SENTENCES

A sentence is made up of one or more words and expresses a complete thought. If a

group of words does not express a complete thought, it is called a fragment (e.g.,his
television, jumps up and down) A sentence begins with a capital letter, ends with a period,
question mark, or exclamation point. To express a complete thought, a sentence must
refer to someone, something and it must tell something about that person or thing.
Sentences are classified in several ways, but two of the most common classifications are
according to purpose and structure.

Kinds of Sentences According to Purpose

1. A DECLARATIVE SENTENCE declares/ states a fact, opinion, or feeling. In most

declarative sentences, the subject is followed by the predicate. It always ends with a
period.

a. Special effects can be startling.

b. They take many hours to prepare.

2. An INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE asks a question. It always ends with a

question mark. Usually, the verb comes before the subject in an interrogative
sentence. This is the reverse of the normal subject- verb order of the declarative
sentence.

Declarative: That is trick photography.

Interrogative: Is that trick photography?

Some interrogative sentences use an auxiliary verb, such as do or will. In this

case, only the auxiliary comes before the subject.

Declarative: You understand how it is done.

Interrogative: Do you understand how it is done?

Will you understand how it is done?

3. An IMPERATIVE SENTENCE requests or orders something. The person may
be named or not. It usually ends with a period.

a. Carmen, switch the TV on now.

b. Switch the TV on now.

4. An EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE expresses shock or surprise. It ends with an

exclamation mark.

a. What an amazing film this is!

b. The theatre is on fire!

KINDS OF SENTENCES ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE

1. SIMPLE SENTENCE

• Simple sentences contain one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

Ex: The machine was designed for high- speed work.

 A simple sentence may have a compound subject, a compound verb, or both.

Ex: 1. Beth and Sheila won Olympic medals.

2. The pig broke out of its pen and trampled the flowers.
3. The astronomer and her assistant studied the heavens and wrote
reports on their findings.

2. COMPOUND SENTENCE
 Compound sentences contain two or more independent clauses connected by
conjunctions.

Ex: The machine was designed by his boss but he promoted it.

3. COMPLEX SENTENCE
 Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more dependent
clauses.

Ex: When all the preparations are done, the construction begins.
 4. COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE
 Compound- complex sentences have two independent clauses and one or more
dependent clauses.

Ex: If this project is to succeed, the supervisor should visit the site everyday
and the workers must work efficiently.

SENTENCE PATTERNS

The pattern of a sentence means the order of its words and word groups.
The English language uses only a few basic patterns. Any sentence one speaks
or writes will fit one of these patterns.

Pattern#1: SUBJECT- VERB (S-V); subject and an intransitive verb

SUBJECT VERB
1. The dog barked.
2. People jumped.

• Both the subject and the verb in Pattern 1 may have modifiers. These modifiers do
not change the basic pattern.

S V
The big dog with brown spots sneezed loudly and with great vigor.
• The subject, the verb, or both may be compounded without changing the pattern.
S S V V
People and animals jumped up and ran to the nearest place of safety.

Pattern#2: SUBJECT- TRANSITIVE VERB- DIRECT OBJECT; made up of a subject, a

transitive verb, and an object. This pattern is very common in English.

• SUBJECT T. VERB DIRECT OBJECT

The big dog chases cats.
Cats hate that dog.

• Pattern 2 can be made longer and more specific by adding modifiers to the subject,
the verb, or the object.
S TV DO
 The big dog with liver- colored fur chases all cats, whether purebred or not, out of
the neighborhood.

Pattern#3: SUBJECT- LINKING VERB- SUBJECT COMPLEMENT (Noun; Adjective;

Adverb)

The SUBJECT COMPLEMENT follows the verb and completes what is being said
about the subject.

S LV SC
GUESS jeans are expensive. (Adj.)
They are fashionable. (Adj.)
These jeans are product of the U.S. (noun)
All astronauts were there. (Adv.)

Pattern#4: SUBJECT-TRANSITIVE VERB- INDIRECT OBJECT- DIRECT OBJECT

(S-TV-IO-DO)

This pattern uses two objects. The first tells to whom or for whom the
action is done (direct object). The other comes between the verb and the direct
object and is called indirect object.

S TV IO DO

The radio provides listeners entertainment.

Magazines give readers information.

Teachers teach children the 3R’s.

Game officials award participants prizes.

Pattern#5: SUBJECT-TRANSITIVEVERB-DIRECTOBJECT-

OBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT (Noun; Adjective)

S TV DO OC (Noun)

Many people regards the radio a necessity.

Communication makes countries neighbors.

Electronics made the world a nation.

S TV DO OC (Adjective)

Scientists consider the ozone dangerous.

Technicians finds the test valid.

Nico finds Nina attractive.