4.

SENTENCE CONSTRUCTIONS (S + P + O + C)

In the era of globalization as it is today, people must be able to communicate in English orally
or in writing properly and correctly based on the rules of the English language. No exception
to the students also, they must master English very well, not only in one skill of English, it
should be they master to all of English skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) as well.

Discussing about students' English mastery in English writing skill, students should be able
to compose sentences appropriately and correctly in accordance with English Written
Standard. Especially, when having status as students of mining engineering department, they
must be able to construct sentences using mining engineering terms. It is intended that they
will be accustomed to communicating in both spoken & written language by using mining
engineering terminologies in their daily life as habits. When they need to apply their English
abilities at any events employing English skills, they will be confident to show off them at any
occasions, whether in writing article in Writing English Competitions or published in certain
Mining Journals, in writing abstract of their mini-thesis, in writing application letter and
curriculum vitae properly and attractively.

To discuss what is meant by English Sentence Constructions, let's first look at the notions of
subject, predicate, object and complement, at sentence patterns using S, P, O, C, and some
of their variations, then we will apply those patterns in composing sentences by employing
some mining and metallurgical terms.

I. Understanding of Sentence and Basic Sentence Constructions

A. What is Sentence?
A sentence is a group of words giving complete thought (meaning, idea or message)
and it must contain at least one subject and one predicate. It consists one main clause
and sometimes one or more sub-ordinate clauses.

Examples:
➢ Over the ages mining has provided the metals that are the foundation of our
civilization.
➢ The only way to test for the possibility of a concealed mineral deposit is to gather
data from beneath the surface.
➢ Mining ultimately contributes to a better life for the 6 billion people who depend on
the raw materials it produces.

B. What is Basic Sentence Construction?

A sentence construction (known as sentence structure) is how the basic grammatical
elements (a subject, predicate, and sometimes direct or indirect objects) of a sentence
are put together. The rules for how a sentence constructed are simple but firm. The
necessity for a subject, predicate, and object (in that order) in every sentence is
included, and sometimes additional elements like prepositional phrase and dependent
clauses can be added also.

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 36

 There are four types of basic sentence constructions, as listed below:

1. Simple Sentence Construction

A simple sentence is a group of words consists of one subject and one predicate
(or one Main Clause) which has a complete meaning or thought.
Its sentence construction is as the following:

S+P+O+C

Note: S = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun

P = Verb/Verb-phrase
O = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun
C = Noun/N-phrase / Adjective/Adj-phrase / Adverb/Adv-phrase

Examples:
➢ Mining activity utilises modern technologies and equipment to increase productivity.
S P O C
➢ Iron, copper, stone, or gravel is usually extracted by open pit mining.
S P C

2. Compound Sentence Construction

A compound sentence consists of two Main Clauses or more which are connected
by coordinating conjunctions.

Its sentence construction is as the following:

S + P + O + C + C.C + S + P + O + C

Note: S = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun

P = Verb/Verb-phrase
O = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun
C = Noun/N-phrase / Adjective/Adj-phrase / Adverb/Adv-phrase
C.C = Coordinating Conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Examples:
➢ The mightiest mining machineries + are broken + and + they + are finally
S P C.C S
finished.
P
➢ The exploration engineer + didn’t find + mineral deposits, + but + he + found
S P O C.C S P
+ coal beds.
O

3. Complex Sentence Construction

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 37

 A complex sentence consists of two Main Clauses or more which are connected by
coordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.
Its sentence construction is as the following:

S + P + O + C + S C/R P + S + P + O + C

Note: S = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun

P = Verb/Verb-phrase
O = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun
C = Noun/N-phrase / Adjective/Adj-phrase / Adverb/Adv-phrase
S.C = Sub-ordinating Conjunctions (since, because, although, etc.)
R P = Relative Pronouns (that, what, who, whom, whose, which, etc.)

