Basic Writing Skills (Sentence Level)
By Belachew Weldegebriel (bellachew@gmail.com)
Sentence
What is a sentence?
Definitions, Examples, . . .
A sentence
is a group of words which consists of subject and predicate and
expresses a complete thought.
Subject – names who/what is being talked about
Predicate – tells us something about the subject (action/ state of being).
Examples: Subject + verb
The baby cried.
The old man died.
She has gone.
The game ended.
Everyone laughed.
The beautiful girl giggled.
Examples: Subject (verb + adverb)
The baby cried bitterly.
The old man died yesterday.
We worked hard.
They played well.
Examples: Subject + trans verb + object
The boy kicked the ball.
The dog bit the girl.
The satellite rotates the earth.
Edison invented the electric bulb.
The chairman made a livelily speech.
Examples: Subject + trans verb + Direct object + Indirect Object
The President awarded him a gold medal.
I bade my friends a sad farewell.
He gave her some flowers.
She told me an interesting story.
Subject + link verb + complement
The room smells bad.
She felt sick.
Samuel is an engineer.
The boy is clever.
We are soldiers.
This is a disastrous action.
She was a beloved girl.
They were very friendly.
To sum up, a sentence:
must have subject and predicate (verb);
must express a complete thought;
needs to make sense;
must have a logical word order;
has to begin with a capital letter and end with appropriate terminal/end punctuation mark (./?/!)
can be short or long.
should be acceptable to native speakers of the language.
Look at the following group of wordsCan they qualify a sentence?
The clever student in our class.
If you go home earlier.
Samuel killed a big stone.
the party ruled South Africa for the past 40 years.
are Ethiopians we all
The beautiful girl walking down stairs.
The rain was envious.
She sang a beautiful song.
Basic Writing Skills (Sentence Level)
By Belachew Weldegebriel (bellachew@gmail.com)
Sentence
What is a sentence?
Definitions, Examples, . . .
A sentence
is a group of words which consists of subject and predicate and
expresses a complete thought.
Subject – names who/what is being talked about
Predicate – tells us something about the subject (action/ state of being).
Examples: Subject + verb
The baby cried.
The old man died.
She has gone.
The game ended.
Everyone laughed.
The beautiful girl giggled.
Examples: Subject (verb + adverb)
The baby cried bitterly.
The old man died yesterday.
We worked hard.
They played well.
Examples: Subject + trans verb + object
The boy kicked the ball.
The dog bit the girl.
The satellite rotates the earth.
Edison invented the electric bulb.
The chairman made a livelily speech.
Examples: Subject + trans verb + Direct object + Indirect Object
The President awarded him a gold medal.
I bade my friends a sad farewell.
He gave her some flowers.
She told me an interesting story.
Subject + link verb + complement
The room smells bad.
She felt sick.
Samuel is an engineer.
The boy is clever.
We are soldiers.
This is a disastrous action.
She was a beloved girl.
They were very friendly.
To sum up, a sentence:
must have subject and predicate (verb);
must express a complete thought;
needs to make sense;
must have a logical word order;
has to begin with a capital letter and end with appropriate terminal/end punctuation mark (./?/!)
can be short or long.
should be acceptable to native speakers of the language.
Look at the following group of wordsCan they qualify a sentence?
The clever student in our class.
If you go home earlier.
Samuel killed a big stone.
the party ruled South Africa for the past 40 years.
are Ethiopians we all
The beautiful girl walking down stairs.
The rain was envious.
She sang a beautiful song.
What is sentence?
Sentence is a group of words, minimal has subject and predicate, which expresses a thought in written or spoken form.
Types of Sentences
1. Types of Sentences according to their purpose.
2. Types of Sentences according to their syntax
3. Types of Sentences according to their form
4. Types of Sentences according to completeness
5. Types of Sentences according to what kind of category occurs in the predicate position of the sentence.
Types of Sentences according to their purpose
A declarative sentence makes a statement. Since we usually make statements that declare something, most of your sentences are declarative. All declarative sentences are ended with a period.
Examples:
The dodgers won the first inning.
The tallest animal in the world is a giraffe.
