This document provides an overview of sentence structure concepts including phrases, clauses, and sentence types. It defines key terms like phrase, clause, independent clause, dependent clause. It explains the four main types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. It also discusses functions of sentences, merger in syntax, constituency tests, and subject-verb agreement. The document aims to explain core grammatical concepts for analyzing sentence structure.

1. Applied LinguisticsApplied Linguistics
Group Presenters:
Leung Vibol Leng Sreynoun Ron Karona
Oung Lyhak Phak Panha
សសសសសសសសសសសសសសសសសសស
Western UniversityWestern University
Part III Sentences

2. ContentContent
 Introduction of sentence
 Phrase
 Clause
 Types of sentences
 Functions of sentences
 Merger
 Constituent Test
 Agreement

3. What is a Sentence?
 A sentence is a group of words that contains
a subject and predicate.
– The subject of the sentence usually tells what the
sentence is about.
– The predicate of a sentence tells about the subject
or tells what the subject is doing.
 A sentence begins with a capitalized word,
and it can end with a period, question mark,
or exclamation point.
 A sentence conveys a complete thought.

4. Examples of Complete Sentences
 The large, red dog
ran quickly down the
path.
 Mary likes eating a
peach.

5. The top of grammatical hierarchy
(sentence)

6. What is a Phrase?
 A phrase is a part of a sentence which
does not contain its own subject and
predicate. It provides some additional
information or more context to the
sentence you write.
Remember: a phrase can never stand
alone as a sentence.

7. Examples of Phrases
 After school
 Before playing
online game
 To buy a new phone
 Inside my car
 Having dinner
 In the principal’s
office

8. Types of Phrases
 Noun Phrase
 Gerund Phrase
 Verb Phrase
 Infinitive Phrase
 Adjective Phrase
 Adverbial Phrase
 Participial Phrase
 Prepositional
Phrase
: A beautiful lady
: Watching TV
: Watch TV
: To watch TV
: Very happy
: Too slowly
: Killed man
: In the bedroom

9. What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and a predicate and
may also includes other types of
element.
Clause is divided into two majors:
Independent and depend clause

10. Examples of a Clause
The family stood in front of
the helicopter.
The father taught piano
to his daughter.

11. Types of Clauses
 Adverbial clause (adjunctive clause)
 Adjective clause (relative clause)
 Noun clause
 Independent clause (main clause)
 Dependent clause (subordinate clause)
 Finite & Non-finite clause

12. Identify these either phrases or
clauses
1.After watching the movie
2.Alice wants to be an English teacher
3.Behind the couch
4.When I return from school
5.Sleeping in bed
6.Because it was raining
7.After I graduate from college
8.To do homework
9.She sends me a bunch of flower

13. What is an Independent (Main)
Clause?
 An independent
clause is a clause
that can STAND
ALONE as a
sentence.
 It does NOT need to
be attached to
another clause.

14. Examples of an Independent Clause
 The boy played baseball all day.
 The cat chased the mouse around the
house.
 I went to karate practice after school.

15. What is a Dependent
(Subordinate) Clause?
 A dependent clause
is a clause that does
not express a
complete thought,
and must be
accompanied by an
independent clause.

16. Examples of a Dependent Clause
 The baby was crying
because he was
hungry.
 After graduate from
college, I will get a
good job.

17. Quick Quiz! Independent &
Dependent Clause
Identify the following clauses whether they are independent or dependent.
 1. We went to the
mall last week.
 2. Because of your
bad haircut.
 3. After the fish
jumped out of the
bowl.
4. I can’t believe our
friends did that!
5. You need to leave.
6. When we left the
restaurant.

18. Let’s Check Our Answers!
 We went to the mall
last week.
Independent Clause
 Because of your bad
haircut.
Dependent Clause
 After the fish jumped
out of the bowl.
Dependent Clause
 I can’t believe our
friends did that!
Independent Clause
 You need to leave.
Independent Clause
 When we left the
restaurant.
Dependent Clause

19. Types of Sentences
 Simple sentence
 Compound sentence
 Complex sentence
 Compound-complex sentence
There are four types of sentences:

20. Simple sentence
A simple sentence contains only one
independent clause. It can stand alone
by itself as a sentence and express a
completed thought.
The baby cried.
I enjoy playing football with my friends.
The girl ran into her bedroom.

