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Grammar. Lesson One Sentence Types

This document provides an overview of sentence structure and types. It defines clauses and phrases, and explains that clauses contain subjects and verbs while phrases do not. There are four main types of sentences: simple sentences containing one clause; compound sentences with two or more independent clauses; complex sentences with one independent and one dependent clause; and compound-complex sentences with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. The document aims to help students understand sentence composition and use different sentence structures in writing.

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103 views

Grammar. Lesson One Sentence Types

This document provides an overview of sentence structure and types. It defines clauses and phrases, and explains that clauses contain subjects and verbs while phrases do not. There are four main types of sentences: simple sentences containing one clause; compound sentences with two or more independent clauses; complex sentences with one independent and one dependent clause; and compound-complex sentences with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. The document aims to help students understand sentence composition and use different sentence structures in writing.

Uploaded by

bio-nette
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ali Lounici Blida -2- University Faculty of Arts and Languages

English Department Presented by: Ms. ALLAMI


Second Year LMD Groups: 01, 05 and 06.
Module: Grammar

Lesson 01 Sentences

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to be capable of:
 understanding the basic structure of a sentence,
 recognizing the difference between clauses and phrases,
 identifying the different types of sentences,
 using different sentence parts and types in writing paragraphs

1.What is a Sentence?

This is a sentence.

Subject Predicate

A sentence is a set of words that expresses a complete thought. It typically contains


a subject (what the sentence is about, or the topic of the sentence), and a predicate
(what is said about the subject). For example:
Khadidja and Romaissa plant flowers and vegetables in the garden.

Subject Predicate

1. Sentence Parts
All of our writing is made up of sentences. Every sentence must contain a subject
and a verb and express a complete thought. Of course, sentences consist of clauses and
phrases.

2.1. Clauses Vs Phrases


Every sentence is constructed of clauses and/or phrases. Both clauses and
phrases are both groups of two or more words that convey ideas, but they both serve
different roles. 
The distinction between a clause and a phrase is clearer in the example below:
E.g. He is waiting at the door.
He is waiting at the door. He is waiting.
This is a clause: It has a subject ("he")
and a verb ("waiting").
At the door.
This is a phrase: there is no subject and
no verb.

The first part of the above sentence ‘He is waiting’ is a clause because it has both
the subject and the verb. On the other hand, the remaining part of the sentence ‘at the
door’ is a phrase because it lacks the subject and the verb.
2.1.1. Clauses
Clauses are the main parts of a sentence, which contain subjects and verbs.
Clauses are mainly of two types: independent or dependent clauses.
E.g. He laughed.
E.g. The guests arrived.

2.1.1.1. Independent clauses (IC)


An independent clause also called the main clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought: it can stand alone
as a complete sentence. Every sentence contains at least one independent clause.
E.g. Renovating my house is exciting.
IC
E.g. The professor always comes to class fully prepared.
IC

E.g. I enjoy sitting by the fireplace and reading.


IC
2.1.1.2. Dependent clauses (DC)
Dependent clauses also called subordinate clauses contain a subject and a verb,
but they do not express a complete thought: it cannot stand alone as a complete
sentence because it does not make sense, but supports an independent clause. They
often begin with a subordinate conjunction to complete meaning.
Note:
When a sentence begins with a dependent clause followed by an independent
clause, a comma (,) should be used to separate the two clauses. If it begins with the
independent clause, no comma is needed.

E.g. Even if you don’t like him, you can still be polite.
DC
E.g. I went to the store, but I forgot to bring my shopping list.
DC

E.g. Today is Wednesday, and the test is on Sunday.


DC
E.g. He failed his driving exam because he panicked.
DC
2.2.1. Phrases
A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain a subject and a verb, and
it adds information to the sentence. Phrases include some details that make a sentence
more interesting.
E.g. On a table.
E.g. At the door.
E.g. Under the tree.

