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Common sentence patterns in HKDSE

1. SVO 1. SV

Example: We should never give up.

2. SVO

Example: The insane man assaulted a security guard of the Cable TV headquarters.

3. S +V + O1 + O2

Example: The government should provide the impoverished with vocational training.

2. This  To show cause-and-effect relationship

SVO. + This + v. + O.

Example: We should communicate genuinely with our family members. This can enhance our

family relationship.

Example: The government should promote the use of public transport. This can alleviate the

problem of traffic congestion.

3. and  To connect similar ideas

S + V1 + and + V2 + O

Example: The firemen extinguished the fire and rescued the trapped residents.

1. SVO + and + SVO.

Example: Owing to low academic qualifications, some teenagers are frustrated and they may

become socially-withdrawn youths.

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4. When When  To show time

If
If  To show condition

1. When + SVO, + SVO

SVO + when + SVO

If + SVO, + SVO

SVO + if + SVO

Example: When people are confronted with financial difficulties, they may easily lose their

temper and quarrel with their loved ones.

Example: The principal suddenly entered the classroom when they were bullying the victims.

Example: If the country abolishes capital punishment, the crime rate will skyrocket.

Example: The competitiveness of Hong Kong will be jeopardized if the minimum wage is

drastically increased.

2. When + v.+ing + n., + SVO

SVO + when + v.+ing + n.

Example: When implementing waste charging, the government has to consider the cost and

benefits.

Example: The teenage boy lost his consciousness and collapsed when playing computer

games in a net café.

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5. Connectives  To show cause-and-effect relationship

1. Because/As/Since + SVO, + SVO

SVO + because/as/since + SVO
SVO, + so + SVO
SVO. + Therefore,/Hence,/Thus, + SVO

Example: Because Hong Kong is an international financial hub, many banks establish their
headquarters here.

Example: Classes were suspended since the typhoon signal no.10 was hoisted.

Example: Many girls love to capture their beauty and merriment, so they are obsessed with
taking selfies.

Example: Most students doubt the quality of their school teachers. Hence, they enroll in
tutorial classes organized by star tutors.

2. Because of/Due to/Owing to/Thanks to + n., + SVO

SVO + because of/due to/owing to/thanks to + n.

Example: Due to his steely determination and the insatiable thirst for glory, Kobe Bryant has
outperformed most players in his generation.

Example: Many factories in China have relocated to inland provinces like Sichuan and Shanxi
owing to the ballooning labour cost in the coastal region.

 To show concession

1. Although/Though/Even though + SVO, + SVO

SVO + although/though/even though + SVO
SVO, but + SVO
SVO. + However,/Nevertheless,/Nonetheless, + SVO

Example: Although iPhones are expensive, many people purchase them to showcase their
social status.

Example: C.Ronaldo is regarded as one of the best footballers in history even though he has
never won the World Cup.

Example: He is destitute, but he is reluctant to apply for the Comprehensive Social Security
Assistance from the government.

Example: Van Gogh was an excellent artist. Nevertheless, he failed to gain international
recognition before his suicide.
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5. Connectives 2. Despite/In spite of + n./v.+ing, + SVO

SVO + despite / in spite of + n./v.+ing

Example: Despite international condemnation and sanctions, Russia has refused to halt its
military expansion in Ukraine.

Example: The country failed to win the war in spite of having superior weapons.

 To show purpose

1. In order to + v., + SVO

SVO + in order to / so as to + v.

Example: In order to appease the Western superpowers, the Qing government paid
indemnities and ceded land to them.

Example: The philanthropist has donated billions of dollars so as to promote the

development of human resources in China.

2. With a view to / For the sake of + v.+ing, + SVO

SVO + with a view to / for the sake of + v.+ing

Example: For the sake of the next generation, websites and the mass media should stop
disseminating pornographic information.

Example: They've torn down the old buildings with a view to renovating the whole
neighborhood.

