English Grammar And Composition I SENTENCE & ITS STRUCTURE
English Grammar And Composition I SENTENCE & ITS STRUCTURE
THE SENTENCE
Definition:
A sentence is an arrangement of words that makes complete sense.
It must be meaningful and must be acceptable to the speaker of the language at the same time.
FOR EXAMPLE
· A table is made of wood.
· We live and die for God
STRUCTURE OF A SENTENCE
Every sentence has two parts
· THE SUBJECT
· THE PREDICATE
THE SUBJECT
Definition:
A word (or words) denoting a person, place or thing about whom or of which something is said in a sentence is called the subject of the sentence.
Note: a subject may consist of one word or more.
For Example
· John is a young lad. (John is subject of the sentence)
THE PREDICATE
Definition:
The predicate says something about the subject. It may consist of just a verb or a verb plus other elements.
The normal word order in English is
Subject+ predicate
Since there is no sentence without a verb, the smallest English sentence must have the following structure.
Subject
|
Predicate
|
I
|
Play
|
· He eats apples (he is subject ) (eats is verb) (apples is object)
OBJECT
Definition:
Object is a word on which some action is performed in a sentence.
For example
· He is working hard.
· Hard is object of the sentence.
PHRASE
Definition:
A combination of words that makes sense but not a complete sense, which has some meaning but does not clear is called phrase
Examples
· A very big parcel,
· On the river
· On the table
· Outside the window
· In the west etc
CLAUSE
Definition:
A simple sentence which forms a part of a larger or longer sentence is called a clause.
A clause consists of a subject and a predicate
For example
· This is the house where we live.
· He received a parcel which was very big.
Note:
Each clause s not a complete sentence because it does not give a complete meaning independently, we do not know from the above examples what the words “where” and “which” stand for
· I saw a dog how was barking
I subject, saw a dog (predicate)
· Who was barking
Who (subject) was barking (predicate)
Who was barking is a part of a larger sentence but does not express complete sense or meaning independently.
Principal or independent clause
Definition:
A Principal or independent clause expresses a complete and clear idea or thought. It remains meaningful even if the other clauses are removed from the sentence.
It can stand alone as complete sentence.
A Principal or independent clause
Is also known as main clause or independent clause
For example
· He does not work hard but he is quite intelligent.
· (He does not work hard this is principal clause )
Subordinate clause
Definition:
Subordinate clause or dependent clause is a clause which depends on another clause for its meaning.
It does not express a complete thought alone.
For example
· I asked the teacher what I should do after school. (I asked the teacher-- This is principal clause while the rest is subordinate clause)
The boy did not know that his father had come. (that his father had come is subordinate clause)
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