Sentence Structure
This guide explains how sentences are
constructed and how different types of sentences are formed. It shows you how
to punctuate each type correctly and how to combine different sentence types
for effective written communication.
1. Subject
A person, animal, place, thing, or
concept that does an action. Determine the subject in a sentence by asking the
question “Who or what?”.
Example:
a. The
pasta and salad were delicious
b.
During
his biology lab, Tommy danced on the
table
2. Predicate
The predicate is the part of
a sentence (or clause) which tells us what the subject does or is. To put it another way, the predicate is
everything that is not the subject.
Example:
a. The man from the shop is a monster
b. He stole my bike last week
3. Object
A person, animal, place, thing, or
concept that receives the action. Determine the object in a sentence by asking
the question “The subject did what?” or “To whom?/For whom?”
Example:
a. I found the guard sleeping
in the barn.
b. We all consider her unworthy
of the position.
4. Modifier
A modifier is a word,
phrase, or clause which functions as an adjective or an adverb to describe a
word or make its meaning more specific.
Example:
a. Every moslem must be pray at 5 am
Modifier Of Time
b. I always came late to school
Modifier Of Place
1. Simple
Sentence
A
simple sentence consists of one independent clause.
(An independent clause contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete
thought.)
Example:
- I like coffee.
- Mary likes tea.
- The earth goes round the sun.
- Mary did not go to the party
2. Compound
Sentence
A
compound sentence is two (or more) independent clauses
joined by a conjunction or semi-colon. Each of these clauses could form a
sentence alone.
Example:
- I like coffee and Mary likes
tea.
- Mary went to work but John went
to the party.
3. Complex
Sentence
A
complex sentence consists of an independent clause plus
a dependent clause. (A dependent clause starts with a subordinating conjunction
or a relative pronoun, and contains a subject and verb, but does not express a
complete thought.)
Example:
- We missed our plane because we
were late.
- Our dog barks when she hears a
noise.
- He left in a hurry after he got
a phone call.
4. Compound-Complex
Sentence
A
compound-complex sentence consists of at least two independent
clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Example:
- John didn't come because he was
ill so Mary was not happy.
- He left in a hurry after he got
a phone call but he came back five minutes later.
EXERCISE PAGE 44
1. George /
is cooking / dinner / tonight.
S V O modifier of time
2. Henry and
Marcia / have visited / the
president.
S V object/complementer
3. We /
can / eat / lunch / in this restaurant / today.
S V O
modifier
of place modifier of time
4. Pat /
should / have bought / gasoline /
yesterday.
S
V O modifier of time
5. Trees / grow.
S V
6. It /
was raining / at seven o’clock this morning.
S V
modifier of time
7. She /
opened / a checking account /
at the bank /
last week.
S V
O modifier of place modifier
of time
8. Harry /
is washing / dishes / right
now.
subject verb
O modifier of time
9. She /
opened / her book.
S V O
10. Paul, William,
and Mary / were watching / television /
a few minutes ago.
S
V O modifier
of time
Thank You! :)
