英語中動詞詞組的不同結構形式決定著不同的句型，英語基本句型主要有五大類。英語中的句子基本上都是由這5種句型擴展轉換而來。
主語+謂語動詞（SV結構）Fire burns.The plane is taking off.The bus is coming.SV結構中的動詞往往是不及物動詞或不及物動詞短語。主語+謂語動詞+補語（SVC結構）Mr Brown is an engineer.It's getting dark.The material feels soft.構成SVC結構的除了系動詞 be, 還有 feel, taste, smell, look, get become等動詞。主語+謂語動詞+賓語（SVO結構）I love you!A baby can't dress itself.Money begets money.(錢能生錢)在SVO結構中的動詞後只跟一個賓語，因此構成SVO句型的謂語動詞是單賓語及物動詞。主語+謂語動詞+間接賓語+直接賓語（SVoO 結SV構）He lent me his car.She bought me a new coat.I struck him a heavy blow.構成SVoO 結構的謂語動詞是其後能跟雙賓語的及物動詞。主語+謂語動詞+賓語+補語（SVOC結構）Nurses sing children to sleep with a jingling ballad.He had drunk all the officers under the table.He stared the young lady out of countenance.構成SVOC結構的謂語動詞是某些能帶複雜賓語的及物動詞。除此之外，在SV和SVO結構中，由於一些謂語動詞的詞彙意義所限，其後必須跟有狀語才能保證句子結構完整意義明確，就有了所謂的SVA結構和SVOA結構。I live in Beijing。The train leaves at six.（SVA結構）The judge put the material evidence in front of her.He treated her vilely.（SVOA結構）