Basic Sentences with Be

STATEMENT PATTERN:

subject       +    verb     +    preposition      +    object

The letter           is                to                           John.

The letter           is                about                      money.

The letter           is                from                       Springfield.

The letter           is                from                       Virginia.

YES/NO QUESTION PATTERN:              

verb     +          subject +          preposition      +          object?

Is                the letter                 to                           John?

Is                the letter                 about                      money?

Is                the letter                 from                       Springfield?

Is                the letter                 from                       Virginia? 

INFORMATION QUESTION PATTERN:                

question word  +          verb     +          subject +          preposition? 

Who(m)*                     is                  the letter                to? 

What                          is                  the letter                about? 

Where                         is                  the letter                from? 

What state                  is                  the letter                from?

 Which state                 is                  the letter                from? 

*Whom is used in writing and in formal speech.

Who is used in conversation. 

EXCEPTION:

The preposition at is not used with where or what time.        

STATEMENTS:

The party is at my house.

The party is at ten o'clock.       

QUESTIONS:

Where is the party? What time is the party?        

Basic Sentences with Other Verbs     

STATEMENT PATTERN:                                

  subject +          verb     +          preposition      +          object 

She              writes          to                           John. 

She              asks           about                     money. 

She              writes          from                       Springfield. 

She              writes          from                       Virginia. 

YES/NO QUESTION PATTERN:                        

auxiliary verb +    subject +      verb     +    preposition            +  object? 

Does                     she               write           to                           John? 

Does                     she               ask             about                     money?

Does                     she               write           from                       Springfield? 

Does                     she               write           from                       Virginia? 

INFORMATION QUESTION PATTERN: 

question word  +   auxiliary verb   +  subject +    verb     +  preposition? 

Who(m)                  does                      she               write           to? 

What                      does                      she               ask             about? 

Where                    does                      she               write           from? 

What state              does                      she               write           from? 

Which state            does                      she               write           from?  

EXCEPTION:

The prepositions to and at are not used with where.            

STATEMENTS:

The letter is going to Chicago.

We are staying at the Forum Hotel.          

QUESTIONS:

Where is the letter going?

Where are you staying?            

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