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Calbiga Western Samar College

Polangi, Calbiga Samar
“Structure of English”
PRE – TEST

Name: Course and Section:

Directions: Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate in the following
sentences.
Example: The dusty old car | won’t start anymore.
Subject Predicate

1) I want a new car.

2) James is nice.
3) The sun is moving.
4) Max wrote the letter.
5) The letter was written by Max.
6) The farmers are plowing the field.
7) Billy Reynolds is an amazing baseball player.
8) The storm clouds are getting darker.
9) Dogs, cats, and turtles make the best pets.
10) The stern judge ruled that the defendant was not guilty.

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Know more about phrases and clauses.
2. Familiarize and identify the different types of sentences.
3. Write their own phrases, clauses, and
sentences.

LESSON 7: PHRASES AND CLAUSES

7.1. PHRASE

A phrase is one or more words that

form a meaningful grammatical unit within
a clause. There are five main types of phrase in
English, as below.

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 1. Noun Phrase

A noun phrase (NP) can be a single noun or a group of words built around a single noun, for
example:

 Animals need water.
 Who ate the last sandwich?
 All passengers with tickets can board now.

2. Verb Phrase

A verb phrase (VP, also called a "verb group") consists of a main verb and its auxiliary verbs
(including modals), for example:

 We have been working  since 9am.

 I will be going to France next week.
 It may have been being repaired.

3. Adjective Phrase

An adjective phrase can be a single adjective or a group of words built around a single adjective, for
example:

 He has clever ideas.
 It was a very big meal.
 The students were really bored with the film.

4. Adverb Phrase

An adverb phrase can be a single adverb or a group of words built around a single adverb, for
example:

 Please do it now.
 He spoke very softly.
 They did it as fast as possible.

5. Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by its object (usually a noun phrase), for
example:

 They were arguing about money.

 The window was behind a large brown sofa.
 They resumed after an unusually large meal.

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7.2. CLAUSES:  

A clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a predicate. Every complete sentence
is made up of at least one clause.
 Michael bought a new computer.  (One sentence, one clause)
 Michael bought a new computer, but he still has the old one.  (One sentence, two clauses)
 Although he still has his old one, Michael now has a new computer.  (One sentence, two
clauses)
 
1. An Independent Clause (or main clause) makes sense by itself. It expresses a complete
thought.
o Michael bought a new computer.  (One independent clause)
o Michael bought a new computer, but  he still has the old one.  [Two independent
clauses (Coordinating conjunctions don't count as part of the clause.)]
o Although he still has his old one,  Michael now has a new computer.  (Only the
second clause is independent.)
 
2. A Dependent Clause (or subordinate clause) does not make sense by itself. It does not
express a complete thought.
o Although he still has his old one.  (Without the independent clause, a dependent
clause is a sentence fragment.)

→ A dependent clause usually begins with a subordinating conjunction, a relative pronoun, or

some other word that causes it to become dependent. A dependent clause will make sense
only when attached to an independent clause.
o Although he still has his old one.  (Although is a subordinating conjunction.)
He still has his old one.  (Without the conjunction, the clause becomes independent.)
o Michael now has a new computer  although he still has his old one.  (Combined with
an independent clause, the dependent clause makes sense.)

→ Dependent clauses can come after, before, or in the middle of the independent clause.
 Michael now has a new computer  although he still has his old one.  (Dependent
clause after an independent clause)
 Although he still has his old one, Michael now has a new computer.  (Dependent
clause before the independent clause)
 Michael,  although he still has his old one, now has a new computer.  (Dependent
clause inside the independent clause)

7.3. SENTENCE:

In simple terms, a sentence is a set of

words that contain:

1. a subject (what the sentence is about,

the topic of the sentence), and

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 2. a predicate (what is said about the subject)

Look at this simple example:

sentence

subjec predicate
t

verb  

You speak English.

The above example sentence is very short. Of course, a sentence can be longer and more
complicated, but basically there is always a subject and a predicate. Look at this longer example:

sentence

subject predicate

verb  

Ram and speak English when they are

Tara working.

Note that the predicate always contains a verb. Sometimes, in fact, the predicate is only a verb:

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 sentence

subjec predicat
t e

verb  

Smoke rises.  

So, we can say that a sentence must contain at least a subject and verb.

