UFS 211 - ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Simple Sentence

1. Some student like to study in the morning.

2. Adam and Alex play football every afternoon.

Compound Sentence

1. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.

2. Alif played football, so Alia went shopping.

Complex Sentence

1. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the lecturer the last page.

2. The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.

Compound-complex Sentence

1. I usually use a pick whenever i play the guitar or i just use my fingers.

2. Mariam forgot her friend's birthday, so she sent her a card when she finally             remembered.   

NOTE(2) 


SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Sentence

• A group words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. 
• A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.
• Components of a sentence:
  • Subject
  • Predicate
  • Object

Sentence Structure

• Simple Sentence
• Compound  Sentence
• Complex  Sentence
• Compound-Complex  Sentence

Examples of sentences:

1. He is a student.
2. It is a hot today.
3. He looks tired.
4. Are you hungry?
5. Who's there?
6. Hurry!
7. The man bought a new car.
8. Does your sister live with you?
9. Where did you buy hat?
10. Don't be late.

Examples of Non sentences:

1. Is very athletic.
2. The baby sleepy.
3. The man bought.
4. When I finish my education.

Simple Sentence

• Sentence that has one subject-verb pair.
• The subject tells who or what did something. It is a noun or pronoun.

Examples:

1. The taxi hit the child. (What hit the child? -the taxi)
2. Soccer and tennis are my favorite sports? (What are my favorites? -soccer and tennis)
3. My roommate lost his keys. (Who lost his keys? -my roommate) 

Predicate:

• Describe what the subject is or does.
• Example:
  • She added.
  • She added methanol to the solution. 

Object:

• The object receives the action verb. It is a noun or pronoun.
• To find an object, make a question by putting what after an action verb. (Note: This method for finding objects doesn't work with linking verbs because linking verbs do not have objects.
• The taxi hit the child. (Hit what? -the child. The child is the an object)
• My roommate lost his keys. (Lost what? -his keys. His keys is an object)
• His girlfriend found them. (Found what? -them. Them is an object)
• Not all sentences have objects:
• My family lives in a two- bedroom apartment. (Lives what? -not possible. This sentence has no object)
• The sun is shining today. (Is shining what? -not possible. This sentence has no object
• The fish didn’t smell fresh. (Didn’t smell what?  -not possible.
• This sentence has no object.

Linking Verbs:

• Link the subject with the rest of the sentence.
• Linking verbs do not have objects.
• The most common linking verbs are be, become, look, feel, seem, smell, sound, and taste.

Compound Sentence

• A compound sentence is two simple sentences connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
• This is the basic formula for a compound sentence:
• Simple sentence + COORDINATING CONJUNCTION + simple sentence
• Here are 2 important points to know about compound sentences:
• A comma and a coordinating conjunction connect the two halves of a compound sentence.
• There are 7 coordinating conjunctions in English: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so – “fan boys”.

• Coordinating Conjunction: and, but, or, so.

• And- Connects 2 sentences with similar ideas. The sentences can be positive or negative.
• She doesn’t like rock music, and he doesn’t like art.
• But - Connects 2 sentences with contrasting or opposite ideas.
• She likes country music, but he hates it.
• Or- Connects 2 sentences that express alternatives or choices.
• He doesn’t like art or classical music.
• So - Connects a reason and a result.
• He works a lot, so they don’t go out very often.

Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence has one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clauses.
• When the dependent clause begins with an adverb subordinator, the clauses can usually be in any order.
• If the independent clause is first, we don’t use a comma
• If the dependent clause is first, put a comma after it.
• Ex:
  • We ran for shelter as soon as it started to rain.
  • As soon as it stated to rain, we ran for shelter.
• Independent clause:
  • An independent clause has 1 SV pair and expresses a complete thought.
  • Independent clause is just another name for a simple sentence.
• Dependent clause:
  • A dependent clause does not express a complete thought, so it is not a sentence by itself.
  • It is only half of a sentence.
  • Together, the two clauses express a complete thought.
  • It must be joined to an independent clause.

Compound-complex Sentence

• Usually the first sentence
• Carries the main idea of a paragraph
• Tells what the paragraph is about
• It introduces the topic
• Will then be supported by several sentences with supporting details
• Examples:  elaborations, explanations, examples, descriptions
• It contains an idea or opinion about the topic
• The idea is called a controlling idea about the topic