THE SIMPLE SENTENCETHE SIMPLE SENTENCE

Key Concepts: Phrase, Clause, Key Concepts: Phrase, Clause, Sentence, Simple Sentence, Sentence, Simple Sentence,

Complex Sentence, Compound Complex Sentence, Compound Sentence.Sentence.

PHRASE: a syntactic construction which typically contains more than one word, but which lacks the subject-predicate structure usually found in a clause.

Examples:Examples: Terribly slowlyTerribly slowly (adverb phrase)(adverb phrase) Easy to pleaseEasy to please (adjective phrase)(adjective phrase) Would have been repairedWould have been repaired (verb phrase) (verb phrase) A large user of aluminium alloysA large user of aluminium alloys

(noun phrase)(noun phrase) At the same time (prepositional At the same time (prepositional

phrase)phrase)

CLAUSE: a structural unit smaller than a sentence but larger than phrases or words. Clauses are made up out of elements, each expressing a particular kind of meaning. Subject and predicate are the two main elements of a clause.

Examples:Examples:

I stayed quietly at home.I stayed quietly at home.They became students.They became students.She got her dress wet.She got her dress wet.They showed us the books.They showed us the books.He yawned four times.He yawned four times.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSEINDEPENDENT CLAUSE: one : one that expresses a complete that expresses a complete

thought:thought:

I managed to find the street.I managed to find the street. I’ll be able to speak good French in a I’ll be able to speak good French in a

few months.few months. The rain came down heavily.The rain came down heavily.

DEPENDENT OR DEPENDENT OR SUBORDINATE CLAUSE:SUBORDINATE CLAUSE:

the meaning of this clause is the meaning of this clause is dependent upon another (the dependent upon another (the independent clause):independent clause):

…as the newspaper reported.

…who had been waiting.

…when Adriana dropped the plates.

…because the sky is blue.

A subordinate clauseA subordinate clause is is normally an adjective clause or normally an adjective clause or

an adverb clause.an adverb clause.

Adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns such as who, whose, which and that.

Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions such as after, because, till, if, and when.

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

Where’s the girl Where’s the girl that sells the ticketsthat sells the tickets?? I saw a girl I saw a girl whose beauty took my breath whose beauty took my breath

awayaway.. We visited the city We visited the city where the streets have where the streets have

no nameno name.. I never heard the bells ringing till I never heard the bells ringing till there there

was youwas you.. Katya’s crying Katya’s crying because she had a row with because she had a row with

her boyfriendher boyfriend..

This is the video which caused such a sensation.

When she pressed the button the lift stopped.

SENTENCE:SENTENCE:

a group of words beginning with a capital letter and ending with a full stop that expresses a statement, command, question or exclamation. A sentence consists of one or more clauses:

Examples:Examples:

* Can you read Latin?* She spent her senior year in the Lansing Manufacturing Area.*They came down the last hundred yards, moving carefully from tree to tree in the shadows and now, through the last pines of the steep hillside, the bridge was only fifty yards away.*The cat will scratch you if you pull her tail.

SIMPLE SENTENCE:SIMPLE SENTENCE:

a simple sentence has one independent clause, and no subordinate clauses:

Examples:Examples: I ate raw fish in Japan last yearI ate raw fish in Japan last year It never rains in Southern CaliforniaIt never rains in Southern CaliforniaYou don’t bring me flowers anymoreYou don’t bring me flowers anymoreWalk like an EgyptianWalk like an EgyptianWhy does it always rain on me?Why does it always rain on me?

COMPLEX SENTENCE:COMPLEX SENTENCE:

A complex sentence has one A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.one subordinate clause.

Examples:Examples:

I was really nervous before I started.I was really nervous before I started. Michelle was telling us a joke when Michelle was telling us a joke when

Adriana dropped the plates that she Adriana dropped the plates that she had bought that day.had bought that day.

I know automation scares a lot of I know automation scares a lot of people because it costs a lot of money people because it costs a lot of money that could be spent in other areas.that could be spent in other areas.

Compound Sentence:Compound Sentence:

one formed by two or more one formed by two or more clauses, joined by a clauses, joined by a connector (coordinating connector (coordinating conjunction): and, or, but.conjunction): and, or, but.

Rodrigo travels often, and he enjoys travelling.

He stays in hotels, or he visits friends.

Franz speaks German but Julio speaks French.

EXERCISES

Identify the S and the V in these Identify the S and the V in these sentencessentences

The debate on education has been The debate on education has been postponed.postponed.

Someone cooked a meal here lately.Someone cooked a meal here lately. The burglar went straight to the The burglar went straight to the

safe.safe. All the girls are afraid of mice.All the girls are afraid of mice. That beach is safe for bathing.That beach is safe for bathing.

*Two chief hallmarks of the traditional era account for much of the negative reaction which can arise when people talk about the subject of grammar.

*The ship will leave in a few minutes.

*Traditional grammars recognized four types of sentence function.

Identify the independent clause Identify the independent clause and the subordinate clause in and the subordinate clause in

these complex sentences:these complex sentences:

I’m going to wait till it stops raining.I’m going to wait till it stops raining. He was dancing with a student who He was dancing with a student who

had a slight limp.had a slight limp. The man whom I had come to see The man whom I had come to see

was sitting at the desk.was sitting at the desk.

I’ve been waiting for Tom since 6:00.I’ve been waiting for Tom since 6:00. I went to Munich which I had always I went to Munich which I had always

wanted to visit.wanted to visit. If it’s fine tomorrow we’ll go for a If it’s fine tomorrow we’ll go for a

walk.walk. I finished early because I worked I finished early because I worked

fast.fast. The girl who is in the third row told The girl who is in the third row told

me the whole story.me the whole story.

The plant which has blue flowers has The plant which has blue flowers has been removed.been removed.

The time that is set aside for reading The time that is set aside for reading will be extended to 30 minutes.will be extended to 30 minutes.

When Jason searched for the Golden When Jason searched for the Golden Fleece, he battled a fierce dragon.Fleece, he battled a fierce dragon.

I will study until Mother comes home.I will study until Mother comes home. I study where it is quiet.I study where it is quiet.

Identifying and classifying clauses: Identifying and classifying clauses: independent and subordinate independent and subordinate

clauses.clauses.

We did warm-up exercises before we We did warm-up exercises before we practiced for the next game.practiced for the next game.

Students who are interested in Students who are interested in attending the science fair at the attending the science fair at the community college should sign up now.community college should sign up now.

The musical West Side Story is a The musical West Side Story is a modern version of the story of modern version of the story of Romeo and Juliet.Romeo and Juliet.

The first poem in the book is about The first poem in the book is about spring, and the second one is about spring, and the second one is about autumn.autumn.

Carson McCullers, who wrote The Carson McCullers, who wrote The Sad Café Ballad, was born in Sad Café Ballad, was born in Georgia.Georgia.

We took notes while the teacher We took notes while the teacher discussed the causes of the discussed the causes of the American Revolution.American Revolution.

It rained saturday morning, but the It rained saturday morning, but the sun came out in time for the opening sun came out in time for the opening of the Special Olympics.of the Special Olympics.

Not all stringed instruments sound Not all stringed instruments sound alike, for their shapes and the alike, for their shapes and the number of their strings vary.number of their strings vary.