What is a sentence?: Difference between revisions

What is a sentence? (view source)

Revision as of 11:50, 17 July 2006

586 bytes added , 18 years ago

no edit summary

Dfraley

39

edits

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-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.
+"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.
+===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).
+*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 [[What is "subject/verb agreement"?|subject and a verb.]]
+*The first word should always be a capital letter.
+*Sentences must end with a [[What is the correct way to use punctuation?|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==
-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).
+:Sentences should have a predicate that says something about the verb.
+===Capital letter===
+A capital letter is placed at the begining of a sentence to show authority and to mark the begining.
+:We are starting class at one.
+===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).
+:What time does the store close?
-.  An imperative sentence gives instructions.
+*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).
-: ''Go make me a bowl of cereal.''
+:The pool part was great!
-.  A declarative sentence reports information or states facts.
+:What a ride!
-: ''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!''
+===Complete thought===
+A group of words must be capable of standing on its own to be considered a sentence.
+:She is going  (incomplete)
+:She is going to work at four.  (complete)
-The four types of sentences are determined by the nature and number of clauses they contain.
+===Links===
-.  A simple sentence is one [[What is an indepentdent clause?|independent clause]] with no subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).
+*[http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html "How to use punctuation"]
-: ''The hamster rolls around in its toy ball.''
-.  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.''
-.  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==
+*[http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammer/subjpred.html#subject "Subject and predicate"]
-*[http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/sentence.html UsingEnglish.com]
-*[http://www.geocities.com/gene_moutoux/diagrams.htm Diagramming Sentences]
+*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&oldid=608117917 "Sentence linguistics"]
-*[http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/sentence.htm Sentence Elements]
 ==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.
-[[Composition FAQ]]
-[[Category:Composition]]
+*Wikipedia. "Sentence Linguistics." 27 Jun 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
+<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&oldid=60811791>.