SENTENCES

AND
CLAUSES
A Sentence is defined:
➢ By Meaning, a sentence is a “complete
thought”
➢ By Function, a sentence consists of a
subject and a predicate
Then…..
A Sentence is a full predication
containing a subject plus a
predicate with a finite verb.
Classification of Sentences by Types
❖Declarative Sentences (Statements)
In a declarative sentence the subject and predicate

have normal word order. The sentence ends with a

period (called full stop in British English)

- The child ate his dinner.

- John blows a candle.

❖Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
In an interrogative sentence the subject
and the auxiliary are often reversed. The
sentence ends with a question mark in
writing. In spoken language, most Y/N
questions end with a rise pitch; most
interrogative-word questions end with a
fall pitch.
- Did the child eat his dinner?
- What does John blow?
❖Imperative Sentences (Command,
Request)
In an imperative sentence, only the
predicate is expressed. The simple form of
the verb is used, regardless of person or
tense. The imperative sentence ends with
period in writing.
- Eat your dinner.
- Fold the paper.
❖Exclamatory Sentences (Exclamations)
Such sentences begin with an exclamatory phrase
consisting of what or how plus a part of the predicate.
The exclamatory phrase is followed by the subject and
the balance of the predicate.
What is used when a noun terminates the
exclamatory phrase.
- What beautiful hair she has!
How is used when an adjective or adverb
terminates the exclamatory phrase.
- How beautiful she is!
- How beautifully she behaves!
 Classification of Sentences by
Number of Full Predication
➢ SIMPLE SENTENCES
Such sentences have only one full predication in
the form of an independent clause.
- The man stole the jewelry.
➢ COMPOUND SENTENCES
Such sentences have two or more full
predications in the form of independent clauses.
- The man stole the jewelry and he hid it in
his home.
➢ COMPLEX SENTENCES
Such sentences also have two or more full
predications. One of these is an
independent clause (or main clause) that
is similar to the form of the simple
sentence, and one or more of these are
dependent clause (or subordinate clause)
- The man who stole the jewelry hid it in his
home.
➢ COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES
It contains two or more independent
clauses and one or more dependent
clauses.
- The man stole the jewelry and he hid it
in his home until he could safely get out
of town.

“The independent clause in all four classes of

sentences may take the form of statement,
question, request, or exclamation.”
CLAUSES
 A clause may be defined in the same way as a
sentence: It is a full predication that contains a
subject and a predicate with a finite verb.
 There are two kinds of clauses, independent and
dependent.
 The independent clause is a full predication that
may stand alone as a sentence.
 The dependent clause has a special
introductory word that makes the predication
‘depend’ on an independent clause.
Independent Clauses
(in compound sentences)
 Full predications may be joined
coordinately by punctuation alone,
coordinate conjunction, or by conjunctive
adverb.
- John was sick; he didn’t come to school.
- John was sick, so he didn’t come to
school.
- John was sick; therefore, he didn’t come
to school.
Dependent Clauses
(in Complex Sentences)
 In a dependent clause, the full predication is
altered in such a way that the clause must be
attached to another clause, an independent
clause. The alteration may be an added
introductory word (after, before, etc.) or a
change in the form of the subject or object
(who, that, etc.).
 There are three types of dependent clauses,
named according to their function in the
sentence.
1. Adverbial Clause
 Most types of adverbial clauses are considered
as modifying the verb of the main clause. A few
types, such as clauses of time or place are
sometimes interpreted as modifiers of the
entire sentences.
 Like an adverb, the adverbial clause has three
possible position; initial position, mid position,
or final position.
Types Of Adverbial Clauses
a. Clauses of Time
When(ever) You may begin when(ever) you are ready.
 Clauses
While/whilst
of Time
While he was walking home, he saw an accident.
since They have become very snobbish since they moved
into their expensive apartment.
before Shut the window before you go out.
after After she finished dinner, she went right to bed.
until Until Mr. Smith got a promotion in our company, I
had never noticed him.
till We’ll do nothing further till we hear from you.
As As he was walking in the park, he noticed a very
pretty girl.
As soon as I’ll go to the post office as soon as I wrap this
package.
As long as You may keep my book as long as you need it.
Once Once she makes up her mind, she never changes
it.
b. Clauses of Place
 A conjunction of place may consist of an
adverbial compound ending in –where or
–place, with or without ‘that’ following it.
- Repairs will be made wherever (they are)
necessary.
- She lives where the Jacksons used to live.
- They sat down wherever they could find
empty seats.
c. Clauses of Contrast
 There are two types of clauses of
contrast; concessive and adversative
 Concessive clause offers a partial
contrast, it states a reservation that does
not invalidate the truth of the main
clause.
 Adversative Clause makes a stronger
contrast that may range all the way to
complete opposition.
Concessive Clause  Adversative Clause
Conjunction: although, Conjunction: while,
though, even though where, whereas,
when
- Though he had always - While Roy is friendly
preferred blondes, he with everyone, his
married a brunette. brother makes very
few friends.
d. Clauses of Cause
because They had to more because their building was to
be torn down.
since Since he couldn’t take his wife with him, he decided not
to go to the conference
as As he was in a hurry, he hailed the nearest cab
now (that) Now ( that ) he’s inherited his father’s money, he
doesn’t have to work any more
whereas Whereas a number of the conditions in the contract
(formal) have not been met, our company decided to cancel the
contract.
As long as As long as it’s raining, I won’t go out tonight.
On the ground (that) His application for the job was rejected on the ground
that he had falsified some of the information
e. Clauses of Result
So … that
so – adjective – that She is so emotional that every little thing
upsets her.
so – adverb – that She behaved so emotionally that we knew
something terrible had upset her.
Such (a) … that
such a – singular This is such an ugly chair that I am going to give it
countable noun away.
such – plural countable These are such ugly chairs that I am going to give
noun them away.
such – noncountable This is such ugly furniture that I am going to give it
noun away.
So (that) They spent their vacation at the seashore, so
(that) when they came home they were quite tan.
f. Clauses of Purposes
 Conjunction: so, in order that, in the
hope that, to the end that
- The flowers will be delivered at late in the evening so it
will be fresh in the next morning.
- He decided to take a trip around the world in order
that he wanted to learn other cultures.
- They are working night and day in the hope that they
can finish the building on time.
- To the end that justice may be served, the defendant will
be offered every opportunity to establish his innocence.
 g. Clauses of Condition
if If I see him, I’ll invite him to our party.
Even if Even if I had known about the meeting I couldn’t have
come.
Unless (if … not) Unless it rains, we’ll go to the beach tomorrow.
In the event that In the event that the performance is called off, I’ll let you
know at once.
In case In case a robbery occurs in the hotel, the management
must be notified at once.
Provided that We will be glad to go with you to the theatre provided
that we can get a baby sitter.
On condition that The company will agree to arbitration on condition that
the strike is called off at once.
If only She would forgive her husband everything if only he would
come back to her.
h. Clauses of Exception
Except that The building would have already been
finished except that a trucking strike had
delayed delivery of some materials.
But that But that his pistol failed to fire, he would surely be
dead now.
Save that Save that he lapsed into vulgarity every now and
then, he had great appeal to his genteel woman
readers.
Only that This antique vase is in very good condition, only
that there is little crack near the top.
Beyond that The police could get nothing out of the boy beyond
that he had become separated from his mother in
the crowd.
Other than (the Other than (the fact) that he is now in good
fact) that financial condition, I have no news to report.