2. Sentences : 2. Sentences Simple, compound and complex
By
Tahir Mehmood
tahir4tahir@gmail.com
Today’s topics : Today’s topics Sentences, clauses and phrases
Types of sentences
Types of clauses
Conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating
Definition (1) : Definition (1) A sentence is an utterance that expresses a feeling or opinion.
Cf. sententia (Lat): ‘feeling’, ‘opinion’
utterance: ??
Are all these sentences? : Are all these sentences? Ouch! (feeling)
Ooh! (feeling)
-Mmmm… (opinion)
No way! (opinion)
Definition (2) : Definition (2) A sentence is a grammatical speech unit expressing a complete event.
Structure: normally having subject- predicate structure,
Function: express an assertion, a question, a command, a wish or an exclamation,
Graphic conventions: usually begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, a question mark or an exclamation mark.
Word, phrase, sentence : Word, phrase, sentence Words: cat, cute, bitterly, cry
Phrases: a cute cat, cry bitterly
Sentences:
Cats / cry.
SU P
The cute cats / were crying bitterly.
SU P
CLAUSE : CLAUSE A sentence that functions as a constituent (a part) of another sentence is called a CLAUSE.
Sentence and clause : Sentence and clause He told us a story.
He told us that he was going to Antarctica.
I went home after the concert.
I went home after I finished my work.
I want an ice cream.
I want you to give me an ice cream.
I fell because of you.
I fell because you pushed me.
One clause sentences : One clause sentences Sentence 1
Whales cannot breathe under water. (1 clause)
Sentence 2
They have lungs instead of gills. (1 clause)
Sentences with more than one clause : Sentences with more than one clause Sentence 1
[Whales cannot breathe under water ]1 for [they have lungs instead of gills]2.
Sentence 2
[Whales cannot breathe under water [because they have lungs instead of gills]1]2
Types of clauses : Types of clauses Independent (main) clauses:
form a meaningful unit by themselves
I went to Sapporo and I bought some cakes
Subordinate (dependent) clauses:
function as a part of another clause.
Whales cannot breathe under water because they have lungs instead of gills.
I want you to read this book.
Sentence types : Sentence types Simple sentences
Compound sentences
Complex sentences
Compound-complex sentences
Simple Sentences! : Simple Sentences!
Simple sentences : Simple sentences A simple sentence consists of one main clause only, but
A simple sentence can be very long.
The waitresses/ are basking/ in the sun/ like a herd of skinned seals,/ their pinky-brown bodies shining with oil.
Compound sentences : Compound sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more main clauses.
The order of the clauses in a compound sentence is fixed.
Clauses cannot be moved without change of meaning.
[Whales cannot breathe under water], for [they have lungs instead of gills].
?[ They have lungs instead of gills], for[whales cannot breathe under water]
Same?
[I went to Sapporo] and [I bought some cakes].
[I bought some cakes], and [I went to Sapporo].
Compound sentences : Compound sentences Compound sentences are simple sentences grouped together.
There is some logical relation between the clauses.
They can function just as well on their own.
Something shared: I went to the store, and I bought some juice.
Difference: I went to the store, but I couldn’t find any juice
Cause-effect: I went to the store, for I wanted to buy some juice.
Linking words: coordinators : Linking words: coordinators Coordinate conjunctions:FANBOYS
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Correlative conjunctions:
both….and, not only….but also, either…or, neither….nor
Conjunctive adverbs:
besides, moreover, similarly, therefore
Coordinate conjunctions vs. conjunctive adverbs : Coordinate conjunctions vs. conjunctive adverbs Similar meaning, ex: and/moreover
Fixed order of the clauses:
Whales have lungs instead of gills; therefore, they cannot breathe under water
They cannot breathe under water; therefore, whales have lungs instead of gills
Conjunctive adverbs can be moved within the clause
Whales have lungs instead of gills; therefore, they cannot breathe under water
Whales have lungs instead of gills; they can therefore not breathe under water
Complex Sentences!!! : Complex Sentences!!!
Complex sentences : Complex sentences A complex sentence contains at least one dependent clause.
I like cats because they have strong personality.
A dependent clause starts with a subordinator, i.e.
although, because, if, who, where, that, etc.
: The position of the clause can be changed.
Whales cannot breathe under water because they have lungs instead of gills
Because they have lungs instead of gills, whales cannot breathe under water
I went to Sapporo after I finished my work.
After I finished my work, I went to Sapporo.
I went to Sapporo yesterday.
Yesterday, I went to Sapporo. Adverbial Clauses
Other complex sentences : Other complex sentences Relative clauses
But the storm from which the companions raced troubled the Witch more than it did the girl who had gone through rain and the Scarecrow whom lightning could burn.
Constituent clauses
She knew (that) he would be a singing child.
Was what they saw just a trick of the light?
Compound-complex sentences : Compound-complex sentences Compound sentences with complex parts
{A tone is [what you hear in music]} and {a note is the symbol [that you write down] for a tone}.
Complex sentences with compound parts
Thomas Jefferson {[who is quoted more often than any other president of the United States] and [who was 35 years old (when he drafted the Declaration of Independence)]} was the 3rd president of the United States
Why should I bother? : Why should I bother? Different types of sentences have:
Different grammar
Different spelling conventions
Different intonation patterns
Different style
Different grammar (syntax) : Different grammar (syntax) Adverbial clauses can be moved, but coordinate clauses cannot, event when the meaning seems close.
I am tired because I worked late.
Because I worked late, I am tired.
I am tired for I worked late.
*For I worked late, I am tired.
Conjunctive adverbs can occupy different positions inside the clause, subordinating conjunctions cannot.
I have no money, therefore I cannot buy a new house.
I have no money, I cannot, therefore, buy a new house.
I cannot buy a new house because I have no money.
* I cannot buy a new house I have, because, no money.
Different spelling conventions : Different spelling conventions Punctuation:
Commas are used before coordinating conjunctions, but not before subordinating conjunctions.
The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.
Yesterday was her brother's birthday, so she took him out to dinner.
She was late for class because her alarm clock was broken.
The cat scratched at the door while I was eating.
If the subordinating clause precedes the main clause, a comma is used.
While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.
Intonation : Intonation Main clauses are separated by pauses. Subordinate clauses are not separated by a pause IF THEY APPEAR IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION.
I don’t want to go to that party, so I am not going.
I am not going to the party if I don’t get a written invitation.
If I don’t get a written invitation, I am not going to the party .
The weakest the link between two clauses, the longer the pause.
I haven’t got an invitation; I’m not going to the party.
I want to go, but I was not invited.
I haven’t got an invitation; nevertheless I intend to go to the party.
I haven’t got an invitation; I intend, nevertheless, to go to the party.
Style : Style Spoken Language
Simple sentences
Compound sentences with FANBOYS
Written language
Compound sentences with conjunctive adverbs
Complex sentences
Compound-complex sentences