21. Compound sentence
A compound sentence is two or more
independent clauses joined together.
There are 3 ways to join the clauses:
1. With a coordinator (fanboys)
2. With a conjunctive adverb
3. With a semicolon

22. Example of Compound Sentence
1. I study English grammar, for I want to
be good at writing skill.
2. I’ve learned English for ten years.
However, I cannot speak English
fluently.
3. I study English; my sister studies law.

23. Complex sentence
A complex sentence has one
independent clause and one or (more)
dependents. There are 3 kinds of
dependent clauses:
1. Adverb clause
when, while, because, before, although…
2. Adjective clause
who, whom, which, whose, that…
3. Noun clause
wh-questions, that, whether, or if…

24. Example of Complex Sentence
1. You can leave the room when the bell
rings.
2. The movie which you saw last night was
very interesting.
3. I don’t know whether she needs help.

25. Compound-complex sentence
A compound-complex sentence consists
two or more independents and one or
(more) dependent clauses.
 After I graduate from college, I want to
travel and go to work immediately.
 I want to travel and go to work
immediately after I graduate from college
because I need to support my family.

26. Functions of Sentences
 Declarative sentence
 Exclamative sentence
 Imperative sentence
 Interrogative sentence
There are four types of sentences:

27. Declarative sentence
Makes a statement and ends with
a period.
Examples
These are very nice.
We didn’t get home until late.
You are so beautiful.

28. Exclamative sentence
Exclaims surprise, delight, or strong
emotion and ends with exclamation
point.
Examples
The robber is escaping!
How clever you arer!
I can’t believe we won!

29. Interrogative sentence
Asks questions or requests
information and ends with a question
mark.
Examples
Are you going home?
When does the movie start?
Why didn’t you take notes?

30. Imperative sentence
Give orders, commands and
instructions,
end with periods or exclamation points.
Examples
Be home by midnight.
Drop the weapon!
Stop talking now!

31. Merger
What is merger in a sentence
structure?
Merger refers to an operation by which
the two words are combined to form a
phrase.

32. Example
Phrase
Speaker A: What are you trying to do?
Speaker B: Help you.
The result of merging is (VP) help
and you

33. Labelled
Bracketing
[VP [v help] [PRN you] ]
Labelled Tree
Diagram
VPVP
helphelp
VV
youyou
PRNPRN

34. Heads and Complements
The head of a phrase is the key word
which determines the properties of the
phrase.
Speaker A: What is your intention?
Speaker B: Try to help you.
 Infinitive phrase to help you is headed
by the To
 Its complement is the TP to help you

35. Tree Diagram of a Verb Phrase
TPTP
toto
TT VPVP
helphelp
VV
youyou
PRNPRN
VPVP
trytry
VV

36. Tree Diagram of a Sentence
SS
WeWe
PRNPRN
areare
TT
helphelp
VV
youyou
PRNPRN
VPVP
toto
TT
TPTP
tryingtrying
VV
VPVP

37. Tests for Constituency (testing
structure)
There are many ways for making
constituent tests. One traditional way
designed to determine structure is
coordination test.
Conjunctions like and, but, and or
which can be used to join together to
test whether constituent structures are
correct.

38. Coordination Test
[ fond of cats] and [afraid of dogs]
[slowly] but [surely]
[to go] or [to stay]
a. The government will try to [reduce taxes]
and [increase pensions].
b. The government will try [to reduce taxes]
and [to cut bureaucracy].
c. The government will [try to reduce taxes]
and [attempt to eliminate poverty].
d. The government [will try to reduce taxes]
but [may not succeed].

39. Agreement
Person
Agreement based on grammatical
person is found mostly between verb
and subject.
They live in Phnom Penh.
She works in Mekong bank.
He has resigned.
We have resigned.

40. Number
The girl did her job well. Vs The girls did
their job well.
There is agreement in number between
pronouns and antecedents.
Agreement also occurs between nouns
and their modifiers in some situations.
One big car Vs Two big cars
Much great work Vs Many great works

41. Gender
The man reached his destination.
The ship reached her/its destination.
If a person wants to success in life, he or
she has to work hard in order to reach the
goal.
For gender (masculine & feminine),
agreement also occurs between pronouns
and antecedents.

42. Good Luck in Your Test!