Transcript No Slide Title

Understanding
Sentence Structure
With an understanding of sentence structure, you
should be able to:
- identify and name the parts of a sentence
- rearrange the parts of a sentence
- use all types of sentence structures
- write more skillfully
A list of the structures
Phrases
noun
verb
prepositional
adverbial
Clauses
independent
dependent
subordinate
adverbial
relative
Sentences
simple
compound
complex
compound-complex
Two important grammatical units within a sentence:
Phrases and Clauses
Can you divide the following into two groups?
if you can stay here
sipped it slowly
the man with the hat
because they like it
they went out
in the garden
the child eating candy
she flew
although it rained
after the movie
What is the difference between the two?
Clauses have both a subject and a predicate.
Phrases do not.
Phrases and Clauses
Clauses have both a subject and a predicate.
Phrases do not.
Phrases
Clauses
after the movie
the child eating candy
in the garden
the man with the hat
sipped it slowly
if you can stay here
because they like it
although it rained
she flew
they went out
Two Types of Clauses
Can you divide the following into two groups?
when birds migrate
the birds were singing
they went dancing
since you arrived
although they already sent it
and the band played on
because birds have hollow bones
we saw a falcon
if she had to go soon
but many people came
Two Types of Clauses
Independent
makes sense on its own
the birds were singing
Dependent
we saw a falcon
needs another clause to
they went dancing
complete the syntax
and the band played on
but many people came
since you arrived
although they already sent it
when birds migrate
because birds have hollow bones
if she had to go soon
A list of the structures
Phrases
noun
verb
prepositional
adverbial
Clauses
independent
dependent
adverbial
relative
Sentences
simple
compound
complex
compound-complex
phrase (frā) noun
Abbr. phr.
Some Definitions
1. A sequence of words intended to have meaning.
2. a. A characteristic way or mode of expression. b. A brief, apt, and cogent expression.
3. A word or group of words read or spoken as a unit and separated by pauses or other junctures.
4. Grammar. Two or more words in sequence that form a syntactic unit that is less than a complete sentence.
5. Music. A segment of a composition, usually consisting of four or eight measures.
6. A series of dance movements forming a unit in a choreographic pattern.
Verb
phrased, phras·ing, phras·es
verb, transitive
1. To express orally or in writing: The speaker phrased several opinions.
2. To pace or mark off (something read aloud or spoken) by pauses.
3. Music. a. To divide (a passage) into phrases. b. To combine (notes) in a phrase.
verb, intransitive
1. To make or render phrases, as in reading aloud.
2. Music. To perform a passage with the correct phrasing.
[Latin phrasis, diction, from Greek, speech, diction, phrase, from phrazein, to point out, show.]
— phrasʹal adjective
— phrasʹal·ly adverb
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed
from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights
reserved.
Some Definitions
clause (klôz) noun
Abbr. cl.
1.
2.
Grammar. A group of words containing a subject and a
predicate and forming part of a compound or complex sentence.
A distinct article, stipulation, or provision in a document.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin clausa, close of a rhetorical
period, from feminine of Latin clausus past participle of claudere, to close.]
— clausʹal (klôʹzəl) adjective
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton
Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and
distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved .
Some Definitions
sen·tence (sĕnʹtəns) noun
1.
A grammatical unit that is syntactically independent and has a
subject that is expressed or, as in imperative sentences, understood and a
predicate that contains at least one finite verb.
2.
Law. a. A court judgment, especially a judicial decision of the
punishment to be inflicted on one adjudged guilty. b. The penalty meted
out.
3.
Archaic. A maxim.
4.
Obsolete. An opinion, especially one given formally after
deliberation.
verb, transitive
sen·tenced, sen·tenc·ing,sen·tenc·es
Law.
To pronounce sentence upon (one adjudged guilty). See synonyms at condemn.
[Middle English, opinion, from Old French, from Latin sententia, from sentiēns,
sentient-present participle of sentīre, to feel.]
— sen·tenʹtial (sĕn-tĕnʹshəl) adjective
— sen·tenʹtial·ly adverb
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin
Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted
in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.
Four Types of Sentences
Sentences can be categorized by the number and type
of clauses which they contain.
Simple
one independent
Cats land on their feet.
Compound
two or more independent
Cats land on their feet and birds take to the wing.
Complex
one independent plus
one dependent
The lamb can only bleat when the tiger closes in.
Compound-Complex
two or more independent plus
one or more dependent
Cats land on their feet and birds take to the wing, but the
lamb can only bleat when the tiger closes in.
A Simple Sentence
Subject
The birds
Predicate
were singing.
A Simple Sentence
Subject
Noun Phrase
Prepositional Phrase(s)
Predicate
Adverbial(s)
Verb Phrase
The birds in the garden have been singing all morning.
Subject
Noun Phrase
Determiner
Adjective(s)
The large colorful
birds
in the garden
Noun(s)
Relative Clause
Prepositional Phrase(s)
A Simple Sentence
Subject
Determiner
Predicate
Noun Phrase
Prepositional Phrase(s)
Adjective(s)
Noun(s)
Adverbial(s)
Verb Phrase
Verb Structure
Object(s)
The large colorful birds in the garden
have been singing songs
all morning.
C
om
poundSentence
IndependentC
lause
conjunction
IndependentC
lause
Thebirdshavebeensinging
and
thecathasbeenw
atchingthem
.
ComplexSentence
IndependentClause
DependentClause
subjectandpredicate
subordinatingconjunctionorrelativepronoun
Subjectpluspredicate
Ijumpedintothecar
as
thedoorsclosed.
Shewastheone
who
said
that
shewantedtowritewel.
A list of the structures
Phrases
noun
verb
prepositional
adverbial
Clauses
independent
dependent
adverbial
relative
Sentences
simple
compound
complex
compound-complex
Some tips for improving your writing
Pay attention to your sentence structure.
Use all four types of sentences.
Consider the main clause of each sentence.
Prefer active to passive verbs.
Use verbs other than be or have.