University of Mostaganem Abdelhamid Ibd Badis

Faculty of Science and Technology

Department of Process Engineering
Module: Technical English

Part one: Basics-1

 What is a Sentence?
In simple terms, a sentence is a set of words or a group of words that expresses a complete thought
o The subject = what the sentence is about, the topic of the sentence
o The predicate = what is said about the subject

 Types of Sentences: There are four types of sentences :

A declarative sentence:
A declarative sentence states a fact and ends with a period (full stop). For example:
Water is a molecule composed of three atoms; two of hydrogen and one of oxygen it is H2O, existing in
gaseous (vapor = steam), liquid, and solid states.

An imperative sentence:
An imperative sentence is a command or a polite request. It ends with an exclamation mark of a period full stop.
For example:
When you calm down, we discuss it.
Can you calm down, please!

An interrogative sentence:
An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark For example:
What is chemical engineering?

An exclamatory sentence:
An exclamatory sentence expresses excitement or emotion; it ends with an exclamation mark. For example:
What a beautiful day!
  The four Sentences Structures:

1. Simple Sentences:
A simple sentence contains only one independent clause.
Note: An independent clause is a group of words (with a subject and a verb) that expresses a complete thought.
Example: I am a process engineering student. = an independent clause. It contains a subject (I) and a verb (am),
and it expresses a complete thought.

2. Compound Sentences:
A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses. These clauses are joined by a comma and
coordinating conjunction, or by a semicolon.

A coordinating conjunction is a word that links words, phrases, or clauses together. The common coordinating
conjunctions are: and-but-or-nor-so-then-yet.
Example:
* She cooked and he cleaned. She cooked is an independent clause. He cleaned is also an independent clause.
*Water has the important ability to dissolve many other substances but it can’t dissolve oils.
But, is a coordinating conjunction joining the two independent clauses.

3. A complex sentence:
A complex sentence has a main clause (independent clause) and one or more adverbial clauses (subordinate clause),
*a subordinate clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.
There are seven types of adverbial clauses:

Adverbial clauses Common conjunctions

Contrast clauses Although; though; even though; while
Reason clauses Because; since; as
Place clauses Where; Wherever, everywhere
Purpose clauses So that; so; because + want
Result clauses So that; so;… that; such…that
Time clauses When, before, after, since, while, as, as soon
as; by the time; until
Conditional clauses If, unless, provided (that), as long as
Example: I washed the dishes after I ate breakfast.
*I washed the dishes is an independent clause.
*After I ate breakfast is a dependent adverb clause modifying the verb washed.
I washed the dishes after I ate breakfast is a complex sentence.
Adverbial clauses usually come after the main clause.
For example:
Her father died when she was very young.
- Her father died (main clause)
- When (subordinating conjunction)
- She was very young (adverbial clause)

She had a difficult childhood because her father died when she was very young.
- She had a difficult childhood (main clause)
- Because (subordinating conjunction)
- Her father died (adverbial clause)
- When (subordinating conjunction) she was very young (adverbial clause).

Although a few snakes are dangerous, most of them are quite harmless.
-Although (subordinating conjunction)
-Some snakes are dangerous (adverbial clause)
-Most of them are harmless (main clause).

A sentence can contain both subordinate and coordinate clauses: Example:

Although she has always lived in France, she speaks fluent English because her mother was American and her
father was Nigerian.
-Although (subordinating conjunction)
-She has always lived in France (adverbial clause).
-She speaks fluent English (main clause)
-Because (subordinating conjunction)
-Her mother was American (adverbial clause)
-And (coordinating conjunction)
-Her father was Nigerian (adverbial clause).
 4. Compound-Complex Sentences:
A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.
Example: I would have purchased the cheese that you like, but it was too expensive.
I would have purchased the cheese and it was too expensive are both independent clauses. They are being joined
by the conjunction’’ but’’. The whole sentence is a compound-complex sentence.

Ms. BAGHDAD BENABED.F