Examples:
➢ The mine field supervisor + was retired early + because + he + was injured.
S P S.C S P

➢ The most significant impact + occurs + where the excavation intersects

S P R.P S P
with the skyline.
C

4. Compound-Complex Sentence Construction

A compound-complex sentence consists of two Main Clauses and one or more Sub
Clause. It is the combination between compound sentence and complex sentence.
Its sentence construction is as the following:

S + P + O + S C/R P + S + P + O + C+ C + C.C + S + P + O +
C

Note: S = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun

P = Verb/Verb-phrase
O = Noun/N-phrase / Pronoun
C = Noun/N-phrase / Adjective/Adj-phrase / Adverb/Adv-phrase
C.C = Coordinating Conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
S.C = Sub-ordinating Conjunctions (since, because, although, etc.)
R P = Relative Pronouns (that, what, who, whom, whose, which, etc.)

Examples:
➢ The exploration engineer + who his father was supervisor at PT Freeport +
S RP S P C
didn’t find + mineral deposits, + but + he + found+ coal beds.
P O C.C S P O

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 38

II. Understanding of Subject, Predicate, Object, and Complement

A. What is Subject?
A subject is a part of a sentence that contains person or thing performing the action
(or verb) or being described in a sentence. Type of words that occupy subject position
in a sentence is a noun (or a pronoun) and all the modifiers (adjectives) that go with
it. A sentence has one main subject, which is the subject of the main verb. However,
a sentence can include other subjects that are the subjects of other verbs.

Examples:
➢ Mining activity utilises modern technologies and equipment.
➢ Artisanal mining is defined as small-scale mineral extraction.
➢ Formation of peat in a swamp is the first stage in the formation of coal mining.

B. What is Predicate?
A predicate is what the subject does. It contains verb and any object or modifiers that
are governed by the verb. The predicate specifies what the subject is or does or tells
what is done to the subject. Because the subject is the person, place or thing that a
sentence is about, the predicate must contain a verb explaining what the subject does.
It can also include a modifier, an object or a complement.

Examples:
➢ Diesel generators are often installed close to the mine.
➢ Sometimes the best chemical method cannot remove all impurities from copper.
➢ Electro-refining is possible to produce 99.99% pure copper with high quality.

C. What is Object?
An object is usually a person, place or thing that’s being acted upon by the subject’s
verb. The easiest way to find the object in a simple sentence is to look for the noun or
pronoun that follows the verb. While every sentence needs a subject and a verb,
sometimes a sentence doesn’t necessarily need an object. Unlike subjects, objects are
generally split into two broad groups (Direct Object and Indirect Object).

Examples:
➢ Costs for mining rehabilitation of these sites can equal financial gains.
➢ The name of the river reflects the characteristic red colour caused by iron.
➢ This discussion will examine the relationship between mining and the environment.

What is Direct Object?

A direct object is, as the name implies, a thing that the action of the sentence is
directly acting upon (or direct object is the noun that receives the action of the verb).
In most cases, they’ll appear right after the verb (except in the passive voice). Direct
objects answer questions like “what” or “who.”

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 39

 Examples:
➢ The lecturers gave students a complicated mining project to be finished in one
week.
➢ The young mining engineer promised himself being a reliable employee.
➢ When you show anybody your confidence, you will win his trust a lot.

What is Indirect Object?

Another kind of noun or pronoun that might come after the verb is an indirect object.
These are the nouns that are the beneficiaries of the action, but the verb is not acting
directly on them. Often — but not always — they follow a preposition like “to” or “for.”
Indirect objects answer things like “to what?” or “for whom?”

Examples:
➢ The lecturers gave students a complicated mining project to be finished in one
week.
➢ The young mining engineer promised himself being a reliable employee.
➢ When you show anybody your confidence, you will win his trust a lot.

D. What is Complement?
Complement is a word or group of words that is necessary to complete the meaning
of another part of the sentence. It acts like modifiers to enhance additional meaning
to the word or words it’s attached to. In point of fact, complement is categorized into
four types, they are Subject Complement, Object Complement, Adjective
Complement, and Adverbial Complement. Complements, even those that complete the
meaning of the subject, are always part of the predicate.

