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Material The Sentence PDF
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Introducción ................................................................................................................... 1
Referencias .................................................................................................................. 19
Introducción
Cada texto, formal o informal, está compuesto por oraciones. Desde el contexto de
exportación, es importante conocer la estructura y los tipos de oraciones para entender
el contenido de los documentos del proceso de exportación / importación, ya que
teniendo en cuenta estos conocimientos del idioma inglés, será más fácil aplicarlos en
el momento que se requieran.
Mapa conceptual
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1. The sentence
Noun Verb
Charlie sings.
Subject Predicate
In this sentence, Charlie is the noun, but is the subject too. Sings is the verb, but
is the predicate too.
Susan is a teacher.
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Predicate
Subject
Susan is a teacher.
Susan is the person that the It indicates that she is in the “state
sentence is talking about. of being” a teacher.
That means that Susan and the teacher are the same person, and the linking
verb is “is”.
It is fairly easy to identify subjects and predicates. The subjects are usually at the
beginning of each sentence, and the predicates follow the subjects, finishing
each sentence. Some sentences, however, use a different word order.
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If you have difficulty identifying subjects and predicates in sentences which ask
questions, try rewriting the sentence as a statement of fact first.
Now, the subject is at the beginning, and the predicate follows the subject.
An action verb which has an object, either direct or indirect, is called a transitive
verb. An action verb which does not have an object is called an intransitive
verb.
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Some verbs are always transitive verbs. They must have a direct object to
answer the questions who/whom? or what? Here are some examples of
transitive/intransitive verbs.
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2. The phrases
Adjective phrases
We have seen that sometimes a group of words does the work of an adjective.
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In each of the above pairs of sentences, we have first a single word describing
the person or thing denoted by the noun, and then a group of words describing
the person or thing denoted by the same noun.
For instance, the group of words of great wealth tells us what sort of man the
vizier was. It qualifies the noun man just as an adjective does. It therefore does
the work of an adjective and is called an adjective phrase.
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The Spanish flag. The flag of Spain.
Adverb phrases
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o No such diseases were known in those days. (When?).
In each of the above pairs of sentences we have first a single word (an adverb)
modifying a verb, and then a group of words modifying a verb in the same way.
For instance, the group of words with great speed tells us how Rama ran. It
modifies the verb ran just as the adverb quickly does. It therefore does the work
of an adverb and is called an adverb phrase.
Note: an adverb phrase, like an adverb, may modify also an adjective or adverb:
as, Quinine is good for malaria.
Swiftly.
In a swift manner, or with swiftness.
Beautifully.
In a beautifully style.
Formerly.
In former times, or once upon a time.
Recently.
Just now, or at a recent date.
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Soon. Before very long, or at an early date.
Noun phrases
The word something is a noun and it is the object of the verb wants, in sentence
1. Similarly the group of words, to go home, is the object of the verb wants, in
sentence 2. Hence this group of words does the work of a noun. The group of
words, to go home, is therefore a noun phrase.
Definition: a noun phrase is a group of words that does the work of a noun.
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He loves to issue harsh orders.
Clauses
Adverb clauses
It is evident that both the groups of words in italics, in 1 and 2, do the work of an
adverb as they modify the verb rested, showing when the action was performed.
Such a group of words that forms part of a sentence, and has a subject and a
predicate of its own, is called a clause. Since the clause, when evening came,
does the work of an adverb clause.
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Adjective clauses
The first group of words, with a broken handle, describes the umbrella; that is, it
qualifies the noun umbrella, and does the work of an adjective. It is what we call
an adjective phrase. The second group of words which has a broken handle, also
describes the umbrella and so does the work of an adjective. But because it
contains a subject and a predicate of its own, it is called an adjective clause.
Noun clauses
The first group of words, to get a prize, does not contain a subject and a
predicate of its own. It is therefore a phrase. This phrase is object of the verb
expect and hence does the work of a noun. It is therefore a noun phrase. The
second group of words, that I shall get a prize, contains a subject and a predicate
of its own. It is therefore a clause. This clause is the object of the verb expect and
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so does the work of a noun. We therefore call it a noun clause, now examine the
sentence.
Here the clause, that you have come, is the subject of the verb pleases. It
therefore does the work of a noun, and is what we call a noun clause.
We see that sentence 1 has only one subject and one predicate, such a
sentence is called a simple sentence.
Definition: a simple sentence is one which has only one subject and one
predicate.
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These two parts are joined by the coordinating conjunction and. Each part
contains a subject and a predicate of its own. Each part is what we call a
clause.
We further notice that each clause makes good sense by itself, and hence
could stand by itself as a separate sentence. Each clause is therefore
independent of the other or of the same order or rank, and is called a principal
or main clause.
3. Night came on and rain fell heavily and we all got very wet.
o We all got very wet. Such a sentence is also called a compound sentence.
o They rested.
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o When evening came.
Each part contains a subject and a predicate of its own, and forms part of a
large sentence. Each part is therefore a clause. We further notice that the
clause, they rested, makes good sense by itself, and hence could stand by
itself as a complete sentence. It is therefore called the principal or main
clause.
The clause, when evening came, cannot stand by itself and make good sense.
It is dependent on the clause, they rested. It is therefore called a dependent or
subordinate clause. A sentence, such as the fourth, is called a complex
sentence.
5. As the boxers advanced into the ring, the people said they would not allow
them to fight.
Definition: a complex sentence consists of one main clause and one or more
subordinate clauses.
6. Anil called at 5.30 and I told him that you had gone out.
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Sentence 6 consists of three clauses:
Sentences structure
Adverbial is a term which refers to all adverb forms, whether single forms,
phrases, or clauses. For example:
b. Subject + Be + Adjectival
Adjectival is a term which refers to all adjective forms, whether single words,
phrases, or clauses. For example:
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c. Subject + Be + Nominal
Nominal is a term which refers to all words that function as a noun, whether
single words, phrases, or clauses. For example:
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j. Subject + Verb transitive + Direct object + noun
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Referencias
Childs, L., Acott, A. y Curtis, K. (1999). Parts of the sentence. Canadá: Autores.
Wren, P. y Martin, H. (2000). English grammar and composition. New Delhi, La India: S.
Chand & Company Ltd.
Guionista -
Leydi Johana Centro Agroindustrial Octubre
Adaptación Línea de
Navarro Ríos Regional Quindío de 2016
producción
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