1. Sentence, parts of sentence and its types

A sentence is the largest unit of any language. In English, it begins with a capital letter and ends with a full-stop, or a question mark, or an exclamation mark.

The sentence is generally defined as a word or a group of words that expresses a thorough idea by giving a statement/order, or asking a question, or exclaiming.

Example:

He is a good boy (statement), Is he a good boy? (question), What a nice weather! (exclaiming).

Ideally, a sentence requires at least one subject and one verb. Sometimes the subject of a sentence can be hidden, but the verb must be visible and present in the sentence. Verb is called the heart of a sentence.  

Example:

Do it. (In this sentence, a subject ‘you’ is hidden but verb ‘do’ is visible)   

“[A sentence is] a group of words, usually containing a verb, that expresses a thought in the form of a statement, question, instruction, or exclamation and starts with a capital letter when written.” - (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press.)

More Examples of Sentences 

In other words, a complete English sentence must have three characteristics:

• First, in written form, a sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period (i.e., a full stop) [.], a note of interrogation (i.e., a question mark) [?], or a note of exclamation (i.e., an exclamation mark) [!].
• Second, it must express a complete thought, not fragmented.  
• Third, it must contain at least one subject (hidden/visible) and one verb comprising an independent clause. (An independent clause contains an independent subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.)

 

Structurally, sentences are of four types:

• Simple sentence
• Compound sentence
• Complex sentence, and 
• Compound-complex sentence.

Simple sentence

A simple sentence must have a single clause (a single verb) which is independent, and it cannot take another clause.

Example:

I always wanted to become a writer. (One clause – one verb)

Compound sentence

A compound sentence must have more than one independent clause with no dependent clauses. Some specific conjunctions, punctuation, or both are used to join together these clauses.

Example:

I always wanted to become a writer, and she wanted to become a doctor. (Two independent clauses – two verbs)

Complex sentence

A complex sentence also has more than one clause but of one them must be an independent clause and the other/others must be (a) dependent clause(es). There are also some particular connectors for the clauses of a complex sentence to be connected.

Example:

I know that you always wanted to be a writer. (Here, a dependent clause is followed by a connector and an independent clause. The other way around is also possible.)

Compound-complex sentence

A compound-complex sentence (or complex–compound sentence) is a mixture of the features of compound and complex sentences in one sentence. So, it must contain at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Example:

I know that you always wanted to become a writer, but I always wanted to become a doctor. (Here, one dependent clause is followed by a complex connector and two independent clauses with a compound conjunction between them.)  

 

Functionally, sentences are of mainly four types:

• Declarative sentence
• Imperative sentence
• Interrogative sentence, and
• Exclamatory sentence

Declarative sentence:

An assertive sentence (declarative sentence) simply expresses an opinion/feeling, or makes a statement, or describes things. In other words, it declares something. This type of sentence ends with a period (i.e., a full-stop).

Examples:

• I want to be a good cricketer. (a statement)
• I am very happy today. (a feeling)

More Examples of Declarative Sentence

Imperative sentence:

We use an imperative sentence to make a request or to give a command. Imperative sentences usually end with a period (i.e., a full stop), but under certain circumstances, it can end with a note of exclamation (i.e., exclamation mark).

Examples:

• Please sit down.
• I need you to sit down now!

More Examples of Imperative Sentence

Interrogative sentence:

An interrogative sentence asks a question. Interrogative sentences must end with a note of interrogation (i.e., question mark)

Examples:

• When are you going to submit your assignment?
• Do you know him?

More Examples of Interrogative Sentence

Exclamatory sentence.

An exclamatory sentence expresses overflow of emotions. These emotions can be of happiness, wonder, sorrow, anger, etc. 

Examples:

• What a day it was!
• I cannot believe he would do that!

More Examples of Exclamatory Sentence

 

1. Synthesis of Sentence

 

Synthesis means the combination of a number of simple sentences into one new sentence – simple, compound or complex.

The following are the chief ways of combining two or more simple sentences into one large simple sentence.

By using a participle

He sprang up to his feet. He ran away.
springing up to his feet, he ran away.

She was tired of trying. She decided to quit.
Tired (or, being tired) of trying, she decided to quit.

By using a noun or a phrase in apposition

This is my mother. Her name is Susie.
This is my mother Susie.

By using a preposition with a noun or gerund

Her husband died. She heard the news. She fainted.
On hearing the news of her husband’s death she fainted.

He has failed many times. He still hopes to succeed.
In spite of many failures, he still hopes to succeed.

By using the absolute construction

The watch was expensive. He could not buy it.
The watch being expensive, he could not buy it.

The cot was too small. He could not sleep on it.
The cot being too small, he could not sleep on it.

By using an infinitive

He wanted to pass the examination. He studied hard.
He studied hard to pass the examination.

I have some duties. I must perform them.
I have some duties to perform.

By using an adverb or adverbial phrase

The sun set. The travelers had not reached their destination.
The travelers had not reached their destination by sunset.

1. Conditional Sentences

Normally conditional sentences are called conditionals. These sentences usually contain the conjunction IF. Sometimes  they are called 'if clauses'.

 

There are mainly two types of conditionals:

• The Real Conditionals and
• The Unreal Conditionals

The real conditionals

The real conditionals express factual or habitual conditions which have the possibility to occur in the future or generally occur in the present.

Example:

• I’ll go if you give me the ball.
• If I feel better, I’ll certainly play.
• If you do well in the exams, I’ll buy you a gift.

Structures of the Real Conditionals:

For Future Conditions

If + subject + simple present tense + subject + will/can/may/must + verb in base form. . . Subject + will/can/may/must + verb in base form. . . + if + subject + simple present tense

Example:   If I have the money, I will buy a new phone. I can make you cry if you keep doing that. If he goes there, he may get robbed. If you go outside, you must wear heavy clothes.

 

For Habitual Conditions

If + subject + simple present tense + subject + simple present tense. . . Subject + simple present tense + if + subject + simple present tense. .

Example:   If I have the money, I always buy the necessary things. If Alex gets a break, he usually calls me. He works hard if the payment is good.

 

For Commands

If + subject + simple present tense + command form (simple present) . . . . . Command form (simple present). . . . .  + if + subject + simple present tense.

Example:   If you have the money, use it wisely. Please call me if you get a chance.

The unreal conditionals

The unreal conditionals express hypothetical conditions which have no possibility to occur in the past, present or future but describe what could/might have occurred supposedly.

Example:

• If I were rich, I would travel my whole life.
• If I had a car, I could go anywhere.
• If we had not missed the train, we would have reached the city.

Structures of Unreal Conditionals:

For Present/Future Conditions

If + subject + simple past tense + subject + would/could/might + verb in base form. . . subject + would/could/might + verb in base form + if + subject + simple past tense

Example:   If I had the money, I would buy a new phone. If I were the president, I would not support war policies. If he were not ill, he could come with us. If I could play tomorrow, I would definitely win the match.

 

For Past Conditions

If + subject + past perfect tense + subject + would/could/might + have+ verb in past particple form Subject + would/could/might + have + verb in past participle form + if + subject + simple past tense

Example:   If I had played well, we would have won the match. I could have caught you if you had been a little closer. If he had written well, I could have given him a better mark.

Had + subject + verb in past participle + subject + would/could/might + have + verb in past particple

Example:   Had I reached earlier, I could have caught the train. Had she found the watch, she would have told me.