Examples:
➢ Recycling is the most common way of extending the life-cycle of minerals.
➢ Developed countries have focused on the downstream use of minerals.
➢ Iron ore mined in Western Australia may be converted to steel in Korea using coal
mined in Indonesia.

What is Subject Complement?

A subject complement is the information that follows a linking verb to describe,
identify, or rename the subject of the clause. Whereas most verbs describe the action
a subject performs, linking verbs describe something about the subject, which is
completed by the subject complement.

Examples:
➢ Michael is a mining engineering student.
➢ John’s particular interest is the management of mine wastes in the mountainous
wet tropics.
➢ Water, essential to life, is the most controlling resource on our planet, not minerals
or oil.

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 40

 What is Object Complement?
An object complement is a word or group of words that describes, renames, or
completes the direct object of the verb. It can be a noun or noun phrase; an adjective
or adjective phrase; a relative clause (also known as an adjective clause); an infinitive
or infinitive phrase; or a participle or participle phrase.

Examples:
➢ The mining board appointed him superintendent in this year.
➢ All the mining company owner wanted was to make his employees enjoy working.
➢ The junior mining engineer decided to finish his working shift bright smile.
➢ The field manager deemed his new subordinates worthy of his attention.
➢ The financial supervisory agency judges the mining company treasurer not guilty.

What is Adjective Complement?

An adjective complement is a phrase or clause that provides information necessary to
complete an adjective or adjective phrase’s meaning. Adjective complements can be
prepositional phrases, infinitive phrases, or noun clauses.

Examples:
➢ The project manager is pleased with your progress in finishing the mine plan
design.
➢ The crowd of conventional miners seemed impatient to begin alluvial gold mining.
➢ The mining workers thrilled that the general manager is coming to visit to mining
area right away!
➢ The drilling and blasting manager somewhat unsure whether this is the right
decision.
➢ The senior mining engineers seem a little concerned about the direction the
juniors are taking.

What is Adverbial Complement?

Adverbial complement is adverb or other adverbial element in a clause that is required
to complete the meaning of the verb. It modifies the meaning of the verb by providing
additional information. However, adverbial complements may not be removed because
by removing them would cause the sentence to be incomplete or fundamentally altered
in its meaning. Adverbial complements always appear after the verb they complement.
If the verb is intransitive, the complement will appear directly after the verb; if the
verb is transitive, the complement will appear after the verb’s direct object. Then, the
best way to identify whether an adverbial element is a complement or not is to remove
it from the sentence. If the sentence no longer makes sense or has a very different
meaning, then the adverbial element is a complement.

Examples:
➢ Dr Thomson’s focus is on the social, economic and environmental performance of
mining.
➢ The only way to test for the possibility of a concealed mineral deposit is to gather
data from beneath the surface.

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 41

 ➢ Mining is seldom permitted in built-on land or other areas with sensitive land
cover such as protected forest, mangrove, or wetlands.

III. The Types of Sentence Constructions

This section shows several types of sentence constructions and their variations. Each
sentence construction pattern will be taken up to construct several sentences by utilising
mining terminologies in mining context of sentences.

A. Simple Sentence Constructions

1. S + P
Examples:
➢ Because of earthquake, the rocks + fall.
S P
➢ The mightiest mining machineries + are broken.
S P
➢ In the past, his mining company + was victorious.
S P
➢ Due to car accident, the mine field supervisor + was retired early.
S P

2. S + P + O
Examples:
➢ Early mining + employed + simple tools such as picks, shovels, and pans.
S P O
➢ Mining technologies + have affected + two main changes in mining operations.
S P O
➢ Today’s mining operations + require + whole mining towns with infrastructure.
S P O

3. S + P + C
Examples:
➢ Heavy minerals + can float + while light with floatation use.
S P C

➢ Diesel generators + are often installed close + to the mine.

