Every language uses certain structures or sentence patterns to express ideas. English is no different. In this section we shall consider some of the basic sentence patterns in English.
Let’s + Bare infinitive
This structure is used for making suggestions.
- Let’s go.
- Let’s wait.
- Let’s start.
- Let’s stop.
- Let’s stop criticizing others.
- Let’s do something.
Let’s + have + noun
This structure is used for making suggestions.
- Let’s have a drink.
- Let’s have something to eat.
- Let’s have a chat.
Used to + bare infinitive
This structure is used to talk about past habits or things that used to happen continuously or frequently during a period in the past.
- He used to play football in his youth.
- I used to read a lot.
- They used to visit us every week.
- He used to smoke.
Be + used to + gerund/noun
This structure is used to talk about something that you are familiar with so that it no longer seems new or strange to you.
- I am used to waiting for buses.
- We are used to working long hours.
- Eventually he got used to the smells and sounds of the city.
Needn’t + Bare infinitive
This structure is used to say that something is/was not necessary. The structure ‘need + bare infinitive’ is used to ask if something is/was necessary.
- You needn’t pay for that call.
- We needn’t go.
- You needn’t work this hard.
- Need I come tomorrow?
- Need we foot the bill?
- Need we reserve seats in advance?
Had better + bare infinitive
This structure is used to tell someone what you think they should do.
- You had better ask his permission.
- You had better consult a doctor.
- We had better wait until tomorrow.
- She had better obey him.
Feel + Adjective
This structure is used to talk about physical or emotional experiences.
- I feel tired.
- I feel sleepy.
- They felt satisfied.
- I feel bored.
Feel like + gerund (-ing form)
This structure is used to talk about a desire for something.
- I feel like having a drink. (= I want to have a drink.)
- She felt like crying. (= She wanted to cry.)
- I don’t feel like talking to her. (= I don’t want to talk to her.)
Going to + bare infinitive
Going to shows intention. If you are going to do something, you intend to do it in the future.
- I am going to get a good job. (= I intend to get a good job.)
- He is going to resign. (= He intends to resign.)
- She is going to have a word with her boss.
That + Adjective
This structure shows degree. It is used to say that something is as good/bad/boring/great/expensive/tiring etc., as the speaker suggests. Here that means very.
- She is that beautiful. (= She is extremely beautiful.)
- The film is that boring. (= It is as boring as you can probably imagine.)
- It is not that good. (= not very good)
- It is not that expensive. (= I expected it to be quite expensive, but it was not.)