There is one apparent exception to this – the imperative. When someone gives a command (the
imperative), they usually do not use a subject. They don't say the subject because it is obvious - the
subject is YOU! Look at these examples of the imperative, with and without a subject:

sentence

subject predicate

verb  

  Stop  
!

  Wait a
minute!

You look!  

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 sentence

Everybod look!  
y

Note that a sentence expresses a complete thought. Here are some examples of complete and
incomplete thoughts:

    complete
thought?

sentence He opened the door. YES

Come in, please.

Do you like coffee?

not a people who work hard NO

sentence

a fast-moving animal with big

ears

Note also that a sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop (AmE period) or a
question mark or an exclamation mark (AmE exclamation point). Look at these examples:

 People need food.

 How are you?
 Look out!

7.3.1. BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Parts of Sentences: Subject, Predicate, Object, Indirect Object, Complement

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 Every word in a sentence serves a specific purpose within the structure of that particular
sentence. According to rules of grammar, sentence structure can sometimes be quite
complicated. For the sake of simplicity, however, the basic parts of a sentence are discussed here.

The two most basic parts of a sentence are the subject and predicate.

SUBJECT

- The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that is performing the action of the
sentence. The subject represents what or whom the sentence is about. The simple subject
usually contains a noun or pronoun and can include modifying words, phrases, or clauses.
 The man . . .
 Kate and Mike . . .

PREDICATE

- The predicate expresses action or being within the sentence. The simple predicate contains
the verb and can also contain modifying words, phrases, or clauses.
 The man / builds a house.
 Kate and Mike / are best of friends.

The subject and predicate make up the two basic structural parts of any complete sentence. In
addition, there are other elements, contained within the subject or predicate, that add meaning or
detail. These elements include the direct object, indirect object, and subject complement. All of these
elements can be expanded and further combined into simple, compound, complex, or compound/
complex sentences.

DIRECT OBJECT

- The direct object receives the action of the sentence. The direct object is usually a noun or
pronoun.
 The man builds a house. 
 The man builds  it.

INDIRECT OBJECT

- The indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action of the sentence is being
done. The indirect object is usually a noun or pronoun.
 The man builds  his family a house. 
 The man builds  them  a house.

SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

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 - A subject complement either renames or describes the subject, and therefore is usually a
noun, pronoun, or adjective. Subject complements occur when there is a linking verb within
the sentence (often a linking verb is a form of the verb to be).
 The man is a good  father. (father = noun which renames the subject)
 The man seems  kind. (kind = adjective which describes the subject)

Note: As an example of the difference between parts of speech and parts of a sentence, a noun can
function within a sentence as subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, or subject
complement.

7.3.2. FUNCTIONS OF SENTENCES

There are four types of functions performed by sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, or
exclamatory.
 Declarative sentence makes a declaration or statement which is in contrast to a command,
a question, or an exclamation. This is the most common type of sentences. The subject comes
before the verb in a declarative sentence which always ends in a full stop/period. 
Examples:  
o My parents like to watch bullfights.
o She said I don't love dogs as much as she does.
o He is not as friendly as he looks.
o That hotel restaurant serves minced crocodile meat.  

  

 Interrogative sentence asks a question and ends in a question mark. This distinguishes it

from the other types of sentences – declarative, imperative, and exclamatory – by the
inversion of the normal subject-verb order with the verb or verb phrase coming before the
subject.
Examples:
o Is a long-time smoker like you able to do that – blow smoke rings?
o Do you expect me to believe what you just said?
(The auxiliary verb appears before the subject.)
o Who is coming along with us to the haunted castle tonight?
(One of the question words [who, what, where, when, why, and how] who is used here to
ask a question as the subject is unknown. The question word who does not invert with the
auxiliary verb is.)
o Is there enough money for us to dine in that restaurant?
(In this yes/no question which is answered with either yes or no, the auxiliary verb is
inverted with the subject.)
 

