Action Sentences — Simply Sentences

Three Basic Sentence Structures

Every English sentence falls into one of three basic types. Once you can identify which type you are looking at, the structure becomes much easier to analyze.

The Three Types

Type 1 — Action: the subject performs an action.
Type 2 — Descriptive: the subject is described (using be-verbs and linking verbs).
Type 3 — Hybrid: a be-verb combined with an action — can be read both ways.

Type 1: Action Sentences

Action sentences are sentences where the subject performs an action. Action simply means "doing something." Not all actions are physical — some are mental, like "thinking" and "dreaming." Either way, the subject is doing something.

We'll start with a basic action sentence, then progress to adding prepositional phrases and verbal phrases.

The Base Sentence

Plain

Suzie bought a cake.

Annotated

Suzie bought a cake.

Suzie = subject · bought = verb · a cake = direct object (D.O.)

Adding a Prepositional Phrase

Suzie bought a cake (for Mary).

(for Mary) is a prepositional phrase. "For" is the preposition; "Mary" is the object of the preposition.

We can move the prepositional phrase without changing the meaning:

Suzie bought (for Mary) a cake.

That sentence is grammatically fine — but not how people commonly say it. So in everyday use, we simply drop the "for" and place Mary before the cake:

Suzie bought Mary a cake.

Now "Mary" is an indirect object (I.O.) — the person who benefits from the action.

Sentence Progression

As sentences get longer, we first identify the phrases. This makes it easier to see the true subject, main verb, and objects.

Suzie bought a cake.

Suzie bought Mary a cake.

The girls bought Mary a cake.

A group (of girls) bought Mary a cake.

A group (of happy girls) bought Mary a cake.

A group (of happy girl scouts) bought Mary a cake (from the local bakery).

(From the local bakery), a group (of happy girl scouts) bought Mary a cake, [ laughing (as they shopped) ].

"Girls" cannot be the subject in any of these sentences — it is locked inside the prepositional phrase (of girls) as the object of the preposition.

Marking Conventions

Two rules for how we mark sentences

Adverbs are marked together with their verb as a single unit:

He quickly finished his work.

Adjectives are marked together with their noun:

The big black dog barked loudly (throughout the night).

Full Annotated Examples

Now with prepositional phrases and verbal phrases combined.

[ Running quickly ], Sarah caught the bus (on time).

The cat slept (under the table) ( after [ playing all day ] ).

The teacher assigned the students homework [ to give them extra credit ].

[ Walking (through the city) ], we discovered a beautiful cafe (near the river).

[ Excited (about the trip) ], they packed their bags (for the journey).

[ Sitting (on the porch) ], the dog barked loudly (at the stranger).

I need [ to finish my homework ] (before dinner).

The chef prepared the guests a delicious meal [ to impress them ] (with his skills).

[ Hiking (in the mountains) ], we enjoyed breathtaking views (of nature).

They decided [ to go out (for dinner) ] ( after [ working hard all week ] ).

The dog brought the children a stick (from the yard), [ wagging its tail happily ].

[ Hoping [ to cheer her up ] ], he wrote a letter (to his grandmother).

( After [ studying (for hours) ] ), Maria decided [ to take a break (in the park) ].

The team worked late (into the night) (to complete the project) (before the deadline).

[ Working together ] (as a team), they built a sandcastle (on the beach).