2. Sentence definition
A sentence is a group of words that together
makes a statement, question, a request or an
exclamation.
The first letter of a sentence must be capitalized;
and the sentence ends with a final
punctuation mark in the form of a period (.), a
question mark (?), or an exclamation point (!).
3. Types of sentences
• Declarative - A declarative sentence makes a statement. A declarative
sentence ends with a period.
• The house will be built on a hill.
• Interrogative - An interrogative sentence asks a question. An interrogative
sentence ends with a question mark.
• How did you find the card?
• Exclamatory - An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling. An
exclamatory sentence ends with an exclamation mark.
• The monster is attacking!
• Imperative - An imperative sentence gives a command.
• Cheryl, try the other door.
• Sometimes the subject of an imperative sentence (you) is understood.
• Look in the closet. (You, look in the closet.)
• Request: A sentence expressed to ask for something formally and politely.
• Will you please write these sentences?
4. Elements of a sentence
• The elements of a sentence are:
• Subject (the person or thing that performs the action
indicated by the verb or that is in the state of being
described by the verb)
• Verb (word or state of being or words that describe the
action of the subject)
• Object (word or words that receive the action indicated
by the verb. It could be direct or indirect)
• Complement (word or words that complete the
meaning of verbs)
5. Exercise A: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print
is the subject or the verb.
The dog shivered.
An owl shrieked.
The moon disappeared behind the
clouds.
We waited.
For a moment, nobody even breathed.
6. Exercise A: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print
is the subject or the verb.
The dog shivered.
An owl shrieked.
The moon disappeared behind the
clouds.
We waited.
For a moment, nobody even breathed.
7. Exercise A: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print
is the subject or the verb.
A light rain fell on our heads.
The leaves trembled.
Our hearts beat faster.
Then the black sky opened up.
Furious flames lit up the night.
8. Exercise A: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print
is the subject or the verb.
A light rain fell on our heads.
The leaves trembled.
Our hearts beat faster.
Then the black sky opened up.
Furious flames lit up the night.
9. Exercise B: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print is
the subject or the verb.
"Rolling Along with Mr. Bill”
Mr. William Herring is the jolliest man I know. His outward
features reflect the delightful character within. His hair is red and frizzy, like
Orphan Annie's. His head is fat and round.
He has small, dark, hamster-like eyes.
His eyes peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed glasses.
His small mouth is always formed into a friendly grin.
His thick neck connects this funny head to an egg-shaped torso.
He has two fat arms with plump hands and fingers shaped like hot dogs.
On one of these fingers is a diamond-studded gold ring.
The gleam of the ring matches the brilliance of Mr. Bill's smile.
His Santa Claus belly, girded by a cowboy belt, hangs over the sort of baggy
trousers that went out with leisure suits and platform shoes.
Mr. Bill's shoes, however, are invisible beneath his trousers.
Still, his walk is distinctive.
In fact, he seems to roll rather than walk.
He rolls to the rhythm of his own laughter.
His students roll right along with him.
10. Exercise B: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print is
the subject or the verb.
"Rolling Along with Mr. Bill”
Mr. William Herring is the jolliest man I know. His
outward features reflect the delightful character within.
His hair is red and frizzy, like Orphan Annie's. His
head is fat and round.
He has small, dark, hamster-like eyes.
His eyes peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed
glasses.
His small mouth is always formed into a friendly grin.
His thick neck connects this funny head to an egg-shaped
torso.
He has two fat arms with plump hands and fingers shaped
like hot dogs.
11. Exercise B: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print is
the subject or the verb.
"Rolling Along with Mr. Bill”
Mr. William Herring is the jolliest man I know. His
outward features reflect the delightful character within.
His hair is red and frizzy, like Orphan Annie's. His
head is fat and round.
He has small, dark, hamster-like eyes.
His eyes peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed
glasses.
His small mouth is always formed into a friendly grin.
His thick neck connects this funny head to an egg-shaped
torso.
He has two fat arms with plump hands and fingers shaped
like hot dogs.
12. Exercise B: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print is
the subject or the verb.
"Rolling Along with Mr. Bill”
On one of these fingers is a diamond-studded gold ring.
The gleam of the ring matches the brilliance of Mr. Bill's
smile.
His Santa Claus belly, girded by a cowboy belt, hangs over
the sort of baggy trousers that went out with leisure suits
and platform shoes.
