SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Point #1 (A Witty Introduction)
The idea of uniform sentence structures has been written about and discussed for centuries, and, alas, the masses are nowhere nearer to understanding it now than they were ages ago. Further, the content is no more interesting now than it was after the Battle of Hastings; however, I shall endeavour to keep the tone and content light and as enjoyable as any writer is able. Your part is to try to enjoy the content to the extent that any reader is able while you absorb the material.
What you will find on this page is the essentials and not much more than that. The following page, "Types of Sentences" covers more advanced and specific information on sentences.
Point #2 (Transitive and Intransitive Verbs)
In order to understand the myriads of types of sentences, you need to understand that, depending how you analyze verbs, there are two types: transitive and intransitive. (You could also divide verbs into action and non-action, strong and weak, modal and non-modal, but these categories do not show how the verb affects the sentence structure.)
Transitive: If a verb is transitive, it requires content both before and after its use: a subject (before) and a completer (after).
Intransitive: If a verb is intransitive, it only requires content before its use: a subject.
For example, I can say, "I ran," as a complete sentence. It might be a bland sentence; it might leave my audience hanging, but it is, nevertheless, a complete sentence. The verb, "ran," is intransitive; it requires no further information after its use. You may add information, but you are under no obligation for the sake of clear communication to add anything.
However, if I say, "I caught," I no longer have a complete sentence, because the verb "caught," is transitive; it requires me to add information in order to make a coherent sentence: "I caught the ball."
Point #3 A (The Simplest Simple Sentence: An Independent Clause)
(A "clause" (in grammar, not in matters of legalities) is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. It is "independent" when the clause is able to stand on its own as a sentence unto itself; that is to say, "simple sentence" and "independent clause" mean the same thing. A clause is "dependent" when there are words or there is wording that makes the clause an incomplete sentence without another clause joined to it to give context and meaning.)
Now that you are experts in the two basic categories of verbs ("categories," that is, in understanding sentence structures), you may now move on to understanding the simple sentence. There are two types of simple sentences: those with transitive verbs, and those with intransitive verbs.
The idea of uniform sentence structures has been written about and discussed for centuries, and, alas, the masses are nowhere nearer to understanding it now than they were ages ago. Further, the content is no more interesting now than it was after the Battle of Hastings; however, I shall endeavour to keep the tone and content light and as enjoyable as any writer is able. Your part is to try to enjoy the content to the extent that any reader is able while you absorb the material.
What you will find on this page is the essentials and not much more than that. The following page, "Types of Sentences" covers more advanced and specific information on sentences.
Point #2 (Transitive and Intransitive Verbs)
In order to understand the myriads of types of sentences, you need to understand that, depending how you analyze verbs, there are two types: transitive and intransitive. (You could also divide verbs into action and non-action, strong and weak, modal and non-modal, but these categories do not show how the verb affects the sentence structure.)
Transitive: If a verb is transitive, it requires content both before and after its use: a subject (before) and a completer (after).
Intransitive: If a verb is intransitive, it only requires content before its use: a subject.
For example, I can say, "I ran," as a complete sentence. It might be a bland sentence; it might leave my audience hanging, but it is, nevertheless, a complete sentence. The verb, "ran," is intransitive; it requires no further information after its use. You may add information, but you are under no obligation for the sake of clear communication to add anything.
However, if I say, "I caught," I no longer have a complete sentence, because the verb "caught," is transitive; it requires me to add information in order to make a coherent sentence: "I caught the ball."
Point #3 A (The Simplest Simple Sentence: An Independent Clause)
(A "clause" (in grammar, not in matters of legalities) is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. It is "independent" when the clause is able to stand on its own as a sentence unto itself; that is to say, "simple sentence" and "independent clause" mean the same thing. A clause is "dependent" when there are words or there is wording that makes the clause an incomplete sentence without another clause joined to it to give context and meaning.)
Now that you are experts in the two basic categories of verbs ("categories," that is, in understanding sentence structures), you may now move on to understanding the simple sentence. There are two types of simple sentences: those with transitive verbs, and those with intransitive verbs.
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A Simple Sentence a with Transitive Verb
The simple sentence with the transitive verb is composed of the subject (S), the verb (V), and the completer (C). (Note: the verb and completer comprise what is commonly known as the predicate, but since the intransitive verb requires no completer, this is the last you will see of the word "predicate.")
