Introduction to a Sentence


A sentence is an arrangement of words in some order to give a sensible expression. The words can be nouns, verbs, or any parts of speech. But without a verb, no sentence can be formed. 

  • I am happy.

  • I read a book. (the italics are verbs)

But, of course, we have sentences without verbs!

  • Better late than never.

  • The harder, the better.

I will discuss it in the next session.

Also, we can make sentences by removing verbs.

  • I have three mangoes. You, two.

Such a type of sentence is called an elliptical sentence. I will discuss it in a separate session.

A sentence is composed of basically two parts- subject (S) and predicate (P).

  • India (S) || [wins freedom] (P). 

  • India (S) || [is country] (P). 

The sentence may be formed with a single word (verb).

  • Play. 

  • Come on.

A predicate may include a verb (V), an object (O), and a complement (C).

  • India (S) || [wins (V) freedom (O)] (P).

  • India (S) || [is (V) country (C)] (P