Basic Writing: Individual Assignment on Sentences

Part I: Identify the structure and function of the following sentences giving analysis why you
said so.

1. Students always turn their work in on time, and their parents are happy because they
work so hard. Example:
A. Structure: compound-complex sentence
B. Function: declarative sentence
C. Analysis: this is a declarative compound-complex sentence because by definition a
compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and a dependent
clause: students always turn their work in on time (ID); their parents are happy (ID);
because they work so hard (DC). It is declarative because it declares or makes
statement about the students and their parents.
2. James stayed up late because he was playing video games.
A. Structure: ____________________________________________________________
B. Function: ____________________________________________________________
C. Analysis: ____________________________________________________________
3. While searching for a light, he kicked something on the floor, and discovered it was an
empty bottle.
A. Structure: ___________________________________________________________
B. Function: ___________________________________________________________
C. Analysis: ___________________________________________________________
4. Democracy is a noble goal; however, it is vital to protect the minority from the tyranny of
the majority.
A. Structure: ___________________________________________________________
B. Function: ___________________________________________________________
C. Analysis: ___________________________________________________________
5. The football game was cancelled because of the rain.
A. Structure: ___________________________________________________________
B. Function: ____________________________________________________________
C. Analysis: ____________________________________________________________

Part II: Take a closer look at on the following sentences; first identify their errors and then
improve them by rewriting their correct versions.

6. I like writing. Because it helps me to think.

A. Type of error: _____________________________________________________
B. Your correction: __________________________________________________
7. Wanted: Man to take care of machine that does not smoke or drink.
A. Type of error: _______________________________________________________
B. Your correction: ______________________________________________________

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 8. The program uses no tax dollars, it is a private program, which follows the new direction
for space development set by the president.
A. Type of error: ________________________________________________________
B. Your correction: ______________________________________________________
9. She was not able to admit she was an alcoholic in fact she did not even think she had a
problem.
A. Type of error: _________________________________________________________
B. Your correction: _______________________________________________________
10. Many times I became so frustrated with the workload that I just want to give up,
especially during midterms or finals when the tension is at its peak.
A. Type of error: _________________________________________________________
B. Your correction: _______________________________________________________
11. Some of the marbles is lost.
A. Type of error: ________________________________________________________
B. Your correction: ______________________________________________________
12. Everybody in the whole stadium was confident that they had the winning ticket.
A. Type of error: _______________________________________________________
B. Your correction: ______________________________________________________
13. When buying a boat, a number of factors must be considered: moorage, maintenance and
storage costs.
A. Type of error: _________________________________________________________
B. Your correction: _______________________________________________________
14. you are my friend however i cannot afford to lend you any more money
A. Type of error: __________________________________________
B. Your correction: ______________________________________________________
15. The following story is written as one sentence. Rewrite the story correctly. Put a period at
the end of each complete thought. You may have to omit some of the words that loosely
connect the ideas, or you may want to use coordination and subordination. Remember to
make each new sentence begin with a capital letter.

My best friend is accident-prone if you knew her you’d know that she’s always limping, having to
write with her left hand or wearing a bandage on her head or ankle, like last week for example
she was walking down the street minding her own business when a shingle from someone’s roof
hit her on the head and she had to go to the emergency room for stitches, then this week one of
her fingers is purple because someone slammed the car door on her hand sometimes I think it
might be better if I didn’t spend too much time with her you know her bad luck might be
catching!