Unit1: sentence types-1

Sentence Types

​English Sentence Structure

The following statements are true about sentences in English:

• A new sentence begins with a capital letter.

  • He obtained his degree.

• A sentence ends with punctuation (a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point).

  • He obtained his degree.

• A sentence contains a subject that is only given once.

  • Smith he obtained his degree.

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Sentence Types

​English Sentence Structure

The following statements are true about sentences in English:

• A sentence contains a verb or a verb phrase.

  • He obtained his degree.

• A sentence follows Subject + Verb + Object word order.

  • He (subject) obtained (verb) his degree (object).

• A sentence must have a complete idea that stands alone. This is also called an independent clause.

  • He obtained his degree.

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Sentence Types

​>>Simple Sentences

A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and modifiers. However, it contains only one independent clause.

Key: bold = subject; underline = verb, italics = object, pink font =prepositional phrase

Here are a few examples:

• She wrote.

• She completed her literature review.

• He organized his sources by theme.

• They studied APA rules for many hours.

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Sentence Types

​>> Compound Sentences

A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses.  These two independent clauses can be combined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon.

Key: independent clause = white ; dependent = orange

Here are a few examples:

• She completed her literature review, and she created her reference list.

• He organized his sources by theme; then, he updated his reference list.

• They studied APA rules for many hours, but they realized there was still much to learn.

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Sentence Types

​>> Complex Sentences

A complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Dependent clauses can refer to the subject (who, which) the sequence/time (since, while), or the causal elements (because, if) of the independent clause.

If a sentence begins with a dependent clause, note the comma after this clause. If, on the other hand, the sentence begins with an independent clause, there is not a comma separating the two clauses.

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Sentence Types

​>> Complex Sentences

Here are a few examples:

• Although she completed her literature review, she still needed to work on her methods section.

  • Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.

• Because he organized his sources by theme, it was easier for his readers to follow.

  • Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.

• They studied APA rules for many hours as they were so interesting.

  • Note that there is no comma in this sentence because it begins with an independent clause.

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Sentence Types

​>> Compound-Complex Sentences

Sentence types can also be combined. A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• She completed her literature review, but she still needs to work on her methods section even though she finished her methods course last semester.

• Although he organized his sources by theme, he decided to arrange them chronologically, and he carefully followed the MEAL plan for organization. 

• Pay close attention to comma usage in complex-compound sentences so that the reader is easily able to follow the intended meaning.

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Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as complete sentences) are connected improperly.

Example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.

There are two complete sentences in the above example:

Sentence 1: I love to write papers.
Sentence 2: I would write one every day if I had the time.

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Run-on sentences

One common type of run-on sentence is a comma splice.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.

Example of a comma splice: Participants could leave the study at any time, they needed to indicate their preference.

Sentence 1: Participants could leave the study at any time.
Sentence 2: They needed to indicate their preference.

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Run-on sentences

Some comma splices occur when a writer attempts to use a transitional expression in the middle of a sentence.

Example of a comma splice: The results of the study were inconclusive, therefore more research needs to be done on the topic.

Sentence 1: The results of the study were inconclusive
Transitional expression (conjunctive adverb): therefore
Sentence 2: More research needs to be done on the topic

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Run-on sentences

To fix this type of comma splice, use a semicolon before the transitional expression and add a comma after it.

See more examples of this on the semicolon page.

Revision: The results of the study were inconclusive; therefore, more research needs to be done on the topic.

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Correcting Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to connect independent clauses.

1. Use a period. The easiest way to fix a run-on is to split the sentence into smaller sentences using a period. This revision works especially well with longer sentences. Check, however, to make sure that this solution does not result in short, choppy sentences.

   Revision example: I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.

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Correcting Run-on sentences

1. Use a semicolon. Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a grammatically correct sentence. Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a close relationship between the two sentences.

   Revision example: I love to write papers; I would write one every day if I had the time.

2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. A comma, paired with a coordinating conjunction (e.g., "and," "but," or "or"), corrects a run-on sentence. This method emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses.

   Revision example: I love to write papers, and I would write one every day if I had the time.

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Correcting Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to connect independent clauses.

2. Use a semicolon. Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a grammatically correct sentence.

   Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a close relationship between the two sentences.

   Revision example: I love to write papers; I would write one every day if I had the time.

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Correcting Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to connect independent clauses.

3. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. A comma, paired with a coordinating conjunction (e.g., "and," "but," or "or"), corrects a run-on sentence. This method emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses.

Revision example: I love to write papers, and I would write one every day if I had the time.

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Correcting Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to connect independent clauses.

4. Use a subordinating conjunction. Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause. A subordinating conjunction (e.g., "because," "unless," and "although") connects two clauses to create a complex sentence. This option works to cement the relationship between the two parts of the sentence and may improve the flow of the clauses.

Example: Because I love to write papers, I would write one every day if I had the time.

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Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is a string of words that does not form a complete sentence; there is a  necessary component of a complete sentence missing. This missing component may be a subject (usually a noun) or a predicate (verb or verb phrase) and/or when the sentence does not express a complete idea.

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Sentence Fragments

Here is an example of a fragment with a missing subject.

Example of a fragment: Shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.

The sentence above is a fragment since there is no subject (Who shows no improvement?). Fragments can be corrected by identifying the missing element and including it.

Revision: The patient shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.

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Sentence Fragments

Here is an example of a fragment with a missing predicate, or action:

Example of a fragment: The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research articles that contributed to the body of knowledge in their fields, which was obstetrics.

Notice here that although the sentence is quite long, it still contains no action (What are the doctors doing?). Once identified, the sentence can be corrected easily.

Revision: The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research articles that contributed to the body of knowledge in their field, improved their knowledge of obstetrics.

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