What is a sentence?: Difference between revisions

What is a sentence? (view source)

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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==
-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==
-*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.