Understanding sentences
IN THIS week’s lesson, we will focus on sentences. It is important for you to be reminded of the features of sentences so that your own written expression will improve as a result of the variety of sentences that you are able to produce in extended writing.
Let us now look at key concepts that are associated with the parts of a sentence and the types of sentences.
KEY CONCEPTS
Sentence – This is a group of words which expresses a complete thought. A sentence also contains a subject and a predicate.
Phrase – This is a group of words which does not have both subject and predicate. It forms part of a sentence. Examples: before the class/during the spring/must have seen.
Clause – This is a group of words that has a subject and a verb. A clause does not necessarily express a complete thought. Examples: if you visit her/She will be happy. / when I go home.
Subject – This is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing, being something or being spoken about. A sentence may also have a compound subject (a subject containing two or more simple subjects joined by ‘and’ or ‘or’).
Predicate – This is the part of the sentence that makes a statement about the subject. The predicate usually tells us what the subject is doing or what is happening to the subject. A sentence can also have a compound predicate (two or more verbs that are joined by a conjunction and share the same subject).
EXAMPLES
Deborah and Clive (compound subject) are in the office (predicate).
Nurse Johnson (subject) has the chikungunya virus (predicate).
Last night, we (subject) drank a bottle of wine and watched a movie (compound predicate).
Cathy and Lisa (compound subject) did their homework and checked it twice (compound predicate).
KINDS OF SENTENCES
Interrogative (Asks a question)
Exclamatory (Expresses strong emotion)
Declarative (Makes a statement)
Imperative (Gives a command)
TYPES OF SENTENCES/ SENTENCES BY STRUCTURE
Simple – It has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. It can also be referred to as an independent clause. It may have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
EXAMPLES
Some people like to exercise in the mornings.
Larry and Michelle go to the movies every Saturday.
Tim reads and writes for fun.
The three examples above are all simple sentences. Note that sentence 2 contains a compound subject (Larry and Michelle), and sentence 3 contains a compound predicate (reads and writes for fun).
Compound – This sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator/coordinating conjunction. The coordinators are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (A great way to remember these coordinators is by using the mnemonic FANBOYS.) Also, each part of a compound sentence has its own subject and predicate. Additionally, except for very short sentences, coordinators are always preceded by a comma.
Example: I tried to write a report, and my friend tried to write a speech. This sentence can also be joined by a semi-colon.
Example: I tried to write a report; my friend tried to write a speech.
EXAMPLES
Kyle watched the children, so Maria could go shopping.
Your singing is good, but it could be better. You are expected to register on Monday or you will not be admitted.
Complex – This sentence contains an independent clause that is joined by at least one subordinate/dependent clause. A complex sentence always has a subordinator/subordinating conjunction such as: since, after, although, when, while, until, if, because, where, before or as, or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which.
INDEPENDENT (MAIN) & SUBORDINATE (DEPENDENT) CLAUSES
Every clause has a subject and a verb. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and, as mentioned earlier, can be referred to as a simple sentence. A subordinate/dependent clause, on the other hand, can only be a part of sentence and does not express a complete thought. In the sentences below, the independent clause is enclosed by brackets and the dependent clause is underlined.
EXAMPLES
When he opened the door, (he was surprised to see his mother).
(The teacher returned the homework) after she noticed his poor penmanship.
(The students are practising) because they have a match tomorrow.
After they won the match, (the students celebrated).
(Derek and Jane went to the mall for ice cream) after they finished studying.
When a complex sentence begins with a subordinator such as sentences 1 and 4, a comma is needed at the end of the dependent clause. When the independent clause comes before the subordinate clause, as seen in sentences 2, 3, and 5, no comma is required. If a comma is placed before the subordinate clauses in sentences 2, 3, and 5, it is wrong. Therefore, the position of the comma in the following sentence is wrong: The students are practising, because they have a match tomorrow.
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES
The woman who called my father sells car parts.
The book that Suzette read is on the bed.
The house which my mother was born in is being sold.
Each sentence above has what is known as an adjectival clause. Please note that the adjectival clause has been underlined.
Compound-Complex – A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE
Although I like to go camping, I haven’t had the time to go lately, and I haven’t found anyone to go with.
While my father was in the hospital, he quit smoking, and he lost several pounds.
When a person hurries too much, mistakes are made, and accidents can happen.
Compound-complex sentences are very common in English, but please ensure that you have mastered writing simple, compound and complex sentences before you attempt them.
Here is a follow-up activity.
ACTIVITY
Identify each of the following sentences as simple, compound, complex or compound-complex.
1. Reading improves written expression.
2. Tiffany loves to read, but Joy prefers to dance.
3. If you doubt your abilities, you will never achieve much.
4. Edith laughed and jumped happily when she got her CSEC results.
5. I scheduled a physics class; Joe chose biology because he prefers the natural sciences.
6. Jake and Jack laughed and talked incessantly.
7. After he completed his assignment, he went to bed.
8. While I was on vacation in Ocho Rios, I experimented with the local cuisine and my husband visited historical monuments.
9. Before you jump to the wrong conclusions, you need to get all the facts.
10. Timothy has never been the same since he won the super lottery.
11. He visited Milk River, so he could soak his aching joints.
12. Christmas is a time for family and fellowship.
VOCABULARY TOP-UP
Earmark – to set something aside for a special purpose. Eccentric – unconventional or odd. Elicit – to bring about a response or reaction.
Embellish – to make something more attractive or interesting by adding decorations or details.