6. Prepositional  To show cause-and-effect relationship

Clauses
1. With + n., + SVO

Example: With the the Octopus system, we can complete our payment more conveniently.

Example: With the spread of the Ebola virus, international collaboration is required.

 To show purpose

1. Through/By + n. / v.+ing, + SVO

SVO + through/by + n. / v.+ing

Example: Through the cloud platform, we can upload document online easily.

Example: Many people earn substantial amount of money by speculating in the stock
market and the property market.

7. which  To give additional information

who
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that a. Defining Relative Clause (cannot be deleted; no commas)

1. S + which + v. + …+ VO
S + who + v. + …+ VO
S + that + v. +…+ VO

Example: The dog which was abandoned by my neighbor starved to death.

Example: The singer who was the most popular in Hong Kong in the 1990s was Leon
Lai.

Example: The local university that admits the largest number of top performers in the
HKDSE is the University of Hong Kong.

2. SVO + which + v. + …
SVO + who + v. + …
SVO + that + v. + …

Example: Monkeys are the media which spread the Ebola virus in Western Africa.

Example: Thomas Edison was the man who invented the light bulb.

Example: The widening wealth chasm is the problem that the government needs to
tackle first.

b. Non-defining Relative Clause (extra information; commas in between)

1. S + , which + v. + …+ VO
S + , who + v. + …+ VO
S + , that + v. +…+ VO

Example: The United States, which is the largest economy in the world, is also a sports
superpower, winning hundreds of gold medals in the Olympic Games.

Example: Michael Jordan, who graduated from North Carolina University, is the
greatest basketball player in history.

3. SVO + , which + v. + …
SVO + , who + v. + …
SVO + , that + v. + …

Example: Usain Bolt was born in Jamaica, which is a Caribbean country.

Example: Cheung Kong Limited was founded by Li Ka-shing, who is a multibillionaire

and a philanthropist.
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8. v. + ing (active)  Subject of a sentence

p.p. (passive)
1. V. + ing + v. + n.

Example: Enhancing the living environment of the impoverished should be the priority

of the government.

Example: Sustaining rapid economic development is the only way for the government

to maintain its legitimacy and political survival.

Example: Legalizing euthanasia can alleviate the physical and psychological pain of

chronically-ill patients.

 Events happening at the same time / time order

(Verbs must have the same subject)

1. V. + ing + n., + SVO

p.p. + n., + SVO

Example: Watching the dreary movie, the couple fell asleep.

Example: Having graduated from Cambridge University, he became a barrister.

Example: Disappointed by the humiliating defeat of their favourite soccer team, the

spectators damaged the vehicles outside the stadium.

Example: Eliminated from the singing contest, the participants burst into tears.
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8. v. + ing (active)  To show cause-and-effect relationship (Verbs must have the same subject)
p.p. (passive)
1. V. + ing + n., + SVO
p.p. + n., + SVO

Example: Pretending to be a beetle, he made his classmates laugh.

Example: Watching the Korean drama, the audience can learn about the significance of
benevolence and generosity.

Example: Bullied by his schoolmates, Bobby suffered from depression and plunged to his
death.

Example: Rescued by the fireman last night, the injured woman was sent to the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital.

2. SVO +, v. + ing + n.

Example: The little boy was waiting at the entrance of the school, waiting for his mother.

Example: The development of eco-tourism in Hong Kong can attract more travellers,
facilitating economic development.

Example: Through genuine communication, family members can understand more about
each other, preventing unnecessary conflicts and enhancing their relationship.

 To give additional information

1. S + v. + ing + …+ VO
S + p.p. + …+ VO

Example: The only shooting guard scoring more than 80 points in a single game is Kobe
Bryant.

Example: The woman wearing heavy make-up always purchases LV handbags and other
luxury products.

Example: The shopping mall visited most frequently by mainland tourists is New Town
Plaza in Shatin.