S P C
➢ Crushed ore + is commonly ground + into fine particles in ball mills or rod mills.
S P C
➢ Thickening of tailings + is + a common step prior to pumping the thickened
slurry
S P C
to the tailings pond.

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 42

 4. S + P + O + C
Examples:
➢ Unique mining terms and expressions + impose + unexpected challenges +
S P O
in working on mining projects in countries with a relatively young mining history.
C
➢ Development of a new mining operation + requires + many years of effort and
S P O
substantial expenditure + before there is a financial return to investors.
C
➢ Most mining laws + exclude + certain classes of minerals, such as gravel, salt,
S P O
or uranium, + from their application.
C

B. Sentence Constructions with C.C / Coordinating Conjunction

(C.C = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

1. S + P + C.C + S + P
Examples:
➢ The mightiest mining machineries + are broken + and + they + are finally
S P C.C S
finished.
P
➢ The negative impact of the mines on societies + should be handled + and +
S P C.C
the environment + should be managed well.
S P

2. S + P + O + C.C + S + P + O
Example:
➢ The exploration engineer + didn’t find + mineral deposits, + but + he + found
S P O C.C S P
+ coal beds.
O

3. S + P + C + C.C + S + P + C
Example:
➢ The HSMS + must be developed + in consultation with workers at the site,
+
S P C
and + it + must be easily understood and made available + to all workers.
C.C S P C

4. S + P + O + C + C.C + S + P + O + C
Example:
➢ The HSE Act + covers + all workplaces + at any time + and + employers +
S P O C C.C S
should take + all practicable steps + to ensure the health and safety of
P O C
employee while at work.
LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 43
 C. Sentence Constructions with S.C / Subordinating Conjunction
(S.C = because, although, while, during, if, since, moreover, then, etc.)

1. S + P + S.C + S + P
Example:
➢ The mine field supervisor + was retired early + because + he + was injured.
S P S.C S P

2. S + P + O + S.C + S + P+ O
Example:
➢ The pillars of coal + generally represented + the type of strata layers +
S P O
whereas + the layout of mine working + could represent + a hazard to
S.C S P O
surface development.
3. S + P + C + S.C + S + P + C
Example:
➢ Mines + are + local phenomena, + although + they + may impact +
S P C S.C S P
beyond mining boundaries.
C

4. S + P + O + C + S.C + S + P + O + C
Example:
➢ Many aspects of mining + have + the potential + to cause damage to land
S P O C
and property, + thereby + they + represent + a direct financial loss +
S.C S P O
to those affected.
C

D. Sentence Constructions with R.P Clause

(R.P / Relative Pronouns = who, whom, whose, what, that, which, when, where)

1. a. S + R.P Clause + P
Example:
➢ Land + that has become derelict by past mining activity + can be reclaimed.
S R.P Clause P

b. S + P + R.P Clause
Example:
➢ The most significant impact + occurs + where the excavation intersects
S P R.P Clause
with the skyline.

2. a. S + R.P Clause + P + O
Example:
➢ Demolition + which considers the cost of controlled explosion & excavation
S R.P Clause
LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 44
 services + will influence + the costs of care and maintenance of mine
closure.
P O

b. S + P + R.P Clause + O
Example:
➢ The fundamental objectives of a mining risk assessment and management
+
S
are the need to prove + that the risk makes + a factual contribution to the
P R.P Clause O
validity of a mining value.

c. S + P + O + R.P Clause
Examples:
➢ The mine closure design + should identify + actual and potential problems
S P O
+ that affect pre-closure, closure and post-closure.
R.P Clause
3. a. S + R.P Clause + P + C
Example:
➢ Open-pits, + when they fill with water, + can be used + as marinas, for
S R.P Clause P C
fishing or as wildlife reserves.

