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Sentence StructureSentence Structure

• 8 Parts of Speech8 Parts of Speech– 1. Noun1. Noun– 2. Pronoun2. Pronoun– 3. Adjective3. Adjective– 4. Adverb4. Adverb– 5. Verb5. Verb– 6. Preposition6. Preposition– 7. Conjunctive7. Conjunctive– 8. Interjection8. Interjection

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Basic StructureBasic Structure

• The very basic structure of a The very basic structure of a sentence is:sentence is:

Subject + PredicateSubject + Predicate

Example: Example:

Subject + VerbSubject + Verb

I cried.I cried.

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Five Commonly Used Five Commonly Used PatternsPatterns• 1. Subject (N) + V1. Subject (N) + V

– I I smiledsmiled..

• 2. Subject (N) + V + Compliment (C)2. Subject (N) + V + Compliment (C)– I I amam sorry. I sorry. I amam late. late.

• 3. Subject (N) + V + Object (O)3. Subject (N) + V + Object (O)– I I hadhad an accident. an accident.

• 4. Subject (N) + V + O + C4. Subject (N) + V + O + C– I I makmake the teacher angry.e the teacher angry.

• 5. Subject (N) + V + O + V / O5. Subject (N) + V + O + V / O– The teacher The teacher letslets me sit down. me sit down. – The teacher The teacher givesgives me one more chance. me one more chance.

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ConjunctionsConjunctions

• Conjunctions join words, phrases, or claConjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses together. There are two main types:uses together. There are two main types: – Coordinating conjunctionsCoordinating conjunctions– Subordinating conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions

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Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

• Coordinating conjunctions join items of Coordinating conjunctions join items of the same syntactic class.  Thus, words the same syntactic class.  Thus, words are joined to words, phrases to are joined to words, phrases to phrases, dependent clauses to phrases, dependent clauses to dependent clauses, and independent dependent clauses, and independent clauses to independent clauses.  There clauses to independent clauses.  There are seven coordinating conjunctions:are seven coordinating conjunctions:

and / or / nor / for / so / but / yetand / or / nor / for / so / but / yet

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Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

• Examples:Examples:– I like apples I like apples andand oranges. oranges.– Would you like coffee Would you like coffee oror tea? tea?– I like neither coffee I like neither coffee nornor tea, tea, butbut I like I like

milk milk andand fruit juice. fruit juice.

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Subordinating Subordinating ConjunctionsConjunctions• Once you have memorized these seven forms, anythinOnce you have memorized these seven forms, anythin

g else that looks like a conjunction must necessarily bg else that looks like a conjunction must necessarily be a subordinating conjunction.e a subordinating conjunction.

• Subordinating conjunctions (or SUBORDINATORS) coSubordinating conjunctions (or SUBORDINATORS) connect elements of `unequal' syntactic status: nnect elements of `unequal' syntactic status:

• I left early I left early because because I had an appointment at 4pm. I had an appointment at 4pm. We visited the temple We visited the temple while while we were on Lantau Island.we were on Lantau Island. I'll be home at ten I'll be home at ten if if I can get a taxi. I can get a taxi.

• Other subordinating conjunctions include Other subordinating conjunctions include although, balthough, because, before, since, till, unless, whereas, whetherecause, before, since, till, unless, whereas, whether

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AdjunctsAdjuncts

• Certain parts of a sentence may convey iCertain parts of a sentence may convey information about nformation about howhow, , whenwhen, or , or where where ssomething happened omething happened – She ate her meal She ate her meal quickly.quickly. (how) (how)

John gave blood John gave blood last week.last week. (when) (when)I went to school I went to school in Shamshuipo.in Shamshuipo. (where) (where)

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AdjunctsAdjuncts

• Noun Phrases functioning as AdjunctsNoun Phrases functioning as Adjuncts– John gave blood John gave blood last week.last week.

Next summerNext summer, we're going to the USA., we're going to the USA.We've agreed to meet We've agreed to meet the day after tomorrow.the day after tomorrow.

• NPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time, as in these examples.NPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time, as in these examples. • Adverb Phrases functioning as AdjunctsAdverb Phrases functioning as Adjuncts

– We ate our meal tooWe ate our meal too quickly. quickly. She walked veryShe walked very gracefully down the steps. Sudden gracefully down the steps. Suddenly, ly, the door opened.the door opened.

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AdjunctsAdjuncts

• Prepositional Phrases functioning as AdjPrepositional Phrases functioning as Adjuncts uncts – I went to school I went to school in Shamshuipo.in Shamshuipo.

I work late I work late on Fridays.on Fridays.After workAfter work, I go to an Italian restaurant. , I go to an Italian restaurant.

• PPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time oPPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time or to place -- they tell us r to place -- they tell us whenwhen or or wherewhere s something happens. omething happens.

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AdjunctsAdjuncts

• Clauses functioning as AdjunctsClauses functioning as Adjuncts – Finite (with conjunctions)Finite (with conjunctions)

•WhileWhile we were crossing the road we were crossing the road, we heard a , we heard a loud explosion. loud explosion.

• I was late for school I was late for school becausebecause the train broke the train broke down.down.

• IfIf you want tickets for the concert you want tickets for the concert, you have , you have to book early.to book early.

•The bus broke down, The bus broke down, soso I had to walk. I had to walk.

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AdjunctsAdjuncts• Clauses functioning as AdjunctsClauses functioning as Adjuncts

– NonfiniteNonfinite• To-infinitive clause:To-infinitive clause:

– To open the windowTo open the window, you have to climb a ladder. , you have to climb a ladder. • Bare infinitive clause:Bare infinitive clause:

– Rather than leave the child aloneRather than leave the child alone, I brought him to work wit, I brought him to work with me.h me.

• --ing clause:ing clause:– Being a qualified doctorBeing a qualified doctor, David had no difficulty in giving the , David had no difficulty in giving the

diagnosis.diagnosis.• -ed clause:-ed clause:

– Left to herselfLeft to herself, she usually gets the job done quickly., she usually gets the job done quickly.• Small clause:Small clause:

– Her face red with rageHer face red with rage, Amy stormed out of the room., Amy stormed out of the room.

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ReferencesReferences

• Useful websites:Useful websites:

• http://www.geocities.com/venuslamwhttp://www.geocities.com/venuslamwss

• http://www.engl.niu.edu/dhardy/gramhttp://www.engl.niu.edu/dhardy/grammarbook/title.htmlmarbook/title.html

• http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammhttp://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/home.htmar/home.htm