I.

SENTENCE – ITS ELEMENTS AND TYPES

*Definition of a sentence

- A sentence is the combination of words or phrases (often noun phrases plus

verb phrases and possibly other phrases) on the basis of:

 Concords between subject (often a NP) and verb (often a VP) and other
types (nouns or pronouns used as S, O, C...
 Order of words in the phrase and sentence structure, and this serves to
express a complete idea for the purpose of communication.

He is my brother. He knows your intention.

He wants to help you (to) complete your thesis.

1.FIVE SENTENCE ELEMENTS: S, V, O, C AND A

a. Simple Sentence

He is a teacher of English.

S V C

Obligatory clause patterns are those which are required for the complementation
of the verb.

He resembled his father vs He resembled.

S V O

We bought this car two years ago. They hung the picture on the wall.

S V O A (optional) S V O A (obligatory)

b. Compound Sentence

They did this and went away.

S V O V A

1st independent clause 2nd independent clause

She is a teacher but she is very rich.

S V C S V C

c. Complex Sentence

When we came, they were watching TV.

A clause S V O

Main/ super-ordinate clause

We know that you are honest.

S V O clause

Main/ super-ordinate clause

2. BASIC SENTENCE (OR CLAUSE) TYPES

In English, there are seven sentence types.

a. S + V intransitive

The bird sang. She has come.

S V S V

b. S + V intensive + C

He is my student. They looked tired.

S V C S V C

c. S + V intensive + A

They were here, too. She got off the bus.

S V A (A) S V A
d. S + V monotransitive + O

My sister bought this car last year.

S V O (A)

e. S + V ditransitive + Oi + Od

They gave him this book.

S V O O

f. S + V complex transitive + O + C

We elected him the president of the company.

S V O C

They left the house empty.

S V O C

g. S + V complex transitive + O + A

She led them upstairs.

S V O A

3. CLAUSE TYPES TRANSFORMED

a. Passive transformation

Many critics disliked the play

S V Od

The play was disliked by many critics.

S + Vpass + [A]
Mom considered him a genius.

S V O C

He was considered a genius (by Mom).

S V C [A]

b. SV, SVC, SVA equivalents

1. S V S V C

The baby is sleeping The baby is asleep

2. S V S V C

Two loaves will suffice Two loaves will be sufficient

3. S V C S V A

He is jobless He is without a job.