What is a sentence?: Difference between revisions

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"A sentence is a unit of language charecterized in most languages by the presence of a finite verb" (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.
A sentence is the basic unit of writing and expression. It contains at least a subject and a predicate. It is syntactically independent and has a subject that is expressed or, as in imperative sentences, understood and a predicate that contains at least one finite verb.
 
===Structure===
 
*Simple sentence: A Simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses ( Hacker 464). "I am not very good a writing essays."
 
*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).  "The girl ran fast, though her classmates were gaining on her."
 
*Complex sentence: A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause with one or more subordinate clauses (Hacker 464). "If the floor is wet,do not run."
 
*Compound-complex sentence:A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause (Hacker 464).
 
===Purpose===
There are four major patterns that function in a sentence.
*Declaritive sentences make statements (Hacker 465)."The weather is nice today."
*Imperative sentences issue requests or commands (hacker 465). "Go to the store."
*Interrogative sentences ask questions (Hacker 465). "What time is it anyways?"
*Exclamatory sentences make exclamations (Hacker 465).  "What a fun ride"!
 
==How to make a sentence==
 
*A sentence should have a subject and a verb.
*The first word should always be a capital letter.
*Sentences must end with a period, question mark, or an exclamation point.
*Sentences must be a complete thought.
*A sentence can be either positive or negative in function.


==The Rules==
To make a sentence:
*There must be a subject.
**The exception to this rule is a class of sentences called imperatives, in which the subject is usually implied (Faigley 369).
**English is unlike several other languages in requiring a subject for sentences. In Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, for example, speakers can say the equivalent of is raining without inserting a subject. But speakers of English must insert a dummy subject in such cases (it is raining) even though it refers to nothing (Faigley 370).
**The subject is a person, place, or thing “that either performs an action or is described” (Glenn 292).
*There must be a predicate.
**The predicate expresses the action initiated by the subject or makes a comment about the subject (Glenn 292).
*Always start with a capital letter and end with one of these punctuations: period, exclamation point, or question mark.


==Usage==
==Usage==
===Subject and verb===
The four functions of sentences are demonstrated by the following:
The subject is what or whom the sentence is about. The verb tells what the subject of the sentence does. It tells the action.
: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).
:Sentences should have a predicate that says something about the verb.


===Capital letter===
1.  An imperative sentence gives instructions.
A capital letter is placed at the begining of a sentence to show authority and to mark the begining.
: ''Go make me a bowl of cereal.''
:We are starting class at one.
2.  A declarative sentence reports information or states facts.
: ''We are out of cereal.''
3.  An interrogative sentence is a question and it elicits information or introduces topics.
: ''Would you go to the store and get some cereal?''
4.  An exclamatory sentence portrays emotions.
: ''The car is on fire!''


===Punctuation===
*Periods are used to mark the end of a sentence expressing a statment (Darling).
:It is a nice day today.


*Question marks are used at the end of a direct question or to show that something is uncertain (Darling).
The four types of sentences are determined by the nature and number of clauses they contain.
:What time does the store close?


*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).
1.  A simple sentence is one [[What is an indepentdent clause?|independent clause]] with no subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).
:The pool party was great!
: ''The hamster rolls around in its toy ball.''
:Boy! What a ride!
2.  A compound sentence consists of two or more main clauses and no subordinate clause (Aaron 167). The independent clauses are usually joined with a comma and a [[What are “coordinating conjunctions”?|coordinating conjunction]] (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) or with a [[How do you use a semicolon?|semicolon]] (Hacker 464).
: ''Yuki is a white dog, but Dixie is a black dog.''
3.  A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).
: ''When you stay up late, it is hard to stay awake all day.''
4.  A compound-complex sentence has the characteristics of both the compound sentence (two or more main clauses) and the complex sentence (at least one subordinate clause) (Aaron 168).
: ''While the crickets chirped, one owl sat on a branch, and the other owl hunted.''


===Complete thought===
==Links==
A group of words must be capable of standing on its own to be considered a sentence.
*[http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/sentence.html UsingEnglish.com]
:She is going
*[http://www.geocities.com/gene_moutoux/diagrams.htm Diagramming Sentences]
:She is going to work at four.
*[http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/sentence.htm Sentence Elements]
 
===Clauses===
Clauses come in two varieties. Noting the number and kinds of clauses can help identify a sentence.
: An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate, and can stand alone.
: A subordinate clause contains a sebject and predicate,but functions as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun; it cannot stand alone. (Hacker 464)
 
===Links===
 
*[http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html "How to use punctuation"]
 
*[http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammer/subjpred.html#subject "Subject and predicate"]
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&oldid=608117917 "Sentence linguistics"]


==Works Cited==
==Works Cited==
*Darling, Roger. "How to use punctuation." 22 Mar 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
*Glenn, Cheryl et al. ''The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook.'' 2nd ed. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
<http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html>.
*Faigsley, Lester. ''The Brief Penguin Handbook.'' Pearson Education, Inc., 2003.
 
*Aaron, Jane E. ''The Little Brown Compact Handbook.'' 5th ed. Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.
*Peck, Frances. "Subject and Predicate." 1994. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
*Hacker, Diana. ''A Writer’s Reference.'' 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.
<http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammer/subjpred.html#subject>.
 
*Hacker, Diana. ''A Writer's Reference.'' 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.


*Wikipedia. "Sentence Linguistics." 27 Jun 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
----
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&oldid=60811791>.
[[Composition FAQ]]


*Faigley,Lester.  "The Brief Penguin Handbook."  University of Texas at Austin, 2005
[[Category:Composition]]