Example: The electronic products produced in Japan are the most reliable and popular in
the world.
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9. Noun  As sentence subject

Clauses 1. (What + v. + …) + VO
Example: What really matters is not material comforts, but spiritual welfare.

Example: What disappoints the public most is the government’s disregard of the environment.

Example: What is really inconceivable is the government’s lack of vision and long-term
economic planning.

2. (The fact ) that + SVO + VO

Example: That Hong Kong is overtaken by Shenzhen and Shanghai can be attributed to the
myopia of the government.

Example: The fact that the Japanese army conquered Asian countries is concealed in Japanese
textbooks.

3. Whether + SVO + VO

Example: Whether students can enhance their academic results hinges on their effort.

 As sentence object
1. S + V. + that + SVO
Example: Many political analysts have argued that the lack of social mobility and the
deterioration of inter-generational poverty are the major culprits of terrorism.
Example: Mr. Yu believes that diligence and perseverance are the recipes for success.
2. SV + what + to + v.
SV + what + SVO
SV + how + to + v.
SV + why + SVO
Example: A lot of university students are not sure what to do to enhance their language skills
and competitiveness.
Example: The government does not know what measures it can take to prevent devastating
economic crises.
Example: Many parents do not know how to nurture their children.

Example: Schools should investigate why some of their students have become rebellious.
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10. Adjective  To emphasize

patterns 1. It is + personality adj + of + sbdy + to + v.
Example: It is wise of you to study assiduously to prepare for the HKDSE.
Example: It is irrational of youngsters to engage in criminal activities.
2. It is + other adj + for + sbdy + to + v.
Example: It is crucial for the United States to stem the tide of Islamic fundamentalism
and terrorism in the Middle East.
Example: It is essential for sixth-formers to practise English writing regularly.
Example: It is feasible for the company to increase its share of the market by 10% in the
coming year.

11. Cleft  To emphasize new information

Sentences 1. It is + n. + that/who/whom/which + SVO
(a sentence Example: It is feudalism and Confucianism which contributed to the stagnation of the
divided into 2 country’s social and economic development.
clauses) Example: It is relentless pursuit of perfection and glory that has led Kobe Bryant to his
spectacular achievements.
Example: It is vocational training that can disentangle the underprivileged from the mire
of impoverishment.
Example: It is the president who shoulders the responsibility for exacerbating the
relationship between the executive and the legislature.

12. Parallelism  To emphasize

1. SVO; + SVO; + SVO.

Example: Thanks to the indiscriminate use of credit cards, adolescents will become the
slaves to luxurious products; adolescents will be at risk of financial peril in the face of
snowballing debts; adolescents will lose their soul and personality when they become
insolvent.

2. With + n., + SVO; + with + n., + SVO; with + n., + SVO.

Example: With a biased education system, our next generation will be brainwashed;
with a biased education system, our next generation will lose their critical thinking; with
a biased education system, our next generation will fail to identify right from wrong.
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13. Rhetorical  To emphasize

Questions 1. Isn’t it absurd/preposterous/ridiculous/ludicrous that + SVO?

Example: Isn’t it absurd that the murderer was found not guilty to all of the charges?

Example: Isn’t it preposterous that the parents did not know where their children are?

2. Instead of + v.+ing, why don’t + SVO?

Example: Instead of becoming bookworms, why don’t we participate in more

extra-curricular activities?

Example: Instead of playing smartphone games and browsing the Internet, why don’t
we spend more time preparing for the HKDSE?

14. Normalization  To write in a different sentence pattern

(using nouns) 1. Sbdy + hold the belief that + SVO

Example: Many sixth-formers hold the belief that they can enhance their English results
by attending tutorial classes without working hard.

2. Sbdy + put emphasis on + n.

Sbdy + attach importance to + n.

Example: Nowadays, smartphone companies put emphasis on fancy designs rather than
the durability of their products.

Example: In a money-oriented society like Hong Kong, most people attach importance to
the pursuit of affluence.

