INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS

Discussant: Dalagan, Ronna Joy U.

BSE – ENG 1ST – A

Sentence Structure
A sentence’s “structure” is the way its words are arranged

Types of Sentence Structures

a. Simple sentence
A simple sentence has only one subject and one predicate—one independent clause.
In fact, an independent clause itself is a simple sentence. Here are some examples:
1. She jumped.
2. The cheetah ran.
b. Compound sentence
A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses. It uses a conjunction like
“and” to connect the ideas. Here are some examples:
1. The dog ate pizza but the cat drank apple juice.
2. The dog ate pizza but the cat drank apple juice and the fish had eggs.
c. Complex sentence
A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
It sometimes uses conjunctions and other words to combine all of the clauses together.
EXAMPLES:
1. When he was on the airplane, the man bought cookies.
2. When he was on the airplane, the man bought cookies, but not brownies.
d. Compound-complex sentence
A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause. Example:
1. The girl smelled cookies, which were baking at home, so, she ran all the way
there.
 Parts of Sentence Structures
a. Independent Clause
Independent clauses are key parts of every sentence structure. An independent clause
has a subject and a predicate and makes sense on its own as a complete sentence.
Ex. The dog ate brownies. He went to the library.
b. Dependent (Subordinate) Clause
It has a subject and a predicate; BUT, it can’t be a sentence. It provides extra details
about the independent clause, and it doesn’t make sense on its own.
Ex. After he went to the party If the dog eats chocolate

c. Conjunction
A conjunction is a word in a sentence that connects other words, phrases and clauses.
The most common conjunction that you know is “and.” Others are for, but, or, yet, and
so.
Examples:
Incorrect: The girl ran to the ice cream truck then she ate ice cream.
Correct: The girl ran to the ice cream truck, and then she ate ice cream.

FOUR SENTENCE PATTERNS:

SUBJECT
The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that is performing the action of
the sentence. The subject represents what or whom the sentence is about. The simple
subject usually contains a noun or pronoun and can include modifying words, phrases,
or clauses.
PREDICATE
The predicate expresses action or being within the sentence. The simple predicate
contains the verb and can also contain modifying words, phrases, or clauses.
EXAMPLE: The dog barks.
S + V
DIRECT OBJECT
a. The direct object receives the action of the sentence. The direct object is usually a
noun or pronoun.
(Subject + Verb + Direct Object )
EXAMPLE: Jenny made a cake
S + V + DO
INDIRECT OBJECT

a. The indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action of the sentence is
being done. The indirect object is usually a noun or pronoun. ( Subject + Verb +
Indirect Object + Direct Object )
EXAMPLE: Jenny made Dad a cake.
S + V + IO + DO
SUBJECT COMPLEMENT
a. A subject complement either renames or describes the subject, and therefore is
usually a noun, pronoun, or adjective. Subject complements occur when there is a
linking verb within the sentence.
(Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement)
A linking verb LINKS the subject of the sentence to its subject complement; therefore,
this pattern only works with linking verbs. (Often a linking verb is a form of “To be” verbs
like am, is, are, was, were, etc. Sensory verbs like appear, feel, grow, look).
EXAMPLE: Brandon is a gifted athlete.
S + LV + SC

References:
http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/grammar/sentence_structure.html
www.google.com/basicsentencepattern.pdf