Sentence Construction (English): Smart Note with Grade 12 Entrance Questions, Explanations, Exam Techniques

Sentence Construction (English): Smart Note with Grade 12 Entrance Questions, Explanations, Exam Techniques 

Overview 
This handout deals with sentence construction. It has the next 4 sections:

1. Group of Words: 3 Group of Words

2. Elements of Sentence: 5 Elements

3. Types of Sentences: Based on Structures

4. Types of Sentences: Based on Functions

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 1. Group of Words: 3 Group of Words
Let's see the next 3 groups of words as basic concepts: phrase, clause and sentence! 

A. A phrase is a word/group of words that don't have subject and verb.
B. A clause is a word or group of words/related words that have a subject and a verb, and give meaning.

• They could be closed or separated by comma/semicolon/colon.
• They could be joined by coordinate conjunctions.
• There are two common types of clauses:
• Independent clause (main clause) stands on its own as a sentence and give a complete message/thought.
• Mostly, it is ended with semi-colon/coordinate conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, yet, for) or comma + coordinate conjunctions. 
• It is used with dependent clause. If it is used alone, it becomes sentence.
• Two independent clauses could be used together.
• Dependent clause (subordinate clause) cannot stand on its own as a sentence because it does not give complete message/thought.
• Mostly (not always), dependent clauses begin with a subordinating conjunctions (since, as, although, if, after, before, when, while....).
• It is used with independent clause as it can't give complete message/thought if it is used alone.

C. A sentence is a word or group of words/related words that have, at least, subject and a verb, and give complete meaning. 

• Sentence is closed by full stop/question mark/exclamation mark.
• There are 5 common elements of sentence.
• There are different types of sentences:
• Based on their structures: 4 types of sentences
• Based on their functions: 4 types of sentences
• Read the next 3 sections!

Examples: Note: Look the above brief explanations about the 3 groups of words: phrase, clause and sentence. More than 15 complete sentences have been used. Identify each of them!

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2. Five Elements of Sentence
Effectively construct sentences could have the next 5 common elements of sentence. The first two elements (subject and verb) are mandatory: they can't be missed! 

2.1. Subject of Sentence

• Subject is the doer of an action or the thing we are talking about, in a given sentence.
• The subject of a sentence could be a noun/pronoun or a phrase.

Examples:

• Tinbite is one of our top students.
• She has scored 601 on Entrance Exam.
• Verb is a word/group of words that show the action performed by the subject.
• Some students have already finished their test.
• The first question that the whole students in the class have asked was right. (All the underlined words are the subject, the rest are verb & adjective respectively.)

2.2. Verb in Sentence

• Verb is a word/group of words that show the action performed by the subject or the condition or state of being of the subject.
• Verb is very essential element of sentence; without a sentence, we can't construct a sentence!

Examples: 

Look the above two sentences; all the bolded (red) words (such as is, show, performed ...) are verbs in each of the above sentences.
2.3. Complement in Sentence 

• Complement is a word/group of words that tells about the given subject/ object.
• Complement and object are two different things (see below).
• There are two kinds of complements: 'subject complement' and 'object complement' (see under 'Confusing Areas', below).

2.4. Object in Sentence

• Object of a sentence is a person or a thing upon which an action is done or a receiver of an action performed by a subject of a sentence.
• Sometimes, we could have 'direct object' and 'indirect object' within a single sentence... (see under 'Confusing Areas', below).

2.5. Adverbial in Sentence

• Adverbial is a word/ group of words that tells about place, time, manner/how, why.. . of an action. 
• It includes prepositional phrases, adverb phrases and noun phrases.
• The adverbial is the most moblile element of the sentence. That means it can come anywhere in the sentence (beginning, middle or ending).
• It doesn't have fixed positions like subject, verb, object and complement ...
• Something, things may go contrary to what we expect.

Special Attention Areas: Confusing Areas:
Dear students, some of confusing areas that need special attention are briefly explained!

1. Complement, Object vs Adverbial
Some students are confused with these 3 elements (of sentence) but they are completely different; one can't replace the other.

• Complement tells us something about a subject or an object of a sentence.
• Object is the receiver (a person or a thing upon which an action is done) of an action.
• Adverbial tells us about place, time, manner, frequency ... in a sentence.

Note: Look the next examples carefully!
Examples:

• Biden is our current Mathematics teacher in this school.
• Complement= 'our current Mathematics teacher'
• Adverbial=  'in this school'
• Biden is currently teaching Mathematics in this school.
• Object= Mathematics
• Adverbial=  'in this school'
• We live here. (Adverbial= 'here', it tells place.)
• We are happy. (Complement= 'happy', it tells about the subject)
• We have bought the book. (Object= 'the book', it is the receiver of action)
• The book is under the table. (Adverbial= 'under the table', it tells place.)

