gaokao English exam. Therefore, it is critical to understand these patterns and practice using them in your writing and speaking. Additionally, reading a lot of English materials and learning from professional English teachers or tutors can also help you excel in Gaokao English exam and achieve your academic goals.