Information on:
Sentence structure & types
Phrases & Clauses
Direct & Indirect Speech
Concord & Register
Ambiguity
Punctuation marks
Parts of Speech
Synonyms & Antonyms
Malapropism
Comma Splice Error
Sentence Types Structural classification (Part I: Simple, Compound, Compound-Complex Sentence)
Compiled by: Belachew Weldegebriel
Jimma University
CSSH
Department of English Language and Literature
Types of Sentences: Structural
Sentences are classified in to four according to their structure i.e. the type and number of clauses it consists.
1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence
1.Simple Sentence
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
The dog barked.
The baby cried.
Girma and Alemu play football every afternoon.
St. George played well and won the game.
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject and verb.
It expresses a single complete thought.
A simple sentence is a single independent clause.
A simple sentence might have a compound subject and/or compound verb.
Simple Sentence withCompound Subject and/or Compound Verb
The simple sentence may have a compound subject: The dog and the cat howled.
It may have a compound verb:
The dog howled and barked.
It may have a compound subject and a compound verb:
The dog and the cat howled and yowled respectively.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences joined by
(1) a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so):
The dog barked, and the cat yowled.
(2) a semicolon:
The dog barked; the cat yowled.
(3) a comma, but ONLY when the simple sentences
are being treated as items in a series:
The dog barked, the cat yowled, and the rabbit
chewed.
Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
A compound sentence can also consist of two independent clauses joined by semi-colon
3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
A. When he handed in his homework, he
forgot to give the teacher the last page. B. The teacher returned the homework after
she noticed the error. C. The students are studying because they
have a test tomorrow.D. After they finished studying, Juan and
Maria went to the movies. E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after
they finished studying.
COMPLEX SENTENCES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
A. The woman who(m) my mom talked to
sells cosmetics.B. The book that Jonathan read is on the shelf.C. A girl whom I know was recently accepted
to Harvard University.
D. The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris,
is visited by millions of tourists annually.
The underlined part is the independent clause.
The go to tool of any writer is a great verb. Students often overload their writing with adjectives and adverbs and neglect to think about using a better verb.
What is sentence?
Sentence is a group of words, minimal has subject and predicate, which expresses a thought in written or spoken form.
Types of Sentences
1. Types of Sentences according to their purpose.
2. Types of Sentences according to their syntax
3. Types of Sentences according to their form
4. Types of Sentences according to completeness
5. Types of Sentences according to what kind of category occurs in the predicate position of the sentence.
Types of Sentences according to their purpose
A declarative sentence makes a statement. Since we usually make statements that declare something, most of your sentences are declarative. All declarative sentences are ended with a period.
Examples:
The dodgers won the first inning.
The tallest animal in the world is a giraffe.
Information on:
Sentence structure & types
Phrases & Clauses
Direct & Indirect Speech
Concord & Register
Ambiguity
Punctuation marks
Parts of Speech
Synonyms & Antonyms
Malapropism
Comma Splice Error
Sentence Types Structural classification (Part I: Simple, Compound, Compound-Complex Sentence)
Compiled by: Belachew Weldegebriel
Jimma University
CSSH
Department of English Language and Literature
Types of Sentences: Structural
Sentences are classified in to four according to their structure i.e. the type and number of clauses it consists.
1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence
1.Simple Sentence
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
The dog barked.
The baby cried.
Girma and Alemu play football every afternoon.
St. George played well and won the game.
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject and verb.
It expresses a single complete thought.
A simple sentence is a single independent clause.
A simple sentence might have a compound subject and/or compound verb.
Simple Sentence withCompound Subject and/or Compound Verb
The simple sentence may have a compound subject: The dog and the cat howled.
It may have a compound verb:
The dog howled and barked.
It may have a compound subject and a compound verb:
The dog and the cat howled and yowled respectively.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences joined by
(1) a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so):
The dog barked, and the cat yowled.
(2) a semicolon:
The dog barked; the cat yowled.
(3) a comma, but ONLY when the simple sentences
are being treated as items in a series:
The dog barked, the cat yowled, and the rabbit
chewed.
Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
A compound sentence can also consist of two independent clauses joined by semi-colon
3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
A. When he handed in his homework, he
forgot to give the teacher the last page. B. The teacher returned the homework after
she noticed the error. C. The students are studying because they
have a test tomorrow.D. After they finished studying, Juan and
Maria went to the movies. E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after
they finished studying.
