Sentence Unit
- Sentence vs. Fragments
- Fragment
-is a group of words that does not express a complete thought
-Examples:
Incorrect-
1. Before the theatre
2. Had an attack
Correct-
- I saw the store before the theatre.
- Tommy had an attack on the football field.
- Sentence
-must have a subject and a verb and form a complete thought
- Subject
-is the word or group of words that names the person, place, thing, or ideas that performs the actions described
-Examples:
a.The dog barked loudly.
b.You should clean your room.
c.Sidney and Jill play cards.
- Verb/Predicate
-tells what the subject does, what is done to the subject, or what the condition of the subject is
Examples:
- The huge bear growled at the park ranger.
- Love can control the power of hate.
- I danced and sang at the talent show.
Refer to pages 392-93; exercise 1
- Functions of sentences
- Declarative sentences
-states or declares an idea and ends with a period
Example:
Soccer is a team sport.
My mom is the coach for our team.
- Interrogative sentences
-asks a question and ends with a question mark
Example:
What is your best time in the one-mile run?
Who is the best runner on the team?
- Imperative sentences
-gives an order or a direction and ends with a period or an exclamation mark
-most sentences start with a verb
Example:
Follow my directions carefully.
Run as hard as you can!
- Exclamatory sentences
-conveys strong emotion and ends with an exclamation mark
-used to shout out emotion
Example:
There are poisonous snakes everywhere!
She is going to crash!
Refer to pages 456-58; exercise 1
- Clauses
- Independent clause
-has a subject and verb and can stand by itself as a complete sentence
Example:
The air vibrated.
In the evening, I will be closing the store.
- Subordinate clause
-also known as a dependent clause
-has a subject and verb but cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence
-it is only part of a sentence
Example:
after she performed her solo
whom I asked for help
Refer to page 438; exercise 19
- Classifying sentence structure
- Simple sentence
-consists of a single independent clause
-contains one subject and one verb
-may have various compound parts (i.e. a compound subject and a compound verb)
-never has a subordinate clause
Examples:
One subject & verbThe monsoon came.
Compound subjectLandslides and avalanches are common.
Compound verbThe door squeaked and rattled.
Compound subjectMy mother and father said goodbye and left
& verbon vacation.
- Compound sentence
-consists of two or more independent clauses
-never contain subordinate clauses
-joined three ways
- joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction
- connected by a semicolon
- connected by a colon
Examples:
a. Tad arrived very late, but Julio had waited for him.
b. All the bands performed on the first day; two were missing the second day.
c. Jazz concerts are interesting: hip hop concerts are high spirited: classical concerts are rewarding.
- Complex sentence
-consists of one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses
-sometimes the subordinate clause interrupts the independent/main clause
Examples:
a. When I watch Michele performs, I feel like studying dance.
Independent clauseI feel like studying dance.
Subordinate clauseWhen I watch Michele performs
b. School children, who have the day off, participate in an exciting parade.
Independent clauseSchool children participate in an exciting parade.
Subordinate clausewho have the day off
c. In Harry Potter, when he is faced with problems, Harry turns to his magic for help.
Independent clauseIn Harry Potter, Harry turns to his magic for help.
Subordinate clausewhen he faced with problems
- Compound-Complex sentence
-has two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause
Examples:
a. I have read several novels in which the main characters are animals, but the novel that I like is Animal Farm.
Independent clausesI have read several novels
the novel is Animal Farm
Subordinate clausesin which the main characters are animals
That I like
b. When Bill left, he locked the door, but he forgot to turn off the lights.
Independent clauseshe locked the door
he forgot to turn off the lights
Subordinate clauseWhen Bill left
Refer to pages 443-46; Exercises 25 and 26