SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Rule 1:
Every sentence must have a subject and verb

Rule 2:
Phrase is a group of words that has special function and form
Independent clause can be considered as a sentence whereas dependent clause cannot stand as a
sentence even it has subject and verb

Complete sentence consists of:

Rule 3:

Subject*
The subject is usually a noun or noun phrase. Subject is always located in the independent
clause even if the sentence begins with a dependent clause.

Example
Incorrect : Without a doubt, is very important to study throughout the term rather than trying to
cram at the end.
Correct : Without a doubt, it is very importat to study throughout the term rather than trying
to cram at the end.

Rule 4:

Kinds of Subject* (Object)

Noun : Students study how languages are created.
Noun phrase : Tall buildings must provide safety mechanisms.
Gerund : Making a good essay is not an easy task.
To infinitive : To believe in your self is very important.
Inversion of Adverb : There is a car. (The subject is actually a car)
Rule 5:

Verbs*
There are certain verbs that cannot stand alone in active sentence
1. A form of be (present participle)
It must be: be + verb + ing
The bat is flying towards the light
2. A form of have (past participle)
It must be: have + verb + ed
She has completed the project.
3. A modal
It must be: modal + verb base
The team must practice more.

Rule 6:

Complements*
Complement completes the verb. Complement consists of noun or noun phrase, to-infinitive or
gerund.
Transitive verb : verb that requires direct object
The group is trying to determine the best course of action.
Complement
Intransitive verb: verb that doesn’t require direct object
The girl cries in the bedroom.
No complement

*in the bedroom is a place modifier, not a complement.

Example:
Noun as complement
Noun phrase as complement
to-infinitive as complement
gerund as complement
: They will probably consider Atlanta as the location for next year’s
meeting.
: The bookstore sells the newest book of the year.
: They plan to call another meeting.
: They will probably consider calling another meting.

Rule 7:

Modifiers*
1. In a sentence, modifier of place is placed first before modifier of time, unless modifier of
time appears at the beginning of a sentence.
Donna took the test in Orlando yesterday.
mod.of place mod.of time
Yesterday, Donna took the test in Orlando.
mod.of time mod.of place
2. Modifier can appear between auxiliary and main verb.
The boy will probably go to class today.
mod
 3. Modifier cannot separate verb from its complement.

Incorrect : Majorie cooked on the grill the chicken.

verb mod compl
Correct : Majorie cooked the chicken on the grill.
verb compl mod

Exercises
11. Guitarlike instruments have exist since ancient times, but the first written mention
A B C
of the guitar the guitar itself is from the fourteenth century.
D
12. Photograph was revolutionized in 1851 by the introduction of the collodion process
A B C
for making glass negatives.
D
13. For an advertisement to be effective, its production and placement must to be based
A B C
on a knowledge of human nature and a skilled use of the media.
D
14. The role of the ear is accoustic disturbances into neural signals suitable for
transmission to the brain.
a. to code
b. so that coded
 c. coded
d. it coding
15. a necessary dimension for measuring atsronomical space and the distance of
heavenly bodies from the earth.
a. Once in time
b. Time is
c. The time
d. It is time
16. The wind-rippled sand at California’s Kelso Dunes resembles .
a. to be an ocean floor
b. as an ocean floor
c. an ocean floor
d. being an ocean floor
17. Those interested in covered bridges can find six of they between Keene and
A B C D
Winchester, New Hampshire.
18. Early movies had appeal immediate and became a means to present contemporary
A B C
attitudes, fashions, and events.
D
19. have a very keen sense of hearing, although most do not hear sounds audible
to the human ear.
a. While some insects do
b. Some insects which
c. Some insects
d. That some insects
20. By the end of the nineteenth century, organic chemistry had develop new methods
A B C
for the synthesis of dyes, perfumes, explosives, and medicines.
D
21. Georgia O’Keeffe is known for hers use of organic, abstract forms painted in clear,
A B C
strong colors.
D
22. Independence political of newspaper became a common feature of journalism in the
A B C D
United States of the 1840’s and 1850’s.
23. Until the George Washington Bridge was built, modern suspension bridges were
A B
stiffened with steel trusses and beams to limited their motion in traffic and wind.
C D
24. Most female lizards lay eggs, but the females of a number of lizard species bear her
A B C D
young alive.
25. is present in the body in greater amounts than any other mineral.
a. Calcium
b. There is calcium
c. Calcium, which
d. It is calcium
26. Like bacteria, protozoans by splitting in two.
a. reproducing
b. reproduce
c. to reproduce
d. reproduction
27. main processes involved in virtually all manufacturing: extraction,
assembly and alteration.
a. There are three
b. Three
c. The three
d. Three of the
28. Salamanders are sometimes confused with lizard, but unlike lizard, no scales
or claws.
a. that they have
b. to have
c. they have
d. are aving
29. Physicists have known since the early nineteenth century that all matter is made up
A B C
 of tiny extremely particles called toms.
D
31. Except for certain microorganisms, need oxygen to survive.
a. of all living things
b. all living things
c. all are living things
d. are all living things
32. The symptoms of pneumonia, a lung infection, include high fever, chest pain,
A B C
breathing difficult, and coughing.
D
33. The thirteen stripes of the U.S flag represent the original thirteen states of the Union,
A B C
which they all were once colonies of Britain.
D
34. Gravitation keeps the Moon in orbit around Earth and the planets other of the solar
A B C
system in orbit around the Sun.
D
35. The carbon-are lamp, a very bright electric lamp used for spotlights, consists of
A B
two carbon electrodes with a high-current are passing between it.
C D