I caught the ball. |
A Simple Sentence with an INtransitive Verb
The simple sentence with the intransitive very is composed of the subject (S) and verb (V) (no completer). (Note: the verb and completer comprise what is commonly known as the predicate, but since the intransitive verb requires no completer, this is the last you will see of the word "predicate.")
I ran. |
Point #3 B (More Complicated Simple Sentences: Compound Components)
The Compound Subject:
It is possible, if, say, you have a beach ball rather than a base ball, to have more than one person at a time catching a ball. If that is the case--if Scooby Doo and I are catching the ball (or just "caught" the ball), then you have what it known as a compound subject, but the sentence itself is still a simple sentence.
Scooby Doo and I caught the ball. (Note: The word "and" is not included as part of the subject.)
Shaggy and I ran. (See note above.)
The Compound Verb:
Where there is a beach ball, there is more than one thing to do to it or with it. One can catch it and throw it, even in a single moment, and therefore, in a single sentence. If that is the case, you have what is called a compound verb, although the sentence itself is still a simple sentence.
I caught and threw the ball. (Note: The word "and" is not included as part of the verb.)
I ran and wheezed. (See note above.)
Please note, some verbs are only complete when they are two words, sometimes more. Such verbs are not compound verbs; they are simply multi-word verbs, whether transitive or intransitive. For example (transitive), "I had caught the ball," or "John will tell a story," and (intransitive) "I had run," or "I will have had to run."
The Compound Completer:
Blah blah blah blah a compound completer, although the sentence itself is still a simple sentence.
I caught the ball and a cold. (Note: The word "and" blah blah blah.)
Finally, it is possible to have a simple sentence with a compound subject, a compound verb AND a compound completer:
Scooby Doo and Shaggy caught and unmasked both the villain and his accomplice.
Congratulations! You are now an expert on the simple sentence. Now you may move on to the next type of sentence: the compound sentence.
Point #4 (The Compound Sentence)
Before we proceed, we need to review one of the notes from above. I shall re-print it here for your ease:
(A "clause" is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. It is an "independent clause" when it is able to stand on its own as a sentence unto itself; that is to say, "simple sentence" and "independent clause" mean the same thing. A clause is a "dependent clause" when a word or phrase (a subordinating conjunction) makes it an incomplete sentence without the other clause to give context and meaning.)
A compound sentence need not have a compound subject, verb or completer. What make a sentence compound is the presence of one independent clause joined (in one of two ways) with a second independent clause.
Point #4a (A compound sentence using a Conjunction (with a comma))
First, What is a conjunction? A conjunction (think of "junction") is a word that joins to clauses (The first letters of the conjunctions spell the acronym, "FANBOYS."):
For And Nor But Or Yet So
(Sometimes "while" can act as a conjunction, too.)
Two independent clauses (or two sentences) may be correctly joined by using both a comma and one conjunction:
The Scooby Doo gang comprises the important symbolic parts of any one person, SO that is why they "stick together" all the time.
Velma plays the part of the gang's brain, BUT Daphne acts the part of physical beauty.
Fred is the decision-making head of the gang, AND Shaggy is their inner child.
Scooby Doo is not just a mascot, YET he is the lovable companion.
Point 4B (Using a Semicolon Instead of the Comma and Conjunction)
Two independent clauses may also be correctly joined by using a semicolon (;) instead of the comma and conjunction:
The Scooby Doo gang comprises the important symbolic parts of any one person; that is why they "stick together" all the time.
Velma plays the part of the gang's brain; Daphne acts the part of physical beauty.
Fred is the decision-making head of the gang; Shaggy is their inner child.
Scooby Doo is not just a mascot; he is the lovable companion.
Point #4C
IT IS NOT CORRECT TO JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES USING ONLY A COMMA. IT IS CALLED A "COMMA SPLICE," A TYPE OF A RUN-ON SENTENCE. THE EXAMPLE BELOW IS INCORRECT.
