Part 1: Sentence Types

and
Sentence Problems
Lecturer: Tran The Phi (MA. TESOL
PhD. Linguistics)
Department of Foreign Languages
- Sai Gon University
• Clauses
• Sentences
 A. Clauses
Are the following groups of words clauses?
1. after working all day
2. to protect the environment
3. because pollution causes cancer
4. ecology is a science
???

What is a clause?
 A clause is a group of words that contains (at least)
………………….and …………………….
 1. How many kinds of clauses?
1. The sun rose.
2. Water evaporates rapidly in warm climate zones.
3. Whom the voters elected Mr Smith their town’s
mayor.
4. If the drought continues for another year.
???
 1. How many kinds of clauses?
 (1), (2) An independent clause contains a subject
and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It
can stand alone as a sentence by itself.
 (3), (4) A dependent clause does not express a
complete thought, so it is not a sentence by itself. A
dependent clause is also called a sentence fragment.
How are the following subordinators grouped?
 2. Dependent Clauses
There are 3 different types of dependent clauses.

• Noun Clause (NC)

• Adjective Clause (AdjC)

• Adverb Clause (AdvC)

 2.1. Noun Clause (NC)
[S+V] that acts like a noun
Example: I think [you are sick].

S V O
Objects are nouns; this entire
clause acts like a singular noun, so
it is a noun clause.
NCs usually follow verbs as objects or complements
“Answers” the question “What?”
Example:
Q: What do you think?
A: I think (that) Spiderman is the best superhero.
 2.2. Adjective Clause (AdjC)
[S+V] that acts like an adjective

Example: The story [that I am reading] is sad.

S V
relative
pronoun
This entire clause acts like an adjective,
so it is an adjective clause.
 2.3. Adverb Clause (AdvC)
[S+V] that acts like an adverb
Example: [After we drove to the mall] , we
looked for a bookstore.
This clause gives information about
when the action happened, so it
acts like an adverb.
AdvCs always begin with a subordinating conjunction
after although as because before

even though if since unless until

when
Practice 1: (p.163) Write Indep. next to the complete
sentences and put a period (.) after them. Write Dep.
next to the incomplete sentences.
 Clause

Independent Dependent

Adjective Adverb
Noun Clause
Clause Clause
Summary
 3.1. Sentences
What is a sentence?
A sentence is a group of words that you use to
communicate your ideas. Every sentence is
formed from one or more clauses and
expresses a complete thought.
How many types of sentences?
…
Simple sentence; Compound sentence; Complex
sentence; Compound-Complex sentence.
 3.1.1. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence is one independent clause.

Note:
boils and freezes: compound verbs
Freshwater and salt water: compound subject
 3.1.2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is two or more independent
clauses joined together. There are three ways to join
the clauses:
1/ With a coordinator
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater, so food cooks faster in salt water.
2/ With a conjunctive adverb
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; therefore, food cooks faster in salt water.
3/ With a semicolon
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; food cooks faster in salt water.
 3.1.2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is two or more
independent clauses joined together. There
are three ways to join the clauses:
1. With a coordinator:
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater, so food cooks faster in salt water.
There are seven coordinators, which are also
called coordinating conjunctions: FAN BOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
 Note: But or Yet?
• Similarity:
But and yet have similar meanings: They both signal that an opposite
idea is coming.
• Difference:
But is preferred when the two clauses are direct opposites.
Yet is preferred when the second clause is an unexpected or
surprising continuation because of information given in the first
clause.
Compare:
• I want to study art, but my parents want me to study engineering.
(direct opposite)
• I am very bad at math, yet my parents want me to study
engineering. (surprising continuation after "I am very bad at math")
Practice 3: Write either but or yet in the blank space.
Practice 4B:
Practice 4C. Write seven compound sentences of
your own, using each coordinator once.
 3.1.2. Compound Sentence
2/ With a conjunctive adverb
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; therefore, food cooks faster in
salt water.
 3.1.2. Compound Sentence
3/ With a semicolon:
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; food cooks faster in salt water.
Practice 5C. Write five compound sentences,
using each of these conjunctive adverbs
once:
in addition, nevertheless, on the other hand,
therefore, and for instance.
 Practice 7: Use what you have learned about forming compound sentences to
improve the following mini-essay, which contains many short, simple sentences.
Combine sentences wherever possible. Try to use each of the three methods at
least once. There are many possible ways to combine sentences.
 3.1.2. Compound Sentence (review)
A compound sentence is two or more independent
clauses joined together. There are three ways to join
the clauses:
1/ With a coordinator
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater, so food cooks faster in salt water.
2/ With a conjunctive adverb
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; therefore, food cooks faster in salt water.
3/ With a semicolon
Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; food cooks faster in salt water.
 3.1.3. A complex sentence
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence contains one independent
clause and one (or more) dependent clause(s).
In a complex sentence, one idea is generally
more important than the other. We place the
more important idea in the independent
clause and the less important idea in the
dependent clause.
 Dependent Clauses
There are 3 different types of dependent clauses.

• Noun Clause (NC)

• Adjective Clause (AdjC)

• Adverb Clause (AdvC)

 Noun Clause (NC)
[S+V] that acts like a noun
Example: I think [you are sick].

S V O
Objects are nouns; this entire
clause acts like a singular noun, so
it is a noun clause.
 Adjective Clause (AdjC)
[S+V] that acts like an adjective

Example: The story [that I am reading] is sad.

S V
relative
pronoun
This entire clause acts like an adjective,
so it is an adjective clause.
 Adverb Clause (AdvC)
[S+V] that acts like an adverb
Example: [After we drove to the mall] , we
looked for a bookstore.
This clause gives information about
how or why the action happened,
so it acts like an adverb.
Practice 8: Write Sub. above the subordinator.
 Sentence

Simple Compound Complex

Conjunctive
FANBOYS ; NC AdjC AdvC
adverbs
 3.1.4 A compound-complex sentence
A Compound-complex sentence has at least
three clauses, at least two of which are
independent.
Practice 9: Punctuate the following sentences.
Review: Types of sentences
 Check-up Test
Work in a group of 4 or 5 members.

• Write three compound sentences of your own (1,2,3),

using coordinators. TOPIC: EDUCATION

• Write three compound sentences of your own (4,5,6),

using conjunctive adverbs. TOPIC: POLLUTION

• Write three complex sentences of your own (7,8,9),

using Noun Clause, Adjective Clause and Adverb
Clause. TOPIC: TRAFFIC

• Write three compound-complex sentences of your

own (10,11,12). TOPIC: HOMETOWN