https://litwiki.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Zachase 2026-05-03T15:47:54Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.43.0 https://litwiki.org/index.php?title=What_is_a_sentence%3F&diff=10242 2006-08-22T03:21:18Z

<p>Zachase: /* Complete thought */</p> <hr /> <div>&quot;A sentence is a unit of language charecterized in most languages by the presence of a finite verb&quot; (wikipedia). Sentences are classified two ways: according to their structure (simple, compuond, complex, and compound-complex) and according to their purpose (declaritive, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory) (Hacker 463). The basic unit in writing is the sentence.<br /> <br /> ===Structure===<br /> <br /> *Simple sentence: A Simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses ( Hacker 464). &quot;I am not very good a writing essays.&quot;<br /> <br /> *Compound sentence: A compound sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses with no subordinate clauses. The independent clauses are usually joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (''and'', ''but '', ''or'', ''not'', ''for'', ''so'', ''yet'') or with a semicolon (Hacker 464). &quot;The girl ran fast, though her classmates were gaining on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> *Complex sentence: A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause with one or more subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).<br /> <br /> *Compound-complex sentence:A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause (Hacker 464). <br /> <br /> ===Purpose===<br /> There are four major patterns that function in a sentence.<br /> *Declaritive sentences make statements (Hacker 465).&quot;The weather is nice today.&quot;<br /> *Imperative sentences issue requests or commands (hacker 465). &quot;Go to the store.&quot;<br /> *Interrogative sentences ask questions (Hacker 465). &quot;What time is it anyways?&quot;<br /> *Exclamatory sentences make exclamations (Hacker 465). &quot;What a fun ride&quot;!<br /> <br /> ==How to make a sentence==<br /> <br /> *A sentence should have a [[What is &quot;subject/verb agreement&quot;?|subject and a verb.]]<br /> *The first word should always be a capital letter.<br /> *Sentences must end with a [[What is the correct way to use punctuation?|period, question mark, or an exclamation point.]]<br /> *Sentences must be a complete thought.<br /> *A sentence can be either positive or negative in function.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Usage==<br /> ===Subject and verb===<br /> The subject is what or whom the sentence is about. The verb tells what the subject of the sentence does. It tells the action.<br /> :To determine the subject of a sentence, first isolate the verb and then make a question by placing who? or what? before it. The answer is the subject(Peck).<br /> :Sentences should have a predicate that says something about the verb.<br /> <br /> ===Capital letter===<br /> A capital letter is placed at the begining of a sentence to show authority and to mark the begining.<br /> :We are starting class at one.<br /> <br /> ===Punctuation===<br /> *Periods are used to mark the end of a sentence expressing a statment (Darling).<br /> :It is a nice day today.<br /> <br /> *Question marks are used at the end of a direct question or to show that something is uncertain (Darling).<br /> :What time does the store close?<br /> <br /> *Exclamation points are used after an exclamation of surprise, shock or dismay, which is generally a short sentence or phrase expressing very strong feeling (Darling).<br /> :The pool party was great!<br /> :What a ride!<br /> <br /> ===Complete thought===<br /> A group of words must be capable of standing on its own to be considered a sentence.<br /> :She going (incomplete)<br /> :She is going to work at four. (complete)<br /> <br /> ===Links===<br /> <br /> *[http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html &quot;How to use punctuation&quot;]<br /> <br /> *[http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammer/subjpred.html#subject &quot;Subject and predicate&quot;]<br /> <br /> *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&amp;oldid=608117917 &quot;Sentence linguistics&quot;]<br /> <br /> ==Works Cited==<br /> *Darling, Roger. &quot;How to use punctuation.&quot; 22 Mar 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006<br /> &lt;http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html&gt;<br /> <br /> *Peck, Frances. &quot;Subject and Predicate.&quot; 1994. Online. 12 Jul 2006.<br /> &lt;http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammer/subjpred.html#subject&gt;<br /> <br /> *Hacker, Diana. ''A Writer's Reference.'' 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.<br /> <br /> *Wikipedia. &quot;Sentence Linguistics.&quot; 27 Jun 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006.<br /> &lt;http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&amp;oldid=60811791&gt;</div>

Zachase