SENTENCE STRUCTURE

​SENTENCE STRUCTURE

By Sophya Eusebio

What Is Sentence Structure?

Sentence structure, also called syntax, refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses to form meaningful sentences.

Good sentence structure helps achieve the following:

• clarity

• coherence

• emphasis

• academic credibility

Open Ended

ARRANGE THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND FORM A MEANINGFUL SENTENCE:

students / enjoy / learning / English / because / it / helps / them / communicate / better

​Basic Components of a Sentence

Every complete sentence must have:

1. Subject – what or whom the sentence is about

2. Predicate – tells something about the subject (contains the verb)

Example:

The students submitted their research papers.
sUBJECT PREDICATE

Draw

Rewrite the following sentence. Then, underline the subject and box the predicate.

The teacher explains the lesson clearly.

Draw

Rewrite the following sentence. Then, underline the subject and box the predicate.

My best friend and I / study together after class.

Phrases Vs. Clauses

A. Phrase

A group of words without a subject–verb pair.

• Noun phrase: the final exam

• Verb phrase: has been studying

• Prepositional phrase: in the library

Phrases Vs. Clauses

B. Clause

A group of words with a subject and a verb.

• Independent clause – can stand alone

  Students prepared for the test.

• Dependent clause – cannot stand alone

  because students prepared for the test

Multiple Choice

1. Dexter won the race because he was fast.

• The underlined words form a phrase.

• The underlined words are meaningless.

• The underlined words form a clause.

• The underlined words is a prepositional phrase.

Multiple Choice

"The tallest building in the world" This is a _______

• phrase

• clause

• sentence

• meaningless combination of words

Multiple Choice

" I couldn't go ". Identify the underlined group of words.

• Sentence

• phrase

• clause

• dependent clause

Multiple Choice

Phrases in the English language do NOT contain:

• nouns

• meaning

• prepositions

• subject-verb combination

Types of Sentences

1. Simple Sentence

• One independent clause

The professor explained the lesson.

2. Compound Sentence

• Two independent clauses joined by:

  • coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)

  • or a semicolon

The lecture was long, but the students remained attentive.

Types of Sentences

3. Complex Sentence

• One independent clause + one or more dependent clauses

Although the lecture was long, the students remained attentive.

4. Compound–Complex Sentence

• At least two independent clauses + one dependent clause

Although the lecture was long, the students remained attentive, and they took detailed notes.

Multiple Choice

a compound/complex sentence has

• one independent clause

• two independent clauses

• and independent clause and a dependent clause

• two independent clauses plus a dependent clause

Multiple Choice

A complex sentence has

• two independent clauses

• an independent clause and a dependent clause

• two independent clauses and one dependent clause

• one independent clause

Multiple Choice

You can have the leftover pizza in the fridge if your brother hasn't already eaten it all.

• simple

• compound

• compound/complex

• complex

Multiple Choice

Because the trash pickup is Thursday, you have to put it out on Wednesday night or you'll have to wait until next week.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound/complex

Sentence Patterns

• S–V (Subject-verb)

  Students listen.

• S–V–O (Subject-Verb-Object)

  Students write essays.

• S-V-SC (Subject-Verb-Subject Complement)

  The exam is difficult.

• S–V–IO–DO (Subject- Verb- Indirect Object- Direct Object)

  The professor gave the class feedback.

Draw

Rewrite then underline and label the subject and the verb in the following sentence:

She sings.

Draw

Rewrite then underline and label the subject, the verb and the object in the following sentence:

She reads a book.

Draw

Rewrite then underline and label the subject, the verb and the subject complement in the following sentence:

My grandmother is a singer.

Draw

Rewrite then underline and label the subject, the verb, the indirect object and the direct object in the following sentence:

The professor sent her students a lecture.

Sentence Variety and Style

Academic writing values sentence variety to avoid monotony.

• Vary length (short + long sentences)

• Use different sentence types

• Use subordination for complex ideas

Monotonous:

The study was conducted. The data were analyzed. The results were recorded.

Improved:

After the study was conducted, the data were analyzed and the results were recorded.

Open Ended

Improve the following sentences.

I woke up early.

I went to school.

Open Ended

Improve the following sentences.

We finished our work.

We played outside.

Quiz

Multiple Choice

Is the following sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? 

The young girl passed each test on the exam.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound- Complex

Multiple Choice

Is the following sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? 

I ate dinner before I washed my hands.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound- Complex

Multiple Choice

Is the following sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? 

This television show, which I watched in a single evening, is hilarious, but that television show is very scary.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound- Complex

Multiple Choice

Is the following sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? 

William is a new golfer, and he prefers golf clubs that are lightweight.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound- Complex

Multiple Choice

What part of the sentences is underlined below

The teacher gave the students homework

• Subject

• Predicate

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the below sentence.

James scored the winning goal

• James

• scored

• Scored the winning goal

• James scored

Multiple Choice

Josephine rolled her eyes, looking annoyed.

• Subject

• Verb

• Object

Multiple Choice

The goalie caught the ball just in time.

• subject

• verb

• object

Multiple Choice

This red and yellow daisy is the prettiest flower that I have ever seen!

• Subject

• Direct /Indirect Object (after action verb)

• Complement (after linking verb)

• Object of a Preposition

Multiple Choice

Identify if this is a phrase or a clause.

Behind the bars

•  Phrase
• Clause

Multiple Choice

Identify if this is a phrase or a clause.
Since you've been gone

• Phrase
• Clause

Multiple Choice

Identify if this is a phrase or a clause.
The toy truck of Craig

• Phrase
• Clause

Multiple Choice

Identify if this is a phrase or a clause.

I went to the candy shop.

• Phrase
• Clause