sentencing

SentencingStructure, Types, and Common Problems

Language Studies and Academics

11


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The Sentence

A sentence makes sense because it is a whole idea, not just part of one.

It contains a subject and a predicate.

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.


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Kinds of SentencesDeclarative – makes a statement

Your order is ready.

Interrogative – asks a question Has Mona stopped by yet?

Imperative – gives a command Please stir the soup.

Exclamatory – expresses strong emotion What a game that was! I’m so sad!

?

!


Declarative

A declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period.

Example:

• The sky is blue.• I am very hungry.• I went to the Villaggio with my friends on Thursday night.


Interrogative

An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark.

Examples:

What are you studying at CNA-Q? Is Mohammed travelling after he graduates? Are you enjoying your program so far?


Imperative

An imperative sentence makes a command or request and ends with a period.

Examples:

Laila, please shut the door. Amr, shut the door. Do your homework. Please do your homework.


Exclamatory

An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong emotion and ends in an exclamation mark.

Examples:• I’m so happy!• Oh my goodness!• That is terrific news!• I can’t believe it!


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Subjects & Predicates

SubjectNames the

person, place, or thing about which

something is said.

PredicateTells what

the subject does, or what is done to

the subject.


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Example

sat down abruptly.(complete predicate)

The man in the brown coat(complete subject)

Find the complete subject and predicate in the sentence below. (click to reveal)

Simple Subject Simple Predicate

Now find the simple subject and predicate. (click to reveal)


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Before we look at types of sentences, let’s review the various word groups that

can be used to construct sentences.

Sentence Structure

Dependent (need support)

Clauses

Phrases

Independent (stand alone)

Various types (often prepositional)


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A clause is a word group that contains a subject and verb, but may or may not express a complete thought.

What is a Clause?

Independent Clause Dependent Clause

Expresses complete thought.

Stands alone.

Works as simple sentence.

Does not express complete thought.

Cannot stand alone.

Relies on another word group.

Note: a dependent clause might also be called a subordinate clause


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A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb BUT… does not express a complete thought.

Dependent Clauses

Examples:Since I came here

When we go home

Before Mohammed writes a test

After the Land Cruiser rolled down the dune

These clauses DEPEND on other word groups to form full sentences.

Notice how the first word makes

these clauses dependent: since, when, before etc.


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Words that Often Form Dependent Clauses

After

Although

As

As if

As soon as

As though

Subordinating conjunctions

Because

Before

Even if

In order to

Just as

Once

Provided

Rather than

Since

So that

Unless

When

Whenever

Wherever

While

Until

However

Relative Pronouns

Who, whose, whom, that, which, whoever, whomever, whichever


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A phrase is a sentence part that adds information but does not contain a subject or a verb.

Phrases

The most common type of phrase is the prepositional phrase. on Sunday before English class under the small wooden table

Is down the dune a clause or phrase?

Why?

begins with preposition, ends with object

Consider this word group (clause or phrase?):• after the Land Cruiser rolled down the dune*


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Try your Skill

On Sunday, everyone in Doha thought the dust storm would not last long; however, it continued for two full days.

Can you find any prepositional phrases? on Sunday in Doha for two full days


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Now let’s look at how clauses can be used to form different sentence types.

Sentence Types

Simple

Compound

Complex

Compound/Complex

=

=

= independent dependent+

independent clause• Subject(s) + verb(s)• complete thought

= 2 independent 1 dependent+Sequence can vary

independent independent+ Could be more than 2


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Simple Sentence

Ali and Fahad traveled to Dubai and Bahrain last January and returned in April.

A simple sentence is an independent clause that has a subject and verb and expresses one idea.

Note of interest: Dubai and Bahrain is also a compound element (called object of preposition)

NOTE: a simple sentence may have multiple subjects/verbs:

2 verbs2 subj.

We canceled the picnic.

After my breakfast, I will go to school and take a test.


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Compound Sentence

Here are three ways to form a compound sentence: Canada is a very rich country, but it has many poor people.

comma + coordinating conjunction

Canada is a very rich country; it has many poor people. semicolon

Canada is a very rich country; however, it has many poor people. semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma

A compound sentence is two or more independent clauses that are joined.

Canada is a very rich country. It has many poor people.Independent

clauses


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Complex SentenceA complex sentence contains

one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause.