INcorrect: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues, they always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
The above example is incorrect because it uses only a comma where it should either add a conjunction after the comma, replace the comma with a semicolon or make the whole two separate sentences. The sentence is written below correctly, once using the comma and conjunction, once using a semicolon, and once as two separate sentences:
Correct: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues, for they always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
Correct: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues; they always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
Correct: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues. They always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
Point #4D
As a final point, if you have a phrase joined to the end of a sentence (a phrase is a unified group of words without a subject, a verb, or either of these) with a conjunction, you do not use a comma. These are, really, just simple sentences with compound completers that are phrases rather than pairs of single words. In the following examples, the correct sentences, each with the added phrase is contrasted side by side with a parallel and correct compound sentence to emphasize the difference.
The Compound Subject:
It is possible, if, say, you have a beach ball rather than a base ball, to have more than one person at a time catching a ball. If that is the case--if Scooby Doo and I are catching the ball (or just "caught" the ball), then you have what it known as a compound subject, but the sentence itself is still a simple sentence.
Scooby Doo and I caught the ball. (Note: The word "and" is not included as part of the subject.)
Shaggy and I ran. (See note above.)
The Compound Verb:
Where there is a beach ball, there is more than one thing to do to it or with it. One can catch it and throw it, even in a single moment, and therefore, in a single sentence. If that is the case, you have what is called a compound verb, although the sentence itself is still a simple sentence.
I caught and threw the ball. (Note: The word "and" is not included as part of the verb.)
I ran and wheezed. (See note above.)
Please note, some verbs are only complete when they are two words, sometimes more. Such verbs are not compound verbs; they are simply multi-word verbs, whether transitive or intransitive. For example (transitive), "I had caught the ball," or "John will tell a story," and (intransitive) "I had run," or "I will have had to run."
The Compound Completer:
Blah blah blah blah a compound completer, although the sentence itself is still a simple sentence.
I caught the ball and a cold. (Note: The word "and" blah blah blah.)
Finally, it is possible to have a simple sentence with a compound subject, a compound verb AND a compound completer:
Scooby Doo and Shaggy caught and unmasked both the villain and his accomplice.
Congratulations! You are now an expert on the simple sentence. Now you may move on to the next type of sentence: the compound sentence.
Point #4 (The Compound Sentence)
Before we proceed, we need to review one of the notes from above. I shall re-print it here for your ease:
(A "clause" is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. It is an "independent clause" when it is able to stand on its own as a sentence unto itself; that is to say, "simple sentence" and "independent clause" mean the same thing. A clause is a "dependent clause" when a word or phrase (a subordinating conjunction) makes it an incomplete sentence without the other clause to give context and meaning.)
A compound sentence need not have a compound subject, verb or completer. What make a sentence compound is the presence of one independent clause joined (in one of two ways) with a second independent clause.
Point #4a (A compound sentence using a Conjunction (with a comma))
First, What is a conjunction? A conjunction (think of "junction") is a word that joins to clauses (The first letters of the conjunctions spell the acronym, "FANBOYS."):
For And Nor But Or Yet So
(Sometimes "while" can act as a conjunction, too.)
Two independent clauses (or two sentences) may be correctly joined by using both a comma and one conjunction:
The Scooby Doo gang comprises the important symbolic parts of any one person, SO that is why they "stick together" all the time.
Velma plays the part of the gang's brain, BUT Daphne acts the part of physical beauty.
Fred is the decision-making head of the gang, AND Shaggy is their inner child.
Scooby Doo is not just a mascot, YET he is the lovable companion.
Point 4B (Using a Semicolon Instead of the Comma and Conjunction)
Two independent clauses may also be correctly joined by using a semicolon (;) instead of the comma and conjunction:
The Scooby Doo gang comprises the important symbolic parts of any one person; that is why they "stick together" all the time.
Velma plays the part of the gang's brain; Daphne acts the part of physical beauty.
Fred is the decision-making head of the gang; Shaggy is their inner child.
Scooby Doo is not just a mascot; he is the lovable companion.
Point #4C
IT IS NOT CORRECT TO JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES USING ONLY A COMMA. IT IS CALLED A "COMMA SPLICE," A TYPE OF A RUN-ON SENTENCE. THE EXAMPLE BELOW IS INCORRECT.
