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).
"A sentence is a unit of language charecterized in most languages by the presence of a finite verb" (wikipedia). Sentences  are classified three ways: according to their structure (simple, compuond, complex, and compound-complex) and according to their purpose (declaritive, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory), and according to grammar types (transitive verb: S-TV-O, S-TV-DO-IO, and S-TV-DO-OC; intransitive verb: S-IV; linking verb: S-BV-N or Adj, S-BV-Adv, S-LV-N or Adj, S-BV-Adj-PP or NC) (Hacker 463), (Rodby 45-49).  The basic unit in writing is the sentence.


===Structure===
===Structure===


*Simple sentence: A Simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses.
*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 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.
*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.
*Complex sentence: A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause with one or more subordinate clauses (Hacker 464).


*Compound-complex sentence:     Still working
*Compound-complex sentence:A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause (Hacker 464).
'''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.
===Purpose===


Many people think that a sentence simply begins with a capital
There are four major patterns that function in a sentence.
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.
*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"!


A sentence can be either positive or negative in function. A single independent clause constitutes a sentence. Noting the number and kinds of clauses ccan 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 fastHer 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.
===Grammar===
 
There are eight basic sentence types or kernals within three verb types (transitive, intransitive, and linking).
*Transitive
**Sentence with a transitive verb and an object: "The girl sees the tree" (Rodby 45).
**Sentence with a transitive verb and a direct object and an indirect object: "The professor gives the students an assignment" (Rodby 45).
**Sentence with a transitive verb and a direct object and either a noun or an adjective as a complement: "Milly calls Jane a fool" (Rodby 46).
*Intransitive
**Sentence with an intransitive verb: "The man sleeps" (Rodby 46).
*Linking
**Sentence with a ''be'' verb and a noun or adjective: "The man is nice" (Rodby 46).
**Sentence with a ''be'' verb and an adverb of time or place or both: "The meeting is here" (Rodby 46).
**Sentence with a linking verb followed by a noun or an adjective: "The dog becomes vicious" (Rodby 46).
**Sentence with a ''be'' verb or a linking verb, an adjective, and either a prepositional phrase or a noun clause: "The dog was aware that he was cold" (Rodby 46).
==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.
 
 
==Usage==
===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?
 
*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 pool party was great!
:What a ride!
 
===Complete thought===
A group of words must be capable of standing on its own to be considered a sentence.
:She going (incomplete)
:She is going to work at four(complete)
 
===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==
*Darling, Roger. "How to use punctuation." 22 Mar 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006
<http://115170032534.webcitehome.co.uk/punctuation.html>
 
*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.
 
*Rodby, Judith. "The Uses of Grammar." 2nd ed. Anderson, South Carolina: Parlor Press, 2012.
 
*Wikipedia. "Sentence Linguistics." 27 Jun 2006. Online. 12 Jul 2006.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=sentence_%28linguistics%29&oldid=60811791>
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