Module 11: Sentences (parts

and types)
Define Sentece

 A set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a

subject and predicate, conveying a statement, question,
exclamation, or command, and consisting of a main clause and
sometimes one or more subordinate clauses.
Subject

 Subject- the
subject simply refers to the doer of the action or to what
(or whom) the sentence is all about. It can be in the form of a noun
or a pronoun, and is usually (but not always) located before the
predicate.
Things to remember

 Simple Subject= ONLY the main noun or pronoun



 Example: Three cardboard boxes remained in the vacant house.

The italicized part is the main noun that serves as the simple subject of the sentence.
 Complete Subject= the subject itself (main noun or pronoun) +
other words that modify the subject


Example: Three cardboard boxes remained in the vacant house.

Compound Subject= multiple subjects (including the words that
modify them)
Example: Three cardboard boxes and heavy sacks are remained in the
vacant house.
The italicized part is the compound subject in this example.
 Note: There are times when the subject is not actually written in the
sentence, such as in the sample sentence.
Predicate

 Predicate- the predicate can be considered as one of the most

important parts of a sentence. It is basically the part which says
something about the subject and always contains a verb.
Things to remember

Simple Subject= ONLY the main verb

Example: The boa constrictor swallowed the whole monkey.
 The underlined word is the main verb, which shows the action of
the subject (boa constrictor).
 Complete Predicate= the main verb + other words that modify the
verb Example: The boa constrictor swallowed the whole monkey. If
you’re instructed to underline the complete predicate, you must
include “the whole monkey” and not only the verb “swallowed.
 Compound Predicate= multiple verbs (including the words that modify them)
Example: The boa constrictor suffocated and swallowed the whole monkey. The
italicized part is the compound subject in this example.
 Clause- the clause is a group of words within a sentence, which
contains its own subject and predicate.
2 types of clauses
Independent Clause– this kind of clause expresses a complete
thought and can stand on its own.
 Dependent Clause– as the name suggests, the dependent clause
cannot stand on its own, and must be attached to an independent
clause in order to have a complete thought.
 Phrases- unlike a clause, a phrase is a group of words which
doesn’t have a subject or a predicate
4 types of phrases
4 types of phrases

Noun phrase– as the name suggests, this type functions as a noun.

Adjective phrase– this type acts as an adjective which describes nouns or pronouns
Prepositional phrase– this type is composed of a preposition, an object of the preposition,
and its modifier
 Adverb phrase– this type functions as an adverb, and starts with an adverb Verbal/Verb
Phrase
The 4 types of a sentence
Declarative Sentence

Declarative sentences make a statement. They tell us something. They

give us information, and they normally end with a full-stop/period.
 The usual word order for the declarative sentence is subject + verb
 Example:
 John likes Mary
Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences ask a question. They ask us something. They want information, and
they always end with a question mark.
 The usual word order for the interrogative sentence is (wh-word +) auxiliary + subject +
verb

 Example:
 Does Mary like John?
Imperative Sentence

Imperative sentences give a command. They tell us to do something, and they end with a full-
stop/period (.) or exclamation mark/point (!).
The usual word order for the imperative sentence is base verb…
 Note that there is usually no subject—because the subject is understood, it is YOU.

 Example:
 Stop! Close the door.
Exclamative Sentences

 Exclamative sentences express strong emotion/surprise—an exclamation—and they always end with an exclamation
mark/point (!).
 The usual word order for the exclamative sentence is:
 What (+ adjective) + noun + subject + verb
 How (+ adjective/adverb) + subject + verb
 Example
 What a liar he is!
 What an exciting movie it was!
 How he lied!
 How exciting the movie was!
The 4 parts of a sentence
The 4 parts of a sentence

 There are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-
complex. Each sentence is defined by the use of independent and dependent
clauses, conjunctions, and subordinators.
Simple sentences

 Simple sentences: A simple sentence is an independent clause with

no conjunction or dependent clause.

 Example
 The train was late. “The train” = subject, “was” = verb.
Compound sentences

 Compound sentences: A compound sentence is two independent

clauses joined by a conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so).

 Example
 I want to lose weight, yet I eat chocolate daily.
Complex sentences

 Complex sentences: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at

least one dependent clause. The clauses in a complex sentence are combined
with conjunctions and subordinators, terms that help the dependent clauses relate
to the independent clause. Subordinators can refer to the subject (who, which),
the sequence/time (since, while), or the causal elements (because, if) of the
independent clause.
 Example
 While I am a passionate basketball fan, I prefer football
Compound-Complex sentences

 Compound-complex sentences: A compound-complex sentence

contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent
clause. These sentences will contain both conjunctions and
subordinators
 Example
 Though Mitchell prefers watching romantic films, he rented the
latest spy thriller, and he enjoyed it very much.
Note!

 the form and function of the above four types. In general, we use
the declarative form to make a statement. We use the interrogative
form to ask a question. We use the imperative form to issue a
command. We use the exclamative form to make an
exclamation.But function and form do not always coincide,
especially with a change in intonation.