Functional English

BS-CS-1ST
Prepared by
Afzala Yaseen
Sentence:
Definition & Types
Definition
The sentence is generally defined as a word or a group
of words that expresses a thorough idea by giving a
statement/order, or asking a question, or exclaiming.
Example:
He is a good boy. (statement),
Is he a good boy? (question),
What a nice weather! (exclaiming).
Conti…..
Ideally, a sentence requires at least one subject and
one verb. Sometimes the subject of a sentence can be
hidden, but the verb must be visible and present in the
sentence. Verb is called the heart of a sentence.
Example:
Do it.
(In this sentence, a subject ‘you’ is hidden but verb ‘do’
is visible)
Characteristics of a sentence
A complete English sentence must have three
characteristics:
First, in written form, a sentence begins with a capital
letter and ends with a full stop [.], a note of
interrogation (i.e., a question mark) [?], or a note of
exclamation (i.e., an exclamation mark) [!].
Second, it must express a complete thought, not
fragmented.
conti…..
Third, it must contain at least one subject
(hidden/visible) and one verb comprising an
independent clause. (An independent clause contains
an independent subject and verb and expresses a
complete thought.)
Types of Sentences

Structurally, sentences are of four types:

Simple sentence
Compound sentence
Complex sentence
Compound-complex sentence
Simple sentence

A simple sentence must have a single clause (a single

verb) which is independent, and it cannot take
another clause.
Example:
I always wanted to become a writer. (One clause – one
verb)
 What is a Clause
A clause is comprised of a group of words that include
a subject and a verb. It contains only one subject and
one verb. The subject of a clause can be mentioned or
hidden, but the verb must be apparent and
distinguishable.
Example:
I graduated last year. (One clause sentence)
When I came here, I saw him. (Two clause sentence)
When I came here, I saw him, and he greeted me.
(Three clause sentence)
Types of Clauses
 Independent Clause
 (It functions on its own to make a meaningful sentence and looks much like a
regular sentence)
Example:
 He is a wise man.
 I like him.
 Can you do it?
 Do it please. (Subject you is hidden)
Dependent Clause
(It cannot function on its own because it leaves an idea or thought unfinished. It is
also called a subordinate clause. Alone, it cannot form a complete sentence)
 Example:
 I know the man who stole the watch.
 He bought a car which was too expensive.
 I know that he cannot do it
Adjective Clause
It is a Dependent Clause that modifies a Noun.
Basically, Adjective Clauses have similar qualities as
Adjectives that are of modifying Nouns and hence the
name, Adjective Clause.
Examples:
I’m looking for the red book that went missing last
week.
Ali is asking for the shoes which used to belong to
his dad.
Noun Clause
Dependent Clauses acting as Nouns in sentences are
called Noun Clauses or Nominal Clauses. These often
start with “how,” “that,” other WH-words (What, Who,
Where, When, Why, Which, Whose and Whom), if,
whether etc.
Examples:
I like what I hear.
I know the place where the key is.
Why you did that is a mystery for me.
Adverbial Clause
By definition, these are Dependent Clauses acting as
Adverbs. It means that these clauses have the power to
modify Verbs, Adjectives and other Adverbs.
Examples:
We shall buy TV when it becomes cheaper.
Since he has apologized we will take no further
action against him.
The patient had died before the doctor reached.
Compound sentence
A compound sentence must have more than one
independent clause with no dependent clauses. Some
specific conjunctions, punctuation, or both are used to
join together these clauses.
Example:
I always wanted to become a writer, butshe wanted to
become a doctor. (Two independent clauses – two
verbs)
Complex sentence
A complex sentence also has more than one clause but
one of them must be an independent clause and the
other must be a dependent clause. There are also some
particular connectors for the clauses of a complex
sentence to be connected.
Example:
Because my pizza was cold, I put it in the
microwave. This sentence has an independent clause
(“I put it in the microwave”) and a dependent clause
(“Because my pizza was cold”) so it's a complex
sentence.
Compound-complex sentence
A compound-complex sentence (or complex–compound
sentence) is a mixture of the features of compound and
complex sentences in one sentence. So, it must contain
at least two independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause.
Example:
I know that you always wanted to become a writer, but I
always wanted to become a doctor. (Here, one
dependent clause is followed by a complex connector
and two independent clauses with a compound
conjunction between them.)
Functional types
Functionally, sentences are of mainly four types:
Declarative sentence
Imperative sentence
Interrogative sentence, and
Exclamatory sentence
Declarative sentence:
An assertive sentence (declarative sentence) simply expresses
an opinion/feeling, or makes a statement, or describes things.
To provide general information about something casual or
day-to-day routine,
To inform your audience about something specific,
To state general or scientific facts,
To explain something.
Examples:
Subject + Verb (The dogs / are barking)
I want to be a good cricketer. (a statement)
I am very happy today. (a feeling)
Subject + Verb + Object ( I like / mangoes)
Everyday, Lisa reads the newspaper in the morning.
My brother is twenty years old.
COVID cases are rising day by day.
There are eight parts of speech in the English
language.
Imperative sentence:
An imperative sentence is a sentence that expresses a direct
command, request, invitations, warning, or instruction.
Imperative sentences do not have a subject; instead, a
directive is given to an implied second person (the writer
talks directly to the reader without using the word you).
Examples:
Please sit down.
Wash the dinner plates.
Bring me a glass of water.
Don't ever touch my phone.
Give me a pen and a pencil.
Interrogative sentence:

An interrogative sentence asks a question.

Interrogative sentences must end with a note of
interrogation (i.e., question mark)
Examples:
When are you going to submit your assignment?
Do you know him?
Exclamatory sentence.
An exclamatory sentence expresses overflow of emotions. These
emotions can be of happiness, wonder, sorrow, anger, etc.
Examples:
 What a day it was!
 I cannot believe he would do that!
Oh, That is excellent!
I have no idea what they think of us!
You were amazing!
He is not doing it right!
You did a really good job!
Wow! I really cannot believe we did that!
Thank You