In an English or Shakespearean sonnet, what is the rhyme scheme?

In an English or Shakespearean sonnet, the rhyme scheme is characterized by a specific pattern of alternating rhymes in the first twelve lines, followed by a rhymed couplet. The pattern follows ABAB for the first quatrain, CDCD for the second quatrain, EFEF for the third quatrain, and concludes with a couplet GG. This structure allows for the development of a theme or argument over the initial twelve lines, with the couplet providing a resolution or a twist. The combination of these alternating rhymes with a decisive closing couplet is what sets the English sonnet apart from other forms of sonnets, such as the Petrarchan sonnet, which has a different rhyme scheme.