discussion on english syntax

1. ENGLISH SYNTAX
The Structure of English (ELT202)
Cheryl V. Almazan
MMHRM

2. What is ENGLISH SYNTAX?
"Sentence structure may ultimately be composed of many
parts, but remember that the foundation of each sentence
is the subject and the predicate. The subject is a word or
a group of words that functions as a noun; the predicate is
at least a verb and possibly includes objects and modifiers
of the verb."(Lara Robbins, Grammar and Style at Your Fingertips. Alpha Books, 2007)
In English grammar, sentence structure is the arrangement
of words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence
In English, the same set of words can convey different
meanings if they are arranged in different ways

3. Subject and Predicate
Every complete sentence contains two parts:
 a subject and a predicate. The subject is what (or
whom) the sentence is about, while the predicate
tells something about the subject.
In the following sentences, the predicate is enclosed
in braces ({}), while the subject is underlined
Judy {runs}.
Judy and her dog {run on the beach every morning}.

4. Four Types of Sentences in English
Language:
Declarative sentence
Imperative sentence
Interrogative sentence
Exclamatory sentence

5. And there are only three punctuation
marks with which to end a sentence:
Period
Question mark
Exclamation point

6. Declarative sentence:
simply makes a statement or expresses an
opinion
“I want to be a good writer.” (makes a statement)
“My friend is a really good writer.” (expresses an
opinion)

7. Imperative sentence:
gives a command or makes a request
 Please sit down.
 I need you to sit down now!

8. Interrogative sentence:
asks a question
 How old are you ?
 Do you know what the weather will be tomorrow ?

9. Exclamatory sentence:
a sentence that expresses great
emotion such as excitement, surprise,
happiness and anger
 It is too dangerous to climb that mountain !
 I got an A on my book report !

10. Clause part of a sentence that has
a subject and a predicate
dependent clause
independent clause

11. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE contains a
subject, a verb, and a complete thought
I wrote my first novel last year
DEPENDENT CLAUSE contains a subject
and a verb, but no complete thought
After I wrote my first novel last year

12. 1. John did his homework before he
went to bed.
2. We will do whatever is
necessary.
3. You may play outside until the
street lights come on.
4. I was very happy; I had pizza and
ice cream.

13. There are four main sentence structures
in the English language:
simple sentence
compound sentence
complex sentence
compound-complex

14. SIMPLE SENTENCE one independent
clause; contains a subject and a verb
 Tom reads novels.
 Tom and Harry reads novels. (compound subject)
 Tom and Harry read and enjoys novels and newspapers.(compound subject,
verb, direct object)
FORMULA:
S = I

15. COMPOUND SENTENCE has two independent
clauses joined by
 a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so) FANBOYS BOAS
• Roy waited for the train, but the train was late.
 a conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore, or)
• Tom reads novels; however, Jack reads comics
a semicolon alone
• Tom reads novels; his friend reads comics.
FORMULA:
Cd = II

16. COMPLEX SENTENCE contains an
independent clause and at least one
dependent clause
joined by a subordinating conjunction such as
'however, after, although, as, because’
 I really didn’t like the play although the acting was very good.
FORMULA:
Cx = I & D

17.  After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at
the train station
 When the dependent clause comes first, a comma
should be used to separate the two clauses.
Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they
left on the bus.
 When the independent clause comes first, a comma
should not be used to separate the two clauses.

18. COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE has one
complex sentence joined to a simple sentence with a
conjunction.
 complex and simple sentences may be joined by a
coordinating conjunction(FANBOYS) or conjunctive
adverbs
 joined by a correlative conjunctions
• He is not only intelligent, but also very funny.
• Jn is neither rich nor famous.
 FORMULA:
Cd Cx = II & D

19.  My father and I went to the movie that I had been wanting to see,
and then we went to the restaurant near the theater.
 My father and I went to the movie [independent]
 + then we went to the restaurant near the theater [independent]
 + I had been wanting to see that (dependent)
= compound-complex sentence

20. Identify each sentence as complex or compound-complex
1. Before you leave for school , you need to make sure you have your lunch.
2. We can put together the puzzle, which Aunt Lucy brought, or we can play the board game that was in the closet.
3. Roy didn’t want to get wet, but when his sister pushed her into the pool, she didn’t have a choice.
Decide whether each group of words is a clause or not a clause
1. Under the bed or in the closet
2. Michael was not listening in class today
Decide if each clause is independent or dependent
1. While we were listening to the concert
2. One car seemed to go much faster than the other
3. When my dog finally stopped barking
Choose the best answer to complete each sentence
1. Have you made a decision about _______ to go to the movies _______ not? (Either/or, Whether/or, What with /
and, If / then)
2. This salad is _______ delicious _______ healthy. (Whether/or, Both/and, Rather/than)