Tuesday 23 January 2018

Types of Sentences and Clauses

What is a Clause ?
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb or verb phrase. Every sentence consists of at least one clause.
The two types of clauses are independent and dependent clauses. An independent clause (also known as a main clause) expresses a complete thought. It can either stand on its own as a sentence or be combined with one or more dependent or independent clauses to form a sentence. A dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) cannot stand on its own as a sentence. It must be combined with one or more independent clauses to form a sentence. Dependent clauses can function either as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb clauses in sentences. They begin with words such as after, although, because, before, if, since, that, until, what, when, where, who, which , and why.

An independent clause can express a complete thought (and can be a standalone sentence). A dependent clause is usually a supporting part of a sentence, and it cannot stand by itself as a meaningful proposition (idea).


Examples of Independent Clauses:
1) Jackson did his homework after he had dinner with his parents.
(Jackson did his homework is an independent clause. It works as a standalone sentence.)

2) Before Alexei arrived to Moscow, he met Yuri and Boris in Stalingrad.
3) Connor was eating sandwich until Eric came to disturb him.


Examples of Dependent Clauses
1) Jackson did his homework after he had dinner with his parents.
(The clause after he had dinner with his parents is a dependent clause. It does not work as a standalone sentence).

2) Before Alexei arrived to Moscow, he met Yuri and Boris in Stalingrad.
3) Connor was eating sandwich until Eric came to disturb him.


These three dependent clauses (or subordinate clauses as they're also called) could have been independent clauses. However, the opening word(s) (in these examples after, Even though, and but) turned them into dependent clauses. The opening words are known as dependent words, the main type of which is subordinating conjunctions.


Four Types of Sentences and the Effect of Punctuation
When students learn to write, they begin by learning about the four types of sentences and the role punctuation plays in determining and creating those different sentence types.
The four types of sentences in the English language include:
Declarative sentence
Imperative sentence
Interrogative sentence
Exclamatory sentence

And there are only three punctuation marks with which to end a sentence:
Period
Question mark
Exclamation point
Using different types of sentences and punctuation, students can vary the tone of their writing assignments and express a variety of thoughts and emotions.


A declarative sentence simply makes a statement or expresses an opinion. In other words, it makes a declaration. This kind of sentence ends with a period.
Examples of this sentence type:
“I want to be a good writer.” (makes a statement)
“My friend is a really good writer.” (expresses an opinion)


An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request. It usually ends with a period but can, under certain circumstances, end with an exclamation point.
Examples of this sentence type:
“Please sit down.”
“I need you to sit down now!”


An interrogative sentence asks a question. This type of sentence often begins with who, what, where, when, why, how, or do, and it ends with a question mark.
Examples of this sentence type:
“When are you going to turn in your writing assignment?”
“Do you know what the weather will be tomorrow?”
An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that expresses great emotion such as excitement, surprise, happiness and anger, and ends with an exclamation point.
Examples of this sentence type:
“It is too dangerous to climb that mountain!”
“I got an A on my book report!”


Sentence Types
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and modifiers. However, it contains only one independent clause.

Here are a few examples:
-Jason and Freddy sing a song.
-Brock started his company.
-Tyler and Evan organized an event in New York.
-Anthony and Scott went to London.

Compound Sentence
A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent clauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of the words "FANBOYS":
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Examples of compound sentences include the following:
1) Meredith waited for the train, but the train was late.
2) Brandon looked for Aiman and Jordan at the bus station, so they can go to Berlin together.
3) Barry and Allen came to Singapore on Tuesday, and they decided to visit Indonesia next week.

Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that would make it a complete sentence.

Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most common subordinating conjunctions: after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, wherever, while.

Here are the examples :
Although Mira finished her new novel, she still needed promote in the radio.
Since Peter and Drax joined the Avengers, they contributed much to the team.
- Wade will take a bus to Ajax' house, unless Wilson offers him a ride.

Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence is made up of at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Here are the examples :
- Stark and Rogers met Logan in the Avengers' base, but Fury wasn't in the place at that time, even though he was needed to supervise the meeting.
- Although Luke was in Manchester, he decided call Frank, so he can stay in Frank's place for a while.
- Edward finally returned to his hometown, but everything had changed since he left the hometown to go to America.

1 comment:

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