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]]

Revision as of 13:33, 13 July 2006

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.

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

The four functions of sentences are demonstrated by the following:

1. An imperative sentence gives instructions.

Go make me a bowl of cereal.

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!


The four types of sentences are determined by the nature and number of clauses they contain.

1. A simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).

The hamster rolls around in its toy ball.

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 coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) or with a 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.

Links

Works Cited

  • Glenn, Cheryl et al. The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook. 2nd ed. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
  • Faigsley, Lester. The Brief Penguin Handbook. Pearson Education, Inc., 2003.
  • Aaron, Jane E. The Little Brown Compact Handbook. 5th ed. Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.
  • Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.

Composition FAQ

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