Sentence structure

Sentence structure Skill focus: The production of grammatically correct, structurally sound and meaningful sentences.

Sentence Structure Sentences have a verb, and the verb usually has a subject and it may also have an object.

Simple Sentences subject verb object Miranda held the book.

Simple Sentences Simple sentences can just have a verb: • Go! • Jump! • Look! In these sentences the subject you is understood: [You] go!

Simple Sentences: adding phrases • Miranda held the book in her left hand. (Adverbial phrase) • Miranda held the book with the red cover. (Adjectival phrase)

Compound Sentences A compound sentence has two or more main clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions: and, but, yet, or, nor, so, for main clause main clause Miranda read a book and Sam watched TV. coordinating conjunction

Compound Sentences • Tim studied hard but his friend wasted time. • We could leave now or we could wait till the rain stops. • They were hungry so they decided to eat their lunch. • She is tired yet she will not stop working so she is still here.

Compound Sentences In some compound sentences, the coordinating conjunction can be replaced by a semicolon. • Miranda read a book; Sam watched TV. • Tim studied hard;his friend wasted time. • They were hungry; they decided to eat their lunch.

Adding noun clauses I think that Miranda held the book. To find the noun clause, ask the question: What did I think? In this sentence, Miranda held the book is a noun clause or a complement.

Noun clauses • We noticed that the book was torn. • He believed that he knew the answer. • She agreed that this was the right way. • They decided that they would leave right away.

Complex sentences A complex sentence has a main clause and at least one dependent clause. It has two or more verbs. The main clause can stand alone. The other clauses depend on the main clause for meaning. There are many different types of dependent clause.

Complex sentences: Adding adverbial clauses • Although it was very heavy, Miranda held the book. • He got a good mark in the test because he studied hard.

Complex sentences: Adding adjectival clauses • Miranda held the book which she had been reading. • The boy, who had studied hard, got a good mark in the test.

Complex sentences: verbless clauses Verbless clauses do not have a verb but the verb is understood when we read the sentence. • Although usually late,Jane arrived on time today. (Thiscould be written as:Although she was usually late…)

Complex sentences: non-finite clauses • Howling wildly, the wind swept away everything in its path. • She ran out of the room, reduced to tears • Having spoken, he waited for their reply. • Reaching the summit, they admired the spectacular view. • To avoid being late, we left early.

Incorrect sentences Long and rambling: I woke up to find that I had grown long beautiful hair and was wearing a fantastic new ball gown and the crown had changed to be made of silver and when I ran to look out of the window I was looking at a completely new place and there were horses and glittering streams and birds all over the place and I was extremely happy about all that but I did not know anyone there at all. This sentence needs to be broken up into a number of smaller sentences.

Incorrect sentences Sentence fragment • Because I went there. • In themountains during winter and just before the snow begins to fall. Verb errors • The crystal broken. (this could be fixed by the insertion of a verb such as was, is, will be, can’t be) • He must of gone to the shop. (must have or must’ve)

Sentence structure