Index
Sentences...........................................................................................................................3
Types of Sentences by Structure........................................................................................3
Types of Sentences............................................................................................................4
Independent and Dependent Clauses..................................................................................4
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................6
References.........................................................................................................................7
Introduction
Sentences are the building blocks of any language. They help us communicate our
thoughts, ideas, and feelings clearly. In English, a sentence must have a subject and a
verb, and it must express a complete thought.
Sentences
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete idea. In English, every
sentence must follow a certain structure to be grammatically correct.
1. Basic Sentence Structure
The most common structure in English is:
Subject + Verb + Object (SVO)
Subject – who or what the sentence is about
Verb – the action or state
Object – who or what receives the action
Example:
John (subject) eats (verb) an apple (object).
2. Variations of Sentence Structure
Here are some common sentence patterns:
SV (Subject + Verb):
Birds fly.
SVO (Subject + Verb + Object):
She likes music.
SVC (Subject + Verb + Complement):
He is a doctor.
SVA (Subject + Verb + Adverbial):
They live in Brazil.
SVIO (Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object):
She gave me a gift.
3. Clauses in Sentences
Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a sentence.
I like pizza.
Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone; it depends on the main clause.
Because I was hungry...
Example (complex sentence):
I ate dinner because I was hungry.
Types of Sentences by Structure
Simple Sentence: One independent clause.
I play soccer.
Compound Sentence: Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
I play soccer, and my brother plays tennis.
Complex Sentence: One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
I play soccer because it is fun.
Compound-Complex Sentence: Two or more independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause.
I play soccer because it is fun, and my sister watches me.
Types of Sentences
There are four main types of sentences in English:
Declarative Sentences
These sentences make a statement.
Example: The sky is blue.
Interrogative Sentences
These sentences ask a question.
Example: What time is it?
Imperative Sentences
These sentences give a command or request.
Example: Please close the door.
Exclamatory Sentences
These sentences express strong emotion.
Example: Wow! That was amazing!
Parts of a Sentence
Every sentence has two main parts:
Subject: Who or what the sentence is about.
Predicate: What the subject does or is.
Example:
She (subject) is reading a book (predicate).
Independent and Dependent Clauses
1. What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two main
types:
2. Independent Clause
An independent clause expresses a complete thought.
It can stand alone as a full sentence.
Example:
She is studying English.
(This sentence has a subject "she" and a verb "is studying" – and it makes sense by
itself.)
3. Dependent Clause
A dependent clause does not express a complete thought.
It cannot stand alone as a full sentence.
It needs an independent clause to be complete.
Example:
Because she is studying English...
(This sentence feels incomplete – it leaves us wondering what happens next.)
4. Combining Clauses
You can join a dependent clause with an independent clause to form a complex
sentence:
Example:
Because she is studying English, she will pass the test.
Here:
Dependent clause: Because she is studying English
Independent clause: She will pass the test
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
Dependent clauses often begin with words like:
Because
Although
If
When
While
Since
After
Unless
Examples:
Although it was raining, we went outside.
If you study hard, you will succeed.
Conclusion
Understanding how sentences work is important for writing and speaking correctly. By
using the right type of sentence, we can communicate clearly and effectively. In
conclusion, sentences are the foundation of effective communication in the English
language. They convey complete thoughts, express emotions, and share information
clearly and meaningfully. Understanding sentence structure—such as subjects, verbs,
and objects—helps improve writing and speaking skills. Whether simple or complex,
every sentence plays an essential role in helping us connect and express ourselves in
everyday life.
References
Azar, B. S., & Hagen, S. A. (2009). Understanding and using English grammar (4th
ed.). Pearson Education.
Murphy, R. (2019). English grammar in use (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Straus, J. (2008). The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (10th ed.). Jossey-Bass