b. S + P + R.P Clause + C
Example:
➢ A risk assessment + involves considering + what could happen + if someone
S P R.P Clause
is exposed to a hazard and the likelihood of it happening.
C

c. S + P + C + R.P Clause
Example:
➢ Mining ultimately + contributes + to a better life for the 6 billion people +
S P C
who depend on the raw materials it produces.
R.P Clause

4. a. S + R.P Clause + P + O + C
Example:
➢ Some mining hazards + that have exposure standards, such as noise and
S R.P Clause
airborne contaminants, + may need + scientific testing or measurement +
P O
by a competent person.
C

b. S + P + R.P Clause + O + C
Example:
LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 45
 ➢ The final product of geological mapping + is a map + which accurately
S P R.P Clause
documents + rock types, alteration mineralogy, and structural data +
O
such as faults, folds, and stress patterns.
C

c. S + P + O + R.P Clause + C
Example:
➢ Mining + can pose + a direct hazard to humans, + which only infrequently
S P O R.P Clause
lead to death or serious injury + for mining employees.
C

d. S + P + O + C + R.P Clause
Example:
➢ Many countries + have considered + the use of abandoned mines +
S P O

for the long-term disposal of radioactive waste materials + which have

C R.P Clause

approximately 25 000 m3 of such low and intermediate level waste.

Those are some types of sentence constructions applied in composing sentences with
mining terms. The variations of sentence constructions are flexible, it means that the
author may make their owns sentence construction variations according to his needs in
delivering his thought, idea, message, meanings or information to his readers.

EXERCISES

A. Compose some sentences by using the expressions below.

1. open-pits as subject of sentence
2. reclamation as object of sentence
3. feasibility study as subject-complement
4. gold nugget as object-complement
5. excavate as predicate

B. The following sentences are out of orders, compose or construct them correctly and
properly.
1. the taking - involves - one kilogram - generally of less than - rock sampling - of small
hand-sized samples
2. from the mine - and their families - often new mine towns - are set up - for the mine
workers - at a convenient distance - with several hundred units
3. as a result of the pillars - squeezes or crushes - into either - in a coal mine - being
punched - the roof or floor beds - sometimes occur
LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 46
 4. of waste rock- is far more challenging - of tailings - safe and environmentally
acceptable disposal - than the disposal
5. the general mineral cycle in that, - coal is burnt - the coal cycle - following mining, -
or converted - into other fuels - differs from

C. Determine the type of Sentence Construction based on the correct patterns.

1. Spent ore consists of the material remaining in either dump or heap leach piles when
leaching ceases.
2. The ores that we exploit are all located in the upper part of the Earth’s crust – the
lithosphere.
3. Even in large-scale mining, the affected land area is usually very small compared to
the total area of the host region affected by human activities.
4. An understanding of mining in general and of the proposed mining project in particular,
is beneficial and in fact necessary in the design of field surveys.
5. Rehabilitation of tailings facilities and development of an economic land use after
mining are, in many situations, difficult to achieve.

REFERENCES

A. Ansell, Mary. 2000. Free English Grammar. E-Book: www.seyfihoca.com

B. Azar, Betty. 2002. Understanding and Using English Grammar. New York: Pearson
Education.

C. Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. 2007. A Student’s Introduction to English

Grammar. UK: Cambridge University Press.

D. Berry, Roger. 2012. English Grammar: A Resource Book for Students. New York:
Routledge.
E. Eastwood, John. 2008. Oxford Learner’s Grammar. UK: Oxford University Press.

F. Hartman, Howard. L. 2011. SME Mining Engineering Handbook 3rd Edition. Colorado:
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.

G. Mas’ud, Fuad. 2005. Essential of English Grammar: A Practical Guide. Edition 3.

Yogyakarta: BPFE.

H. Olivia, Maria Belen. 2018. English Grammar Basic. UNC: Falcutad de Lenguas.

THANK YOU

COURAGE IS FACING YOUR FEARS. STUPIDITY IS FEARING NOTHING.

LESTA-English Subjects and Exercises for Mining Engineering 47