Transcript 8. Sentence structure - NSW Public Schools Home Page

Sentence structure
Skill focus: The production of
grammatically correct, structurally
sound and meaningful sentences.
Sentence Structure
Sentences have a verb, and the verb
usually has a subject and it may also
have an object.
Simple Sentences
subject
verb
object
Miranda held the book.
Simple Sentences
Simple sentences can just have a verb:
• Go!
• Jump!
• Look!
In these sentences the subject you is
understood: [You] go!
Simple Sentences: adding phrases
 Miranda held the book in her left hand.
(Adverbial phrase)
 Miranda held the book with the red cover.
(Adjectival phrase)
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence has two or more main clauses
joined by coordinating conjunctions: and, but, yet, or,
nor, so, for
main clause
main clause
Miranda read a book and Sam watched TV.
coordinating conjunction
Compound Sentences
• Tim studied hard but his friend wasted time.
• We could leave now or we could wait till the
rain stops.
• They were hungry so they decided to eat their
lunch.
• She is tired yet she will not stop working so
she is still here.
Compound Sentences
In some compound sentences, the coordinating
conjunction can be replaced by a semicolon.
• Miranda read a book; Sam watched TV.
• Tim studied hard; his friend wasted time.
• They were hungry; they decided to eat
their lunch.
Adding noun clauses
I think that Miranda held the book.
To find the noun clause, ask the question: What
did I think?
In this sentence, Miranda held the book is a
noun clause or a complement.
Noun clauses
 We noticed that the book was torn.
 He believed that he knew the answer.
 She agreed that this was the right way.
 They decided that they would leave right
away.
Complex sentences
A complex sentence has a main clause and at
least one dependent clause. It has two or
more verbs.
The main clause can stand alone. The other
clauses depend on the main clause for
meaning.
There are many different types of dependent
clause.
Complex sentences: Adding
adverbial clauses
 Although it was very heavy, Miranda held
the book.
 He got a good mark in the test because
he studied hard.
Complex sentences: Adding
adjectival clauses
 Miranda held the book which she had
been reading.
 The boy, who had studied hard, got a
good mark in the test.
Complex sentences: verbless
clauses
Verbless clauses do not have a verb but the verb
is understood when we read the sentence.
 Although usually late, Jane arrived on time
today.
(This could be written as: Although she was
usually late…)
Complex sentences: non-finite
clauses
 Howling wildly, the wind swept away
everything in its path.
 She ran out of the room, reduced to tears
 Having spoken, he waited for their reply.
 Reaching the summit, they admired the
spectacular view.
 To avoid being late, we left early.
Incorrect sentences
Long and rambling:
I woke up to find that I had grown long beautiful hair
and was wearing a fantastic new ball gown and the
crown had changed to be made of silver and when I
ran to look out of the window I was looking at a
completely new place and there were horses and
glittering streams and birds all over the place and I
was extremely happy about all that but I did not
know anyone there at all.
This sentence needs to be broken up into a number of
smaller sentences.
Incorrect sentences
Sentence fragment
 Because I went there.
 In the mountains during winter and just before the
snow begins to fall.
Verb errors
 The crystal broken. (this could be fixed by the
insertion of a verb such as was, is, will be, can’t be)
 He must of gone to the shop. (must have or must’ve)