 Imperative sentence gives an instruction, expresses a command or issue a request. The

subject is not normally shown in an imperative sentence, while the verb used is always in the
base form; that is, a verb without any endings such as –s, -ed or -ing: Stop here! / Not:

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 Stopped here! The implied subject is understood to be you. Imperative sentences vary in
length; they can be as short as a single word: Look! An imperative sentence ends with a full
stop/period or an exclamation mark. 
Examples:
o Bake it in the oven until golden brown. (Instruction) 
o Make a full report to your superior before the end of the week. (Command) 
o Please get me a carton of frozen yogurt on your way home. (Request) 
o Will you kids stop shouting. (Question phrased as a request)
o Don't just stand there; do something, anything to show you are busy.
 

 Exclamatory sentence is not unlike a declarative sentence conveying strong feeling such as
excitement, surprise, anger or shock. It typically ends with an exclamation mark (!). 
Examples:
 The following are examples of exclamatory sentences expressing the various emotions.
o Wait! I’m coming along. (Excitement) 
o We thought you weren’t coming! (Surprise) 
o But you said you would pay me back today! (Anger) 
o We read how the grandmother was treated. Shocking! (Shock)
o I won the bet again! (Happiness)
o I’m really going to miss you a lot. (Sadness)
o What a terrible waste of time waiting for the rain to stop! (Frustration)

7.3.3. SENTENCE ERRORS

Errors are identified as follow:
 sentence fragment
 run-ons / fused sentence / comma splicing
 misplaced modifier
 dangling modifier
 squinting modifiers 

 Sentence Fragment
A type of sentence error known as sentence fragment is a group of words that used
together does not form a complete sentence; it is just a part of a sentence that doesn’t express a
complete idea. It occurs when an incomplete sentence is presented as a complete sentence, such as
letting a phrase or a dependent clause (subordinate clause) to stand on its own as though it is a
complete sentence.
A phrase is a group of two, three or more words that does not contain a subject or verb and it
becomes a sentence fragment when it is allowed to stand alone. The same happens to a dependent
clause although it has a subject and verb. It must be connected to an independent clause to form a
complete sentence.

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 A phrase is a sentence fragment if it stands on its own. To turn them into complete sentences,
add subjects and verbs.
Examples:

o Noun phrase: The dotted line. (Fragment)

o Complete sentence: She signed on the dotted line. 

o Prepositional phrase: Into a briefcase. (Fragment)

o Complete sentence: He stuffed a few documents into a briefcase.  

   The following examples show subordinate clauses (dependent clauses) being used as though
they are complete sentences. A subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction
(because, when, etc.). When a subordinating conjunction is dropped from a subordinate clause, the
clause becomes a complete sentence. These examples show the subordinate clauses joined to main
clauses to form complete sentences.
Examples:

o Subordinate clause: When we have no money. (Sentence fragment)

o Complete sentence: We have no money. (Conjunction when is dropped.) 
o Complete sentence: We can’t buy a yacht when we have no money. (Add an independent
clause to the sentence fragment to produce a complete sentence.)  

o Subordinate clause: Because she was the best candidate. (Sentence fragment)
o Complete sentence: She was the best candidate. (Conjunction because is dropped.) 
o Complete sentence: She got the job because she was the best candidate.  

o Subordinate clause: Since ten o’clock this morning. (Fragment)

o Complete sentence: I’ve been here since ten o’clock this morning

 Run-on Sentence, Comma Splice, Fused Sentence.

A run-on sentence is one that contains two independent clauses that are not properly
connected by punctuation or appropriate conjunction. It is also called fused sentence.
A comma splice results when two independent clauses are improperly joined with a comma.
A fused sentence is also called a run-on sentence. It is a sentence of two or more main
clauses that are not properly joined by a punctuation mark such as a semicolon or a conjunction.

 Correction of Comma Splice Sentences.

There four ways the following splice sentences are corrected.   
 Examples:
Splice sentences: separating two independent clauses with a comma
o Julia began her prison sentence, she refused to wear prison clothes.
o The emperor wants the magic golden sword, you must deliver it to the emperor yourself.

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 o Let’s not go into that cave, I heard it’s full of ghosts.
o I don't want to fly kite like you did, I won't.
 