3. The importance of + n.
The significance of + n.

Example: Realizing the importance of political transformation, Kang Youwei and Liang
Qichao implemented the “Hundred Days’ Reform” in 1898, but to no avail.

Example: Gone are the days when enterprises ignored the significance of corporate
social responsibility.

4. pursuit of + n.

Example: The player’s relentless pursuit of glory is the reason why he has become the
greatest player in badminton history.
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14. Normalization  To write in a different sentence pattern

(using nouns) 5. With the implementation of + n. + SVO

Example: With the implementation of the new senior secondary curriculum, girls seem
to have gained an upper hand over their male counterparts in terms of university
admission.
6. Under the influence of + n., + SVO
Example: Under the influence of Confucianism, Chinese parents stress the importance of
education and courtesy.

7. With the advent of + n., + SVO (advent = coming)

With the emergence of + + n., + SVO

Example: With the advent of computers, entertainment has been more diversified.

Example: With the emergence of social networking websites, we can make friends with
people from all over the world.

8. The proliferation of + n. + VO (a sudden increase in amount / number)

Example: The proliferation of smartphones has completely changed our lives.

9. The rising tide of + n. (tide = trend)

The surging tide of + n.

Example: Despite the rising tide of anti-government protests in Malaysia, Prime Minister
Najib Razak has no intention to step down.

Example: Gun control is the panacea for the surging tide of violence in the United States.

10. With the popularity of + n. + SVO

With the prevalence of + n. + SVO

Example: With the popularity of the Korean pop culture, the beautiful faces of Korean
celebrities are ubiquitous in our society.

Example: With the prevalence of online shopping, many youngsters are plunged into
financial trouble.

11. With the ubiquity of + n. + SVO (ubiquity = common / seeming to be everywhere)

Example: With the ubiquity of Islamic terrorists, global security is under threat.

12. n. + lead to an increase in + n.

Example: The devastating typhoon has led to an increase in food prices.

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14. Normalization  To write in a different sentence pattern

(using nouns) 13. Thanks to the improvement in + n., + SVO

Thanks to the amelioration in + n., + SVO

Example: Thanks to the improvement in health care, we can enjoy higher life

expectancy.

Example: Thanks to the amelioration in broadband technology, the Internet can be

browsed at a very high speed.

14. Thanks to rapid economic development, + SVO

Thanks to rapid technological advancement, + SVO

Example: Thanks to rapid economic development, more and more people in the country

can afford to purchase luxury homes.

Example: Thanks to rapid technological advancement, many manufacturing processes

can be completed by machines.

15. The lack of + n.

The dearth of + n.

The deficiency of + n.

Example: The lack of high-quality teachers in Hong Kong can be attributed to the

money-oriented culture.

Example: Owing to the dearth of land, large-scale reclamation projects have been carried

out to create land for residential and commercial development.

Example: The deficiency of funds resulted in the closure of DSC, a chain store selling

electronic appliances and furniture.

16. The addiction to + n.

The obsession with + n.

Example: The addiction to instant messaging applications will jeopardize our academic

performance and even our health.

Example: More and more Americans have died prematurely due to their obsession with

junk food and lack of exercise.

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14. Normalization  To write in a different sentence pattern

(using nouns) 17. n. + lead to the escalation in + n. (escalation = increase)

Example: The devastating typhoon led to the escalation in the prices of vegetables.

Example: The incompetence of the North Korea government led to the escalation in the

famine in the 1990s.

18. n. + lead to the deterioration of/in + n. (deterioration = getting worse)

n. + lead to the exacerbation of/in + n.

Example: Deforestation and accelerating industrial development have led to the

deterioration of air pollution problem.

Example: Prolonged recession has led to the exacerbation of the unemployment

problem in Greece.

19. With the intensification of + n. + SVO (intensify = increase in degree/strength)

With intensifying + n., + SVO

Example: With the intensification of natural disasters, better precautionary measures

have to be taken to prevent massive casualties.

Example: With intensifying competition in Asia, every effort has to be made to sharpen

Hong Kong’s competitive edge.

