SENTENCE Teacher: Ahmed Shamim Kamal

SIR JOHN WILSON SCHOOL

General Structure: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT/COMPLEMENT (Repeat it)

He plays cricket.
I’ll explain the problem to you.
How do we write long sentences then?
• SUBJECT or OBJECT becomes long (verb phrase is not bigger than 3/4 words)
• Clauses/Sentences joined with CONJUNCTIONS/SEMICOLON/COMMA/
COLON etc
• PERIODIC SENTENCES and use of MODIFIERS
Let’s see only few examples, not all or many. (The following sentences may not follow the
order/sequence we find in the above mentioned points.)

Conjunctions:
Word to Word:
When two words are joined together by a conjunction, each is usually of the same part of speech.

Noun to noun: Horses and dogs are very useful.

Pronoun to pronoun: You and he are both wrong.
Verb to verb: She sat down and wept.
Adjective to adjective: They are sad, but hopeful.
Adverb to adverb: A cat moves slowly and silently.

Joining Sentence/Clause to another Sentence/Clause:

The Most Common Subordinating Conjunctions are:

Although – (despite the fact that): used to introduce a fact that makes another fact unusual or
surprising
Although she was tired, she couldn’t sleep.
As – used to introduce a statement which indicates that something being mentioned was known,
expected, etc
As we explained last class, coordinating conjunctions are sentence connectors.
Since – used to introduce a statement that explains the reason for another statement
Since you’ve studied so well, you can go outside and play.
Than – used to compare
My sister is older than I am.
That – used to introduce a clause that states a reason or purpose
Olivia is so happy that it’s summer again.
When – at or during the time that something happened/happens
A teacher is good when he inspires his students.
Whether – used to indicate choices or possibilities
Bruno wasn’t sure whether to go to India or Thailand.
While – during the time that something happened
While we were in Paris, it snowed.
Until – up to the time or point that something happened
We stayed up talking until the sun came up.
Some more examples (use of Coordinating Conjunctions):

I will be late to the party, for I am working until seven.

Tom likes to read, and his sister likes to write.

Sally does not like the mountains, nor does she like the ocean.

I wanted to ride my bike, but the tire was flat.

Fred wants peas or carrots for supper.

We can go to the movies tonight, or we can just hang out at home.

I love chocolate, yet I do not eat chocolate ice cream.

She was late to work, so her boss made her stay after five.

When to use a Comma before ‘and’?

Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years, and today he is an accomplished
performer.

Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years and today is an accomplished performer.
subject verb 1 verb 2
 Periodic Sentence:
A periodic sentence has the main clause or predicate at the end. This is used for emphasis and
can be persuasive by putting reasons for something at the beginning before the final point is
made. It can also create suspense or interest for the reader.
Examples:
In spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued.
the main clause

With low taxes, beautiful views and a mild climate, this city is a great place to live.

the main clause

The beach, with white sand, crystal clear water, and palm trees, is a favorite hangout
subject predicate
for the locals.

Variety in Modifier Placement:

Using Initial Modifiers:

Dependent Clause: Although she wasn't tired, Maria went to sleep.

Infinitive Phrase: To please her mother, Maria went to sleep.

Adverb: Quickly and quietly, Maria went to sleep.

Participial Phrase: Hoping to feel better, Maria went to sleep.

INFINITIVE, GERUND
Infinitive: to + base of a verb(functions like a noun)
Subject of a verb: To find fault is easy.
Object of a transitive verb: He likes to play.
Complement of a verb: Her greatest pleasure is to sing.
Purpose: We eat to live.
To qualify a sentence: To tell the truth, I quite forgot my promise.

Gerund: verb + ing(functions like a noun)

Subject of a verb: Seeing is believing.
Object of a transitive verb: I like reading poetry.
Object of a preposition: I am tired of waiting.
Complement of a verb: What I most detest is smoking.
Compound Gerund: I heard of his having gained a prize.

RELATIVE Pronoun
The most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that.

We don’t know the person who donated this money.

noun pronoun of the noun

We drove past my old school, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

He went to the school (that) my father went to.

Comma (the shortest pause)

To separate words in a list:
A bouquet of red, pink and white roses (often omitted before and)

Between three or more words of the same Parts of Speech, when only the last two
are connected by ‘and’:
Greece, Italy, and Spain are the peninsulas of Southern Europe. (Nouns)

We should live soberly, prudently, and industriously at all times. (Adverbs)

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. ( Adjectives)

To indicate a word or phrase in Apposition:

Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, has a population explosion.

To separate main clauses linked by a conjunction (and, as, but, for, or):
The tickets were expensive, but the kids really enjoyed it.

Colon
Used to introduce a list, a summary, an explanation, etc. or before reporting what
somebody has said
When the second coordinate clause repeats, explains or simplifies the first:
Never feed the horse poor food: great energy and endurance is expected of him.

Before listing:
Lyric poetry includes various types: the ode, the elegy, the sonnet and the song.
To introduce a quotation or direct speech:
He would recall Rousseau’s words: ‘Man is born free….’
Before leaving she embraced her: ‘Look after yourself.’
To give more information about the main clause:
The garden had been neglected for a long time: it was overgrown and the unwanted trees
grew very big.
Semicolon
The Semicolon is used, when a greater pause is required than is indicated by the comma.
To separate two main clauses without a conjunction:
The sun was already low in the sky; it would soon be dark.
To divide clauses, which are connected by some Alternative or Illative (inference)
conjunctions. It needs time to understand them:
I met him as he was leaving his house; otherwise I should not have known where he lived.
I refused to do what he asked me to do; for I was convinced that he had been
misinformed of the facts.