Sentence Structure

Sentence structure
Sentence structure
The sentence
The clause
KINDS OF SENTENCE
Simple sentence
Compound sentences
Complex sentence
Compound-complex-sentences
The Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that you use to communicate
your ideas in writing or speech. It is a complete, independent
unit of thought and consists of two main parts; a subject and a
predicate.
SUBJECT
The subject is the word or words that names the person, thing,
or place that a sentence is about. It is usually a noun or
pronoun.
PREDICATE
The predicate makes a statement about the subject. It consists
of a verb and its modifiers or complements. The verb is
themost important part of the predicate. It expreses action or a
state of being.
A complement is a word or words used to complete the meaning
of the verb.
A SENTENCE MAY BE : - STATEMENT

- QUESTION
- COMMAND
- REQUEST
- EXCLAMATION.
THE FIRST LETTER OF A SENTENCE MUST BE
CAPITALIZED, AND THE SENTENCE MUST END
WITH A FINAL PUNCTUATION MARK IN THE FORM
OF A PERIOD (.), A QUESTION MARK (?) OR AN
EXCLAMATION POINT(!).
Examples :
1. What is ecologi ? QUESTION

2. Ecology is the science of the relationships betwee
organism and their environments. STATEMENT
3. (You) Save the environment ! COMMAND
4. Would you write a report on ecology and man?
REQUEST
5. What a polluted lake that is! EXCLAMATION
The Clause
Independent Clause could stand alone
Dependent Clause could not stand alone
Examples :
Independent Clause
I may declare my major now, but I can still change it
later.
Foreign students suffer from culture shock when they
come to the United States.
Because the cost of education has been rising
rapidly, many students are having financial
problems.
You will need certain qualification if you choose a
career in computer programming.
Examples:
Dependent Clause
When the semester was over

who was accepted by the university.....
if you leave your car unlocked
Because I had a job interview.......
DEPENDENT CLAUSE
Subordinator+Subject+Verb+Complement
KINDS OF SENTENCES
There are basically four kinds of sentences in English
SIMPLE
COMPOUND
COMPLEX
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
A simple sentence is an independent clause

Examples :
I enjoy playing tennis with my friends every weekend.

I enjoy playing tennis and look forward to it every
weekend.
My friends and I play tennis and go bowling every
weekend.
A compound sentence is two or more independent

clause joined together in any one of three ways.
Examples :
1. By a coordinating conjunction.
I enjoy playing tennis, but I hate playing
golf.
2. By a sentence connector.
I enjoy playing tennis; however, I hate
playing golf.
3. By a semicolon:
I enjoy playing tennis; I hate playing golf.
A Complex Sentence is the combination of an

independent clause and a dependent clause.
The two clauses may be in either order.
Examples :
- Although I enjoy playing tennis, I hate golf.
- I hate golf although I enjoy playing tennis.
Compound-Complex
Sentence
is
a
combination of two or more independent
clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Examples :
- I hate playing golf, but I enjoy I enjoy playing
tennis even though I am not very good at it.
CLAUSE CONNECTORS
Coordinating Conjunctions
Sentence Connectors
compound
sentence
Subordinators complex sentence
Coordinating conjunctions and sentence
connectors join independent clauses to form
compound sentence.
Subordinators introduce dependent clauses,
which are joined with independent clauses to
then form complex sentences.
COMPOUND SENTENCES
Coordinating Conjunctions
A compound sentence is made up of two or
more independent clauses connected by a
coordinating conjunction, such as and,or, nor,
but, for, so, yet. Each clauses in a compound
sentence must have a subject and a verb, is of
equal importance,and can stand alone.
Punctuate the sentence by putting a comma
(,) before the coordinating conjunction.
A compound sentence is formed with:

Independent Clause + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent
Clause
The following sample sentences indicate how coordinating
conjunctions work to make compound sentences. In each
sentence, the coordinating conjunction is underlined.
1.
George has applied for a scholarship, and Diane has requested
financial aid. (additional idea related to first idea)
2.
Students may live in the dormitories, or they may live in offcampus housing (choice of two possibilities)
3.
Gerry has completed two math courses, but he must still take
calculus .( contras with first clause)
4.
Ron completed his homework early, so he decided to go to the
party. (result of first clause)
5.
Foreign students must take English classes, for they must be
able to communicate easily in speaking and writing. (reason
for first clause)
6.
I have taken two finals, yet I must take two more this week.
(contrast to first clause)
7.
Many students do not like to study for tests, nor do they like to
write term papers. ( negative choice in both clauses)
Practice 1: COMPOUND SENTENCES I

Choose the correct coordinator from the following selection and combine the two
independent clauses in each pair in logical order. Rewrite the sentence and
punctuate it correctly.
And, or, nor, but, for, so, yet
1. are you applying for graduate school?
Will you look for a job?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Geology is concerned with the structure of the earth. Astronomy is concerned with
the physical universe beyond the earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. The cost of installation is very high.
Solar domestic heating systems are economical to operate.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practice 1: COMPOUND SENTENCES I

Choose the correct coordinator from the following selection and
combine the two independent clauses in each pair in logical
order. Rewrite the sentence and punctuate it correctly.
And, or, nor, but, for, so, yet
1. are you applying for graduate school?
Will you look for a job?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Geology is concerned with the structure of the earth. Astronomy is

concerned with the physical universe beyond the earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. The cost of installation is very high.
Solar domestic heating systems are economical to operate.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Energy needs are not going to decrease.

Energy sources are not going to increase.
(use nor)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRACTICE 2: COMPOUND SENTENCE II

Add another independent clause to the following independent clauses to form
compound sentences. underline the conjunctions and punctuate the
sentences correctly.
Example: The college campus is located in the center of the city, so it is very
easy to do my shopping.
1. students can attend day classes and
----------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Students may live the dormitories or
--------------------------------------------------------------------------3. I have completed my homework for tomorrow but
--------------------------------------------------------4. I have taken six units of classes in English as a second language yet
------------------------------------5. Foreign students must take ESL, classes for
-------------------------------------------------------------------6. Some students do not like to write term papers nor
--------------------------------------------------------7. The professor was lecturing
so----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8. I had to write an essay for Friday yet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------9. Mary returned the book to the library for
PRACTICE 3: COMPOUND SENTENCES IN

PARAGRAPH WRITING
Choose between A and B below.
A. Write seven compound sentences relating to
your own experiences. Use each coordinating
conjunction once. Underline the conjunction and
punctuate correctly.
B. Write a paragraph about one of your classes.
Underline the coordinating conjunctions.
SENTENCE CONNECTORS
The independent clauses of a compound sentence can
also be joined by a sentence connector such as
furthermore, however, otherwise, and therefore.
Sentence connectors are used frequently in formal
writing to connect long clauses. Punctuate the
sentence by placing a semicolon ( ; ) after the first
clause and a comma (,) after the sentence connector.
A COMPOUND SENTENCE IS ALSO FORMED WITH:
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE; + SENTENCE CONNECTOR, +
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Sentence Structure

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Sentence Structure

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What are the main parts of a sentence?

What are the different types of sentences?

Sentence structure

A SENTENCE MAY BE : - STATEMENT

1. What is ecologi ? QUESTION

When the semester was over

A simple sentence is an independent clause

I enjoy playing tennis with my friends every weekend.

A compound sentence is two or more independent

A Complex Sentence is the combination of an

A compound sentence is formed with:

Practice 1: COMPOUND SENTENCES I

Practice 1: COMPOUND SENTENCES I

2. Geology is concerned with the structure of the earth. Astronomy is

4. Energy needs are not going to decrease.

PRACTICE 2: COMPOUND SENTENCE II

PRACTICE 3: COMPOUND SENTENCES IN

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