Fahad asked for the day off Because his son was graduating+

Independent Clause (IC) Dependent Clause (DC)

Fahad asked for the day off because his son was graduating.=Can you think of another way to combine these two clauses?


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Quick Review

My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go.

Let’s review the 3 sentence types discussed so far, by working with the following two clauses:

My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go.+Simple

Compound

Complex

My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go.

Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go.


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Compound Complex Sentences

A compound complex sentence contains two independent and one or more dependent clauses.

Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go, but I will go.

Which clauses are independent?

Which clauses are dependent?

• I do not want to go• I will go

• Although my friend invited me to a party

Joined by comma & conjunction (, but)


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Complex Sentence Patterns

Because his son is graduating, Fahad asked for the day off.

Fahad asked for the day off because his son is graduating.

Fahad, whose son is graduating, asked for the day off.

IC DC

DC, IC

IC, DC, IC

No comma needed

Comma needed

Two commas show where DC interrupts IC


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Direct and Indirect Objects

SOMETIMES: The verb gives the complete meaning of the sentence.

Example: The plane will land.

OTHER TIMES: Additional words are needed to complete the sentence.

Example: The student carried…. (Carried what?)


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The student carried his books.

Ali likes his father.

Examples (click to reveal):

Direct Object

1. Find the subject and verb2. Ask whom or what after the verb

completes or receives action of the verb

S V

S V

To find the Direct Object…

Verb carriedCarried what? books

Verb likesLikes whom? father


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Indirect Object

When a sentence has a direct object, it may have an indirect object.

To whom or to what about the verbOr

For whom or for what about the verb

Indirect objects tell either…


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Indirect Object

1. Find the subject, verb and direct object

2. Look between the verb and direct object to see if there is a noun or pronoun

3. If so, ask to/for whom or to/for what after the verb and direct object.

How to find the Indirect Object (I.O.)


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Indirect Object

The student gave Ali the books.

1. Find subject, verb and d.o.2. Look between verb and d.o. for noun/pronoun

3. Ask to or for whom/what after verb and d.o.

Let’s try one

together…

Hints: The I.O. is always between the verb and the D.O.The I.O. is always a noun / pronoun.

S V D.O.

Gave books to whom?

I.O.


Subject-Verb Agreement

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Agreement

Basic Concept

A verb must agree with its subject in number.

Families usually have the evening meal together.Cats are common in Doha

Moza buys a new purse every year.Meshaal comes to class on time.

Singular Subject Singular Verb

Plural Subject Plural Verb


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Agreement

Common MistakesMistakes are often made when…

There are words between the subject and verb.

The verb comes before the subject.

Compound subjects are used.

Indefinite pronouns are used.

Titles and units are used in a sentence.

Let’s look at each of these situations…


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Words Between Subject & Verb

The sharp teeth in the dog’s mouth (look / looks) scary.

The colour of the bedrooms (need / needs) to be changed.

The lockers in the hall at school (has / have) been painted.

Words that come between the subject and verb DO NOT change the subject/verb agreement!

REMEMBER: a prepositional phrase cannot be and does not contain the subject of a sentence


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Verb before Subject

There (is / are) many cats on the street.

Where (is / are) your husband’s mobile phone?

When (do / does) lunchtime start?

There (was / were) a huge sandstorm yesterday.

REMEMBER: The verb must agree with its subject even if it comes before the subject!


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Compound Subjects

Compound Subject = 2 subjects (joined by conjunction)

If conjunction is AND…

Verb should be plural

If conjunction is correlative EITHER / OR

NEITHER / NORNOT ONLY/BUT ALSO

Verb agrees with closest subject


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When a compound subject is joined by AND, it needs a plural verb!

Compound Subjects

Fruit and yogurt (taste / tastes) good together.

My kitchen and bedroom (need / needs) new paint

Peaches and cream is a tasty dessert.The horse and buggy was used for transportation in the past.

EXCEPTION: Sometimes the word AND joins two words to form a singular subject. If so, we need a singular verb.


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Neither the students nor the teacher (want / wants) to leave.

Either the bus or the taxis (was / were) used for transportation.

Compound Subjects

When a correlative conjunction is used to form a compound subject, the verb agrees

with the closest subject


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Indefinite Pronouns

-one wordsOne

Anyone

Everyone

Someone

-body wordsNobody

Anybody

Everybody

Somebody

-thing wordsNothing

Anything

Everything

Something

othersEach

Either

Neither

Here is a list of singular indefinite pronouns. They all use singular verbs…


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Indefinite Pronouns

Both

Few

Several

Many

These plural indefinite pronouns use plural verbs.

These indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural.All

More

None Some

Most

Any

• Both candidates are qualified

• Few of the students were there.

• All of the students are writing a quiz.

• All of the money is gone.


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Indefinite Pronouns - practice

Neither of those textbooks (is / are) very good.

Both of my brothers (has / have) brown hair.

Somebody with 2 children (was / were) in your office.

None of my friends (like / likes) spicy food.

Everyone at work (like / likes) coffee in the morning.


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Agreement - Titles and Units

Titles of books, plays, poems, movies, and companies are treated as singular.

Units of time, money, distance, capacity and weight are also treated as singular.

Jeans Experts is hiring new staff.

Two hours is too long to wait.

Fifteen grams is a small amount.


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More Agreement Rules:

Collective Nouns

The band were wearing their new uniforms.

Collective nouns are singular in form, but plural in meaning.

When they act as one entity, use a singular verb.

Our band is the best in the city.

When they do separate things, use a plural verb.

Examples: band, class, community, team


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Plural Nouns as Singular Subjects

Some plural-sounding nouns take singular verbs

Examples: athletics, economics, politics, news, mumps, measles

Measles is very contagious.

Other nouns require a plural verbeven though they refer to one thing.

Examples: jeans, scissors, eyeglasses

The scissors are broken.


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The Word - Number

The expression the number requires a singular verb.

The number of suicides is increasing

The expression a number requires a plural verb

A number of products are not fit to eat,


Common Sentence ErrorsFragments,comma splices, run-on

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Sentence Fragments

It could be missing a subject OR a predicate

A Fragment is an incomplete sentence that is punctuated as though complete

Was running upstairs.

Mohammed, a business student.

No Subject!

No Predicate!

The girl was running upstairs.

Mohammed, a business student, listens carefully.


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Sentence Fragments

Because of the students' debate. Their classes will be excused.

Sometimes fragments are formed when complete sentences are punctuated incorrectly.

Because of the students' debate, their classes will be excused. comma is the

correct punctuation


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Correcting Sentence Fragments

Fragments: Mohammed, a business student. Wants to specialize in accounting.

Sentence??? (click to reveal)

Possible Fix #1: Join fragment to a main clause

Mohammed, a business student, wants to specialize in accounting.


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Correcting Sentence Fragments

To become a marketing specialist. (fragment)

Fixes??? (click to reveal)

Possible Fix #2: Add missing subject/verb to complete the thought.

Fatima wants to become a marketing specialist.

To become a marketing specialist, you must work hard.


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Comma Splices

1. Period and capital letterHanna worked very hard. She graduated from CNA-Q.

2. SemicolonHanna worked very hard; she graduated from CNA-Q.

3. Semicolon with connecting word and commaHanna worked very hard; consequently, she graduated

from CNA-Q.

There are many ways to fix a comma splice.

called conjunctive adverb

joins two ind. clauses

forms two sentences


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Comma Splices

4. Conjunction after comma Hanna worked very hard, so she graduated from CNA-Q.

More ways to fix a comma splice.

Hint: use FANBOYS to remember common conjunctions

ForAndNor (neither)ButOr (either)YetSo

5. Subordinated first clauseSince Hanna worked very hard, she graduated from CNA-Q.


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Run-On Sentences

The new instructor arrived in Doha three weeks ago he does not know his way around the city he can not drive a car because you have to be a resident to get a driving license.

Run-on sentence:Two or more full sentences joined without punctuation.

The new instructor arrived in Doha three weeks ago. He does not know his way around the city. He can not drive a car because you have to be a resident to get a driving license.

Fix ??? (click to reveal)


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Fixing Run-On Sentences

Can you remember the 5 ways?

You can fix a run-on sentence the same way you fix a comma splice.

Separating the sentences using

a comma is not a solution.

WHY?

Period and capital letter (2 sentences)

Semicolon (joined ind. clauses)

Semicolon + connecting word + comma

Comma +conjunction

Subordinate first clause (with comma)

1.2.3.4.5.

For full review of the 5 comma splice fixes, click here

sentencing

Documents

prepositionallanguage

reveallanguage studies

simple sentence

sentence structuredependent

sentencea sentence

express complete thought

clauses dependent

complete predicatethe