2.2.1.1. Types of Phrases


A phrase can be written as a noun, a verb, an adverb, an adjective, or a preposition
in a sentence. The function of a phrase is based entirely on its structure. There are five
common types of phrases in English.

a- Noun phrases (NP) : It refers to a phrase that is built upon a noun ( subject, or
object), which functions as the headword of the phrase. A headword is the most
important word in the sentence and it cannot be omitted.
E.g. The youngest candidate won the presidential elections.
Or. The candidate won the elections.
b- Verbal phrases (VP) : It refers to a phrase that is composed of at least one
finite verb, which functions as the head word of the phrase.
E.g. They really loved your school outfit.
c- Prepositional phrases (PP): (a preposition and its object):
E.g. Tell me whose poem is on the desk?
E.g. Let me go to the room.
E.g. The teacher looked at the students
d- Adjective Phrases (AP): a phrase that acts like an adjective in a sentence:
E.g. A lady with long hair is walking in the garden.
E.g. She bought a beautiful pink dress.
E.g. He was extremely happy.
e- Adverb phrase (AdvP): a phrase that acts like an adverb in a sentence:
E.g. He drives a car at a very high speed.
E.g. She always speaks in a respectful way.
E.g. My father was running very fast.
Clauses/ Phrases Subject Predicate
Clauses  
Phrases
3- Sentence types:
A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences. It is vital to be aware
of the various types of sentences because it makes writing more effective. There are
four types of sentences: simple (S), compound (CD), complex (CX), and compound-
complex (CDCX).
3.1. Simple sentences (S)
The simple sentence has only one main clause: the independent clause. It
contains a collection of words that communicate a complete thought (a verb and its
subject, and a predicate).
E.g. the train was late.
E.g. Remodeling my house can be tyring.
E.g. The baby cried for food.
3.2. Compound sentences (CD)
Compound sentences are basically two or more independent clauses connected or
joined together by:
 Coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (FAN BOYS).
 A comma (,)
 Semicolons (;)
Coordinating Conjunctions Use Examples
(FAN BOYS)
For To explain the reason. He is mad, for the marks.
And To link similar Ideas. I sent you an email, and you
read it.
Nor To link similar, The problem is, you neither
asked nor listened.
negative clauses.

But To link opposed ideas. I am tired, but I should go.


Or To link different Do you have any brothers or
options. sisters ?
Yet To link opposed ideas. I hate shopping, yet here I am
at the store again
So To express the results. I was sick, so I went to the
doctor.

3.3. Complex sentences (CX)


Unlike simple and compound sentences, complex sentences are composed of an
independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
E.g. I was having sleeping problems because of a dripping noise was coming from
IC DC
my air-conditioner. Dependent Clausses
Independent
E.g. I don’t like stories that have unhappy endings. Clauses
E.g. I love to travel because I get to meet a lot of interesting people.
E.g. Let me know if you need any help.
E.g. Even though the exam was quite difficult, all the students passed.
E.g.You cannot go out and play until you have finished your homework.
NOTE: In complex sentences you can put the clauses in any order. The dependent
clause can go at the end of the sentence or it can go first.
E.g. I took my umbrella because it was raining.
DC IC
Or: Because it was raining, I took my umbrella.
IC DC

Some linking words used in complex sentences: Although, even


though, even if, despite that, since, because, for this reason, as long
as, so long as, before, after, when, if, while, as soon as, once, until,
if, in order that, whereas, etc.

3.4. Compound-Complex (CDCX) sentences


It is a combination of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent
clauses. It is highly significant to punctuate (CDCX) correctly because they are long
sentences compared to others.
E.g. Jim was completely rebellious when he was a student, so he got very bad grades.
ID DC ID
E.g. You need to communicate and to listen to native speakers so that you can speak
ID ID DC
fluently.
4.Summary
Sentence Types Independent clauses (IC) Dependent clauses (DC)
Simple sentences (S) Only One None
Compound sentences (CD) Two or more None
Complex sentences (Cx) Only One One or more
Compound-Complex Two or more One or more
sentences (CDCX)

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