2. Direct Object vs Indirect Object
The other confusing area in sentence construction is the issues about 'direct object' and 'indirect object'.

• Sometimes, two objects ('direct object' and 'indirect object') could be used in a given sentence (a single sentence).
• Don't think that 'direct object' is the object that immediately/directly comes after a verb; in sentence.
• The object that immediately/directly comes after a verb is 'indirect object'.
• 'Direct object' comes after 'indirect object'.

Note: Look the next examples carefully.
Examples:

• She has sent me new book. ('Me' is indirect object; 'new book' is direct object.)
• We have given our students their first final exam. ('Our students' is indirect object; 'their first final exam' is direct object.)
• Our teacher asked us a lot of questions about sentence last week. ('Us' is indirect object; ' a lot of questions' is direct object.)

3. Types of Sentence

Sentences are divided into different types based on their structures and functions. 

3.1. Types of Sentences Based on Structures

Sentence can be grouped into four based on their structure, namely, simple, compound, complex and compound complex. 

I. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject (one subject and a verb (one verb). 

• It may or may not have an object and modifiers.
• It must have a single subject, a single verb and a single object/complement; it can also have adverbial (a single or more).
• It must contain only one independent clause.

Examples:

• Obama speaks 3 languages.
• Messi is football player in Europe.
• My book has been taken by my boyfriend.

II. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is type of sentence that has at least two independent clauses.
Examples:

• We have asked him more than 10 times but he refused to respond to our question.
• Hawi went to Johnson's office and she met him there last week.
• A compound sentence is formed from two independent clauses; these clauses could be written separately as two independent sentences.

III. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is a sentence that has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• The sentence (complex sentence) could begin either by independent clause or dependent clause; it doesn't matter.
• If it (complex sentence) begins with dependent clause, the dependent clause must be separated by comma from the independent clause.
• If it (complex sentence) begins with independent clause, no need of using comma.

Examples:

• As soon as Bilise saw her boyfriend, she run to hug and kiss him.
• Bilise run to hug and kiss her boyfriend as soon as she saw him.
• The dependent clause must be separated by comma from the independent clause complex sentence begins with dependent clause.
• If it (complex sentence) begins with independent clause, no need of using comma.

IV. Compound-complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence is type of sentence that has at least two independent clauses and also at least one dependent clause.
Examples:

• When there is an indirect object in a sentence, it is mostly placed after the verb and before the direct object; it is a noun or pronoun that is a secondary object.
• Normally, when we construct negative sentence with NOT, we have to have auxiliary verbs; unless we are talking something familiar.
• Although, sometimes, some writers omit auxiliary verbs deliberately, as a rule, we cannot make negative sentence that contains NOT without using auxiliary verbs.

3.2. Types of Sentences Based on Functions
Based on their functions, sentences are also grouped into four: declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory sentences. This post focuses on the later ones.
I. Declarative /Statement: expresses fact/opinion
It is used to express or declare fact or opinion which could be true /false.

• It could be positive (affirmative) or negative; it is ended with full stop. 
• It is the most common sentence in writing and speaking.

Examples:

• The sentence that you are reading is declarative sentence. (positive or affirmative)
• The sentence that you are reading is not question sentence.

II. Interrogative/ Question Sentence 

Interrogative sentence is a type of sentence which is used to ask for information.

There are 3 common types of Interrogative sentence:

• Wh-words questions: Wh-word+ auxiliary verb + subject...
• Yes/no questions: Auxiliary verb + subject...
• Tag-questions: Statement, auxiliary verb + subject?

Examples:

• Can you tell me your name?
• Where are you going now?
• How can I get the post office?
• You haven't finished your test, have you?

Note: If there is indirect question, it begins with subject and ended with full stop.

• Subject +verb+ wh-word + subject +verb.

Examples:

• I want to know how you solved that question.
• He asked me where I live.

III. Imperative /Command Sentence
Imperative /command sentence is used to express instruction or what somebody should do or should not do. 

• It is constructed in two ways. 
• By beginning with verb1 and followed by noun phrase (V+NP). 
• In this case, the subject ‘you’ is understood /hidden. 
• It can also begin with subject and followed by obligatory modal verbs (should, have to, must...).

Examples:

• Stop talking!
• Leave the class!
• You have to finish on time.
• They should come with their parent.

Note: Unless we are expressing strong idea that we want to give emphasis (more attention), mostly imperative sentence ends with full stop (.), NOT by exclamation (!).
IV. Exclamatory Sentence
It is used to express an idea that shows high degree of emotion, or strong feelings (anger, happiness, amazement, love...).
Examples:

• Wow! 
• How brilliant man is this guy!
• Oh! You did it, bravo!

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