II.

EVALUATING THE FORM

Basic Grammar Rules in English

With an understanding of the fine parts that make a study of English grammar possible, let's roll up our
sleeves and get into the rules.

A. Subjects Are Vital

The subject is the star of the sentence; it's the person, place, animal, thing, or idea that's being
described or performing the action. Not every sentence needs a subject. An example might be, "Run!"
Still, you're going to find them in much of your reading and writing.

Here are some examples:

The witness is considered to be the forgotten ones in the CJS.

B. Predicates Express Action

The predicate expresses the action the subject is taking or shares something more about the subject.

Take a look:

The witness is considered to be the forgotten ones in the CJS.

C. Sentences Need Structure

Some of the most basic and important English grammar rules relate directly to sentence structure.

These rules specify that:

- A singular subject needs a singular predicate.

- A sentence needs to express a complete thought.

Another term for a sentence is an independent clause:

- Clauses, like any sentence, have a subject and predicate too. If a group of words does not
have a subject and predicate, it's merely a phrase.

- If a clause can stand alone and make a complete thought, then it is independent and can be
considered a sentence.

- If clauses do not express a complete thought, they are called dependent clauses.

- An example of a dependent clause, which is not a sentence, is "...when I finish my work."

- A dependent clause needs an independent clause to make it whole.

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D. Multiple Parts of Speech May Be Used

As we can see, a single sentence can be filled with many different parts of speech.

But, at its core, a basic positive sentence in English will generally adhere to the following formulas:

subject + predicate
subject + verb + direct object

- Of course, not every sentence requires a direct object. "She reads," or "He ran," are two
examples of complete sentences that didn't require a direct object.

- When predicates are involved, they're providing more information about the subject. Another
example is, "The victim is a juvenile." In this case, "...is a juvenile." is providing more
information about the subject of the sentence, "victim." Predicates often work with linking
verbs.

What is Grammar?

Mean the standard rules in writing and speaking. This covers the rule on the agreement between subject
and verb, use of different parts of speech which you have learned from the previous lesson as shown
above.

III. Sentence.

A sentence- is the basic unit of language which expresses a complete thought. It does this by following
the grammatical basic rules of syntax.

For example: The victim was declared dead on arrival. A complete sentence has at least a subject
(victim) and a main verb (declared) to state (declare) a complete thought.

Four Kinds of Sentence According to Structure.

- Simple Sentences. A simple sentence contains only one independent clause.

Example. The car hit the old woman.

- Compound Sentences. A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses. ...
Ex. The car hit the old woman but the old woman miraculously survived.

- Complex Sentences. A complex sentence contains a subordinate clause and an independent

clause. ...Ex. She returned the computer after she noticed it was damaged.

- Compound-Complex Sentences. Ex. Though Mitchell prefers watching romantic films, he

rented the latest spy thriller, and he enjoyed it very much.

IV. Sentence Errors

Writers usually commit sentence errors consisting of Run-ons, Fragments, Misplaced Modifiers, Dangling
Modifiers, and Faulty Parallelism.

How to determine Sentence Errors?

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 1. Run-On Sentence

- consist of two sentences or ideas written as one without appropriate punctuations or

connecting word separating ideas.
- by comma splice (join), where two complete ideas are separated by a comma.
- by fused sentence (combined), where there is no punctuation at all between ideas.

e.g.

Comma splice (join): The altercation occurred in front of the victim’s residence; the suspect was
already drunk at that time. (Wrong punctation)

Correct: The altercation occurred in front of the victim’s residence. The suspect was allegedly drunk at
that time.

Fused (combine) sentence: The altercation occurred in front of the victim’s residence the suspect was
allegedly drunk at that time. (Without proper punctuation)

Correct: The altercation occurred in front of the victim’s residence; the suspect was allegedly drunk at
that time.

Four (4) Ways to Correct a Comma Splice and Fused Sentence

Comma splice: Two police officers were awarded yesterday, one of them was disabled.

Fused sentence: Two police officers were awarded yesterday one of them was disabled.

a. Use of coordinating conjunction

Two police officers were awarded yesterday, and one of them was disabled.

b. Use of semi-colon

Two police officers were awarded yesterday; one of them was disabled.

c. Use of subordinating conjunction

Two police officers were awarded yesterday although one of them was disabled.

d. Use of period

Two police officers were awarded yesterday. One of them was disabled.

2. Misplaced Modifier

- modifiers that are not beside or near the word they are supposed to modify

e.g.

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Wrong: This action is in compliance with the Chief, PNP’s directive to place police personnel under
restrictive custody involved in criminal complaints.

Correct: This action is in compliance with the Chief, PNP’s directive to place police personnel involved in
criminal complaints under restrictive custody.

3. Fragment

- consists of phrases or groups of words that lack either subject or verb and does express a complete
thought

e.g.

Fragment: The motive of the killing due to jealousy by the suspect.

Revised: The motive of the killing was due to jealousy by the suspect.

4. Dangling Modifier

- if the subject of the main idea is not the one that the phrase modifies

e.g.

Incorrect: To enter the police service, mental and physical preparations should be made by the
applicants.

Correct: To enter the police service, applicants should prepare mentally and physically.

5. Faulty Parallelism

- occurs when a sentence contains elements of different grammatical kind

e.g.

Non-parallel: PO3 Charlie Austria arrived in the crime scene, interviewed witnesses, and evidence was
gathered by him.

Parallel: PO3 Charlie Austria arrived in the crime scene, interviewed witnesses, and gathered evidence.

Prepared by:

Prof. Aleah F. Macasaet, RCrim, LPT, (Ph.D. CAR)

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