Mastery Of English Sentences (Part 1)

Have you been have problems making sentences that are grammatically and semantically correct? If yes, then today is your luck day, as I begin part 1 of your journey into the mastery of English Sentences. At the end of this series, you should be competent enough to make good sentences.

In part 1 of this series, we shall consider the concept of a sentence and the classifications of English sentences

The Concept of a Sentence

A sentence to a member of the jury, is a judgement handed down in favour of an accused or against a complainant. In grammar which is our concern in this work, it’s a group of words which is complete in itself. Further, it somewhat comprises a subject and a predicate expressing a statement, question, etc.

Examples

1. The man comes early.

Subject: The man

Predicate: comes early

1. John said he was not fine.

Subject: John

Predicate: said he was not fine

The Classifications of English Sentences

Sentences in English are separated according to the following:

1. Structure
2. Function

Structure

Under structure, we have these sentences based on the number of clauses they contain. And to determine the number of clauses a sentence is made up of, you’re to identify the number of finite verbs available in it.

Examples

• God is Good. (Verb – is)

In the above example, there’s only one verb and as a result, the sentence has one clause.

• God is good and his mercy endures forever. (Verbs: is, endures)

In the above sentence, we have two verbs. Therefore, the sentence comprises two clauses.

• Joan said she arrived early but she wasn’t allowed into the hall because she forgot to pick her tag. (Verbs: said, arrived, was allowed, forgot).

Assessing the sentence, there are four verbs. So, we’ve four clauses in the sentence.

Getting done with how to know the number of clauses in a given sentence, we’re moving forward to examine the sentences according to structure, form.

Types Of Sentence Structure

• Simple Sentence
• Compound Sentence
• Complex Sentence
• Compound-Complex Sentence

Simple Sentence

What makes this sentence a simple one is the fact that it consists of a single unit of idea, information. The unit of information is based on the number of verb, clause as shown earlier. It’s usually a main clause as it stands on its own to make a complete meaning.

Examples

1. Bradley’s friend visited  him last year.
2. He hasn’t returned the visit.

Compound Sentence

This form of sentence conveys two different units of messages that are separated using coordinating – and, or , but, because. It’s usually two simple sentences that are brought together in a ‘union’ with the help a conjunction.

Examples

1. Bradley’s friend visited him last year but he hasn’t returned the visit.
2. God is good and his mercy endures forever.
3. You can write your name or call it.

In the part 2 of this series, our discussion will continue, as we look at the remaining two types of sentences under structure, and the second parameter which is function.