COMPLEX SENTENCES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
A. The woman who(m) my mom talked to
sells cosmetics.B. The book that Jonathan read is on the shelf.C. A girl whom I know was recently accepted
to Harvard University.
D. The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris,
is visited by millions of tourists annually.
The underlined part is the independent clause.
The go to tool of any writer is a great verb. Students often overload their writing with adjectives and adverbs and neglect to think about using a better verb.
3. Let’s Review
Independent Clauses …
Have a subject and a verb
Convey a complete idea
Can be a stand along sentence
REMEMBER: Every sentence must have at least one
main clause. Otherwise, you have a fragment, a
major error.
4. EXAMPLES of
Independent Clauses
Here are some examples:
Lazy students whine.
Students = subject; whine = verb.
Cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the
counter.
Cola = subject; spilled, splashed = verbs.
My dog loves pizza crusts.
Dog = subject; loves = verb.
6. REVIEW CONTINUED:
I don’t get this one either, but I
thought it was funny.
Subordinate Clauses…
Include a subject and verb
Do not contain a complete thought
Cannot stand alone as a sentences
7. Examples of
Subordinate Clauses
Whenever lazy students whine
students = subject; whine = verb.
As cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the
counter
cola = subject; spilled, splashed = verbs.
Because my dog loves pizza crusts
dog = subject; loves = verb.
8. PHRASES
Phrases are groups of words that do not
contain both a verb and its subject.
For example:
On the tugboat (does not contain subject or
verb)
Have been laughing (does not contain a
subject)
9. NOW PRACTICE
The groups of words on the next page will either be
Complete Sentence (an independent clause that
conveys a complete idea)
Subordinate Clause (contains a verb and its subject,
but does not convey a complete idea)
Phrase (does not contain a verb and its subject, and
therefore it does not convey a complete idea at all)
10. Sentence, Clause, or Phrase?
DIRECTIONS: Without worrying about punctuation, write
the blue letter to indicate the type of word group for each
number. You DO need to write down the questions. Be
ready to explain why!
1. we memorized the lyrics
2. by the back porch
3. if no one is coming
4. after last year’s flood
5. the singer wore a yellow silk scarf
6 .when the lights were flickering
11. Sentence, Clause, or Phrase?
1. we memorized the lyrics S
2. by the back porch P
3. if no one is coming C
4. after last year’s flood P
5. the singer wore a yellow silk scarf S
6 .when the lights were flickering C
12. Combine them
to make it work.
A subordinate clause MUST be
attached to an independent clause
in order to construct a complete
sentence.
It might go BEFORE or AFTER the
independent clause.
13. Example: Because it is difficult,
students often dislike grammar.
EXPLANATION: This sentence combines a
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (Because it is difficult)
with an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (students often
dislike grammar). Students is the subject of the
sentence. Dislike is the verb. Because it is difficult
tells us WHY they don’t like it.
14. Example: Students need to work hard to
understand grammar because it isn’t always
intuitive.
EXPLANATION: In this sentence, the
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (because it isn’t always
intuitive) comes after the INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE (Students need to work hard to
understand grammar). Students is the subject of
the sentence. Need is the verb. Because it isn’t
always intuitive us WHY they need to work hard
on it.
15. TRY IT.
DIRECTIONS: Copy each sentence down. Underline the
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE. Circle the INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE
Whenever lazy students whine, Mrs. Russell throws chalk
erasers at their heads.
Anthony ran for the paper towels as cola spilled over the
glass and splashed onto the counter.
Because my dog loves pizza crusts, he never barks at the
deliveryman.
16. Answers
The SUBORDINATE CLAUSE is underlined.
The INDEPENDENT CLAUSE is bolded.
Whenever lazy students whine, Mrs. Russell throws
chalk erasers at their heads.
Anthony ran for the paper towels as cola spilled
over the glass and splashed onto the counter.
Because my dog loves pizza crusts, he never barks at
the deliveryman.
17. More Practice
You have a worksheet to complete by tomorrow.
Your vocab is also due tomorrow.
There are Post-It Notes on Ms. Keasling’s desk. If you have
a question, grab a Post-It, write down the question you
have, stick it on the poster for your hour on the board,
and we’ll talk about them tomorrow.
Now get to work!