In the words of F.G. French, “The word ‘pattern’ means a model from which many things of the same kind and shape can be made … A sentence pattern is, therefore, a model for sentence which will be of the same shape and construction although made up of different words.”
Prof. Robert Lado has defined a pattern as “any recurring design or arrangement of sounds, morphemes, words, phrases or sentences.” The sentence patterns of English are designs or arrangements into which different words can be put to fit the lexical situation. A few examples of sentence-patterns in English are
(a) Simple Patterns
(i) Mohan played. The girl danced. The girl wept. (ii) I have seen a lion. He has played the game. (iii) He gave me a book. I told him a story.
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(b) Question Patterns
(i) Did the girl dance ? Did the child weep?
(ii) When did you see him? Why did you beat him? How did you meet him?
(c) Command or Request Patterns
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Shut the door. Please, help the poor.
Types of Structures
Structures may be complete utterances or form part of a large pattern. We distinguish the following important types:
1. Sentence Pattern. He plays. He is playing. He went to school. Open the door. Did you meet your friend?
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2. Phrases Patterns. On the road; in the room; for two weeks; of the boy
3. Formulas. Thank you: Excuse me. Beg your pardon (These are groups of words used regularly on certain occasions).
4. Idioms. In order to; in the light of ; go to the dogs ; (These large groups of words to be taught as a whole and not as separate words).