Mr. Bill's shoes, however, are invisible beneath his
trousers.
Still, his walk is distinctive.
In fact, he seems to roll rather than walk.
He rolls to the rhythm of his own laughter.
His students roll right along with him.
13. Exercise B: Identifying Subjects and Verbs
For each of the following sentences, decide whether the word in bold print is
the subject or the verb.
"Rolling Along with Mr. Bill”
On one of these fingers is a diamond-studded gold ring.
The gleam of the ring matches the brilliance of Mr. Bill's
smile.
His Santa Claus belly, girded by a cowboy belt, hangs over
the sort of baggy trousers that went out with leisure suits
and platform shoes.
Mr. Bill's shoes, however, are invisible beneath his
trousers.
Still, his walk is distinctive.
In fact, he seems to roll rather than walk.
He rolls to the rhythm of his own laughter.
His students roll right along with him.
14. "Rolling Along with Mr. Bill”
Mr. William Herring is the jolliest man I know. His outward
features reflect the delightful character within. His hair is red and
frizzy, like Orphan Annie's. His head is fat and round.
He has small, dark, hamster-like eyes.
His eyes peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed glasses.
His small mouth is always formed into a friendly grin.
His thick neck connects this funny head to an egg-shaped torso.
He has two fat arms with plump hands and fingers shaped like hot
dogs.
On one of these fingers is a diamond-studded gold ring.
The gleam of the ring matches the brilliance of Mr. Bill's smile.
His Santa Claus belly, girded by a cowboy belt, hangs over the sort of
baggy trousers that went out with leisure suits and platform shoes.
Mr. Bill's shoes, however, are invisible beneath his trousers.
Still, his walk is distinctive.
In fact, he seems to roll rather than walk.
He rolls to the rhythm of his own laughter.
His students roll right along with him.
15. Clauses
• Clauses are groups of words that have
subjects and finite verbs. Usually clauses are
introduced by such a relationship words as
who, that, so that, where, but, and, however.
16. Clauses
• Clauses that can stand on its own as an
acceptable sentence and act as complete
sense units in their own right are called
independent or main clause
• Example
•I have learned so much.
Explanation: This is an independent clause because it can stand on its
own. It is a complete sentence because it contains a subject, a verb, and a
complete thought.
17. Clauses
• Clauses that feel unfinished when used on its
own and depend on the main clause are said
to be subordinate or dependent
• Example
• Since I have been in college
Explanation: This is a dependent clause because it cannot stand on its
own. It is not a complete sentence.
18. Dependent clauses
• A dependent clause begins with a
subordinate conjunction, so if you recognize
the common subordinate conjunctions, you
will be able to determine if a clause is
dependent or independent.
19. Subordinating conjunctions
List of subordinating conjunctions
after although as as if as long as as much as
as soon as as though because Before even even if
even though if If only If when If then In as much
in order
that
Just as least now now since now that
now when once provided Provided that rather than since
so that supposing than that though till
Unless until when whenever where whereas
where if wherever whether which while who
whoever why
20. Clauses
• Clauses contain at least a verb group so we
should find it to identify clauses in a sentence.
• According to the number and type of clauses
sentences could be:
• Simple
• Compound
• Complex
• Compund-complex
21. Simple sentences
• A simple sentence contains only one clause. A
simple sentence can be as short as one word
• All of the following are simple sentences, because each contains only one
clause:
» Melt!
» Ice melts.
» The ice melts quickly.
» The ice on the river melts quickly under the warm March
sun.
» Lying exposed without its blanket of snow, the ice on the
river melts quickly under the warm March sun.
22. Compound sentences
• A compound sentence consists of two or
more independent clauses(or simple
sentences) joined by coordinating
conjunctions like for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Example:
• (Simple) Canada is a rich country.
• (Simple) It has many poor people.
Canada is a rich country, but still it has many poor
people. (Compound)
23. Complex sentence
• A complex sentence contains one independent
clause and at least one dependent clause. Unlike a
compound sentence, however, a complex sentence
contains clauses which are not equal.
Example
• (Simple) My friend invited me to a party.
• (Simple) I do not want to go.
• My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go.
(Compound)
Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not
want to go. (Complex)
24. Compound-complex sentence
• A compound-complex sentence consists of at
least two complex sentences, or one simple
sentence and one complex sentence.
The package arrived in the morning, but the
courier left before I could check the contents.
(compound-complex sentence)