20. n. + lead to a decline in + n. (decline = decrease in quality)

Example: Skyrocketing inflation has led to a decline in our living standard.

21. The elimination of + n. (eliminate = remove)

The eradication of + n.

Example: Hopefully, international collaboration will lead to the elimination of the Ebola

Virus Disease.

Example: The eradication of racial discrimination hinges on education.

22. The erosion of + n.

Example: With the erosion of morality, deceptive stores are ubiquitous.

23. n. + put + n. + in jeopardy (= danger)

Example: The safety problems of the petrochemical plants have put the lives of

residents in jeopardy.
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15. Inversion  To connect similar ideas (similar to ‘and’)

1. Not only …also

Example: Not only does the new country manufacture goods, it also produces many
prominent athletes.

Example: Not only will drug abuse harm our health, it will also ruin our future.

 To show negation

1. Seldom …

Example: Seldom do Hong Kong students read books in their leisure time.

2. Rarely…

Example: Rarely does the management listen to public opinion.

3. Hardly… (almost not)

Example: With the ossified education system, hardly can students develop their
creativity.

4. Never …

Example: Despite its promise in the constitution, never does the dictator allow the
citizens to have freedom of expression, freedom of press and freedom of religion.

5. At no time (= never)

Example: At no time will the dictator agree to the implementation of universal suffrage
in the country.

6. No longer (not again)

Example: With its burgeoning economic and military strength, no longer does the small
country make humiliating concessions to foreign powers.

7. Under no circumstances

Example: Under no circumstances should we tolerate domestic violence in a society.

8. Hardly a day elapses without + n. / v.+ing (elapse = pass)

Example: Hardly a day elapses without disheartening news.

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15. Inversion 9. SVO. + Nor does + sbdy + v.

SVO. + Nor can + sbdy + v.

Example: Being a socially withdrawn youngster lacking motivation, he does not go to

school, nor does he search for jobs.

Example: Getting lost in the remote forest, he could not find any food, nor could he call
the police.

 To show purpose

1. Only through…

Example: Only through international cooperation can we stem the tide of cross-border
crimes, like prostitution, drug trafficking and terrorist activities.

 To show condition

1. The + comparative adj+ SV, the comparative adj + SV

Example: The harder we work, the better results we can get.

2. The sooner….the better

Example: The sooner we concentrate on our studies, the better.

3. Only when + SVO + can + sbdy + v.

Example: Only when the Japanese government encourages more married women to
rejoin the labour force can Japan raise its productivity.

4. However + formidable + S + is, + SVO (formidable = difficult to deal with; needing

a lot of effort)

Hard + though + S + V, + SVO

Example: However formidable the HKDSE is, every sixth-former should work
strenuously.

Example: Hard though the rescue workers tried, they could not save the coal miners.

5. Had it not been for + n., + SVO (= If not)

Example: Had it not been for his financial assistance by the United States, I would have
gone bankrupt.
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15. Inversion  To show the degree of an adjective

1. So + adj. is + S + that + SVO

Example: So magnificent is the scenery of river that it captivates tourists from around the
globe.

Example: So charismatic was the president that he overcame racial discrimination and
became the first African to become the president of the United States.

2. Such is + the + adj. + n. + that + VO

Example: Such is the indomitable spirit that has contributed to Hong Kong’s phenomenal
success and transformation into the Pearl of the Orient.

Example: Such is the miserable life that has tormented the refugees from Bangladesh.

 To show time order

1. Scarcely had sbdy + v. + when + sbdy + v. (= shortly after)

No sooner had + sbdy + v. + than + sbdy + v.

(past perfect + past)

Example: Scarcely had the prisoners finished their lunch when they were ordered to work.

Example: No sooner had he crossed the finish line than he fainted.

 To show location

1. In/On/At + place + v. + n.

Example: At the airport stood a swarm of crazy fans.

Example: On the sofa sat a listless cat.