INcorrect: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues, they always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
The above example is incorrect because it uses only a comma where it should either add a conjunction after the comma, replace the comma with a semicolon or make the whole two separate sentences. The sentence is written below correctly, once using the comma and conjunction, once using a semicolon, and once as two separate sentences:
Correct: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues, for they always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
Correct: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues; they always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
Correct: The villains in Scooby Doo cartoons have emotional issues. They always blame "the kids" for their own mistakes.
Point #4D
As a final point, if you have a phrase joined to the end of a sentence (a phrase is a unified group of words without a subject, a verb, or either of these) with a conjunction, you do not use a comma. These are, really, just simple sentences with compound completers that are phrases rather than pairs of single words. In the following examples, the correct sentences, each with the added phrase is contrasted side by side with a parallel and correct compound sentence to emphasize the difference.
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These need no comma.
The gang got into their Mystery Machine and drove away. They always got their man but always got the blame, too. They were never thanked yet continued to save the day. They never shirked their responsibilities nor gave up. |
These need a comma.
The gang got into their Mystery Machine, and they drove away. They always got their man, but they always got the blame, too. They were never thanked, yet they continued to save the day. They never shirked their responsibilities, nor did they give up. |
Point #5 (The Complex Sentence)
The complex sentence is one that combines an independent clause with at least one dependent clause. As a reminder, a dependent clause requires the context of an independent clause for meaning, because there is an additional word or phrase (a subordinating conjunction) that subordinates the clause, or makes the clause dependent. Savvy?
Subordinating conjunctions include the following words or phrases: after, although, as, as if, as soon as, as long as, before, because, even though, if, that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while.
There are other words, too, but some of them, "since," for example, that have multiple meanings, so they are not always subordinating conjunctions, and are therefore not listed here.
In the following examples, the independent clause will be bold face, the dependent clause will be italicized, and the subordinating conjunction will be underlined. Please note that the subordinating conjunction is part of the dependent clause:
I really loved that old Mystery Machine van that Scooby Doo and his friends used to drive.
After I watched an episode, I couldn't wait for the following Saturday morning.
Before I watched any episode, I always put on my Scooby Doo T-shirt.
I was glued to the television whenever an episode of Scooby Doo was aired.
Even though I loved the show, I stopped watching it after Scrappy Doo was introduced.
Point #6 (The Complex-Compound Sentence or The Compound-Complex Sentence)
As I hope is obvious to you at this point, the compound-complex sentence is a sentence that has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. It is, therefore, literally, a combination of the sentence types from my previous two points. In the following examples, the independent clauses will be bold faced and the dependent clause(s) will be underlined.
Because I am now an adult, I don't watch Scooby Doo anymore; the show simply holds no interest for me, unless no one else is looking.
While you must admit that Scooby Doo is kind of ugly as cartoon characters go, He's a great pal; as long as there's a Scooby Sack nearby, he always finds his courage, kind of like the Cowardly Lion.
Scooby Doo is still one of my favourite cartoon canines; I love Bandit, Dino and Astro, too, as long as they stay out of Scooby's way.
Bandit is Jonny Quest's dog; Dino is Fred Flintstone's "dog", and Astro is George Jetson's, while Scooby Doo is entirely his own master, because the entire gang is really all one person.
Point #7 (Sentence Fragments)
In contrast with the simple sentence, the compound sentence, the complex sentence and the compound-complex sentence, sentence fragments are generally considered to be incorrect, especially by elementary and secondary school teachers. Once you've progressed beyond the need for classroom assistance for your writing, fragments are actually beneficial to the flow of quality writing. Really. While you're in school, however, consider fragments to be incorrect.
A fragment is a word or a group of words--often a clause that could be considered a dependent clause--that is punctuated as though it were an independent clause. Still, for a sentence to be complete there must be some sort of subject/verb relationship. MUST be. That's one reason many teachers in elementary and high school will tell their students that you can't begin a sentence with "because." I'm here to tell you, "YES YOU CAN!" They tell you this because too many inexperienced writers will start with "because" and put a period at the end of a dependent clause. Let me re-write that last sentence for you: "Because too many inexperienced writers will start a sentence with 'because' and put a period at the end of a dependent clause, many teacher in elementary and high school will tell their students that you can't begin a sentence with 'because.'" There. I just began a perfectly correct and complete sentence with "because," and no teacher in the world can mark me down. Keep in mind, though, that I know what I'm doing. If you do not, then follow your teacher's advice or face the penalty.
Point #8 (Run-on Sentences)
I actually mentioned these with examples earlier; I just didn't give you the name, because doing so felt out of place in that context (see Point # 4C). A run-on sentence is a series of independent clauses, often combined with relative and dependent clauses, punctuated as a single sentence. Again, they are considered incorrect, but even many experienced and accomplished writers will tend to avoid them because they seldom (if ever) contribute anything helpful to meaning or clarity in good writing. If the pros avoid them, then I strongly suggest that you do as well.
The complex sentence is one that combines an independent clause with at least one dependent clause. As a reminder, a dependent clause requires the context of an independent clause for meaning, because there is an additional word or phrase (a subordinating conjunction) that subordinates the clause, or makes the clause dependent. Savvy?
Subordinating conjunctions include the following words or phrases: after, although, as, as if, as soon as, as long as, before, because, even though, if, that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while.
There are other words, too, but some of them, "since," for example, that have multiple meanings, so they are not always subordinating conjunctions, and are therefore not listed here.
In the following examples, the independent clause will be bold face, the dependent clause will be italicized, and the subordinating conjunction will be underlined. Please note that the subordinating conjunction is part of the dependent clause:
I really loved that old Mystery Machine van that Scooby Doo and his friends used to drive.
After I watched an episode, I couldn't wait for the following Saturday morning.
Before I watched any episode, I always put on my Scooby Doo T-shirt.
I was glued to the television whenever an episode of Scooby Doo was aired.
Even though I loved the show, I stopped watching it after Scrappy Doo was introduced.
Point #6 (The Complex-Compound Sentence or The Compound-Complex Sentence)
As I hope is obvious to you at this point, the compound-complex sentence is a sentence that has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. It is, therefore, literally, a combination of the sentence types from my previous two points. In the following examples, the independent clauses will be bold faced and the dependent clause(s) will be underlined.
Because I am now an adult, I don't watch Scooby Doo anymore; the show simply holds no interest for me, unless no one else is looking.
While you must admit that Scooby Doo is kind of ugly as cartoon characters go, He's a great pal; as long as there's a Scooby Sack nearby, he always finds his courage, kind of like the Cowardly Lion.
Scooby Doo is still one of my favourite cartoon canines; I love Bandit, Dino and Astro, too, as long as they stay out of Scooby's way.
Bandit is Jonny Quest's dog; Dino is Fred Flintstone's "dog", and Astro is George Jetson's, while Scooby Doo is entirely his own master, because the entire gang is really all one person.
Point #7 (Sentence Fragments)
In contrast with the simple sentence, the compound sentence, the complex sentence and the compound-complex sentence, sentence fragments are generally considered to be incorrect, especially by elementary and secondary school teachers. Once you've progressed beyond the need for classroom assistance for your writing, fragments are actually beneficial to the flow of quality writing. Really. While you're in school, however, consider fragments to be incorrect.
A fragment is a word or a group of words--often a clause that could be considered a dependent clause--that is punctuated as though it were an independent clause. Still, for a sentence to be complete there must be some sort of subject/verb relationship. MUST be. That's one reason many teachers in elementary and high school will tell their students that you can't begin a sentence with "because." I'm here to tell you, "YES YOU CAN!" They tell you this because too many inexperienced writers will start with "because" and put a period at the end of a dependent clause. Let me re-write that last sentence for you: "Because too many inexperienced writers will start a sentence with 'because' and put a period at the end of a dependent clause, many teacher in elementary and high school will tell their students that you can't begin a sentence with 'because.'" There. I just began a perfectly correct and complete sentence with "because," and no teacher in the world can mark me down. Keep in mind, though, that I know what I'm doing. If you do not, then follow your teacher's advice or face the penalty.
Point #8 (Run-on Sentences)
I actually mentioned these with examples earlier; I just didn't give you the name, because doing so felt out of place in that context (see Point # 4C). A run-on sentence is a series of independent clauses, often combined with relative and dependent clauses, punctuated as a single sentence. Again, they are considered incorrect, but even many experienced and accomplished writers will tend to avoid them because they seldom (if ever) contribute anything helpful to meaning or clarity in good writing. If the pros avoid them, then I strongly suggest that you do as well.
