What is a sentence?: Difference between revisions

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A sentence is the basic unit of writing and expression. It contains at least a subject and a predicate and is grammatically complete and independent.  
"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 Rules==
===Structure===
To make a sentence:
 
*There must be a subject.
*Simple sentence: A Simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses ( Hacker 464).
**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).
*Compound sentence: A compuond 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 subject is a person, place, or thing “that either performs an action or is described” (Glenn 292).
 
*There must be a predicate.
*Complex sentence: A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause with one or more subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).
*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.
*Compound-complex sentence:A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause (Hacker 464).
 
===Purpose===
 
*Declaritive sentences make statments (Hacker 465).
*Imperative sentences issue requests or commands (hacker 465).
*Interrogative sentences ask questions (Hacker 465).
*Exclamatory sentences make exclamations (Hacker 465).
 
==How to make a sentence==
 
*A sentence should have a subject and a verb.
*The first word should always be a capital letter.
*Sentence must end with a period, question mark or an exclamation point.
*Sentence must be a complete thought.  


==Usage==
==Usage==
The four functions of sentences are demonstrated by the following:
===Subject and verb===
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).


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


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


A simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).
*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).
: The hamster rolls around in its toy ball.
:The pool part was great!
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.
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.
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==
===Complete thought===
*[http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/sentence.html UsingEnglish.com]
A group of words must be capable of standing on its own to be considered a sentence.
*[http://www.geocities.com/gene_moutoux/diagrams.htm Diagramming Sentences]
:She is going
*[http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/sentence.htm Sentence Elements]
:She is going to work at four.


==Works Cited==
==Works Cited==
*Glenn, Cheryl et al. ''The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook.'' 2nd ed. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
*Darling, Roger How to use punctuation. 22 Mar 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
*Faigsley, Lester. ''The Brief Penguin Handbook.'' Pearson Education, Inc., 2003.
<http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html>.
*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.
*Peck, Frances Subject and Predicate. 1994. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
<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>.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'''What is a sentence'''
 
The basic unit in writing is the sentence. Sentences should include a main verb,a subject,and a predicate which says something about the verb.
 
Many people think that a sentence simply begins with a capital
letter and ends in a question mark or period.  This is not a fact.  There are at least four major patterns that function in a sentence; declaratives,interrogatives,imperatives and exclamations.  Declaratives being sentences that make statements.  Interrogatives are questions.  Imperatives usually demand some form of action. Exclamations express strong emotion. Typically the subject in a sentence announces what the sentence is about. The predicate conveys an action of the subject.  A imperative usually implies what the subject is.  A imperative is an exception to the rule. Sentences are clasified according to function.
 
A sentence can be either positive or negative in function.  A single independent clause constitutes a sentence.  Noting the number and kinds of clauses can identify a sentence.  Understanding types of clauses helps you identify sentences.  A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause such as "I am not very good at writing essays."  Two independent clauses with no dependent clause represents a compound sentence.  "The girl ran very fast.  Her classmates were gaining on her as she ran. Oh boy."  May be an example of a compound sentence.  Complex sentences have one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. " She ran very fast down the lane.  Give it to her."  Is an complex sentence.  Two independent clauses and one dependent clause along with one dependent clause represent a compound-complex sentence such as:  The rain fell heavily most of today.  The weatherman predicted partly cloudy mostly sunny today.  He was wrong.  It takes practice to learn good writing habits.
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