Examples:
a. Separate the clauses into individual sentences by replacing the commas with full-
stops.

o Julia began her prison sentence.  She refused to wear prison clothes.
o The emperor wants the magic golden sword. You must deliver it to the emperor yourself. 
o Let’s not go into that cave. I heard it’s full of ghosts.  
o I don't want to fly kite like you did. I won't.

b. Use a comma and coordinating conjunction between clauses to form a compound

sentence.

o Julia began her prison sentence, but she refused to wear prison clothes.
o The emperor wants the magic golden sword, and you must deliver it to the emperor
yourself. 
o Let’s not go into that cave, for I heard it’s full of ghosts.  
o I don't want to fly kite like you did, so I won't. 

c. Use a semicolon between the clauses.

o Julia began her prison sentence; she refused to wear prison clothes.  
o The emperor wants the magic golden sword; you must deliver it to the emperor yourself.
o Let’s not go into that cave; I heard it’s full of ghosts.
o I don't want to fly kite like you did; I won't.  

d. Make one clause a subordinate clause to the other to form a complex sentence.

o When Julia began her prison sentence, she refused to wear prison clothes.  
o As the emperor wants the magic golden sword, you must deliver it to the emperor
yourself. 
o Let’s not go into that cave because I heard it’s full of ghosts. 
o Since I don't want to fly kite like you did, I won't.  

 Correction of fused sentences.

Fused sentences are corrected in the same ways as those for comma splice sentences.
Examples:
Fused sentence: Grandfather is almost 80 years old he is losing his hair.
→ Separate the clauses into individual clauses. 
Grandfather is almost 80 years old. He is losing his hair. 
→ Use a comma and coordinating conjunction between clauses to form a compound
sentence.  

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Grandfather is almost 80 years old, and he is losing his hair. 
→ Use a semicolon between the clauses.  
Grandfather is almost 80 years old; he is losing his hair. 
→ Make one clause a subordinate clause to the other to form a complex sentence.  
Since grandfather is almost 80 years old, he is losing his hair.  

I. ACTIVITY:
A. Directions: Identify the complete subject and the complete predicate in the following
sentences. Write the answer only.

1. The sun was shining brightly.

2. The dogs were barking loudly.
3. The pretty girl was wearing a blue frock.
4. My younger brother serves in the army.
5. The man and his wife were working in their garden.
6. My mother and my aunt are trained classical dancers.
7. You don’t have to wait for me.
8. We will no longer tolerate this.
9. The little tree was covered with needles instead of leaves.
10.A rich merchant was passing by the shoemaker’s window.

B. Identify whether the given phrase is a Subject or Predicate.

1. Ran in the field

2. Asked me to go to the store
3. The people
4. Drove her to the doctor in Chicago.
5. These rules
C. Identify if the underlined word is Subject, Predicate, Direct Object or Indirect Object. Answer
directly.
1. Our cat caught a mouse.
2. He bought me an umbrella.
3. The manager changed his staff recently.
4. He reads the book in the park.
5. Bill kicks the ball.
D. Construct the following.
 5 sentences, encircle the Independent Clause and underline the Dependent Clause.
 5 BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE, identify the subject, predicate, direct object or
indirect object.
 6 sentences using the four types of function sentences and categorize each sentence if
it’s a declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory sentence.
 4 sentences with sentence errors and correct them.
II. POST TEST:
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Directions: Identifying Sentence Errors Practice Questions
Each consecutive underlined section corresponds with an answer choice. Select the choice that has
an error, or select choice E for no error.

1. (A)Because of the Internet, (B) working at jobs (C) at home (D) have become much more

common. (E) No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
2. “Pull it out (A) by (B) it’s plug, not by the (C) cord,” said (D) dad. (E) No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
3. Symptoms of this illness A that warrant a doctor visit B includes fever, C vomiting, and diarrhea, as
well as the D loss of appetite. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
4. A Either Lisa or Karen B will always volunteer C their valuable D time to serve on our board. E No
error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
5. The conversation with her A mother had a more profound B affect on her C than D she
expected. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
6. The A President and the B Speaker of the House found the C Congressional Republicans’ filibusters to
be D all together specious. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
7. A Professor Lane, our B Computer Science teacher, was excited when he had the opportunity to
meet C Bill Gates, the D president of Microsoft, Inc. E No error.
a. A

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 b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
8. Do you think A they B will C except our plan D without an argument? E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
9. “They A had went to the lake B without me C by the time D I got there,” said Jacques. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
10. Work A as quick B as you C can but D as carefully as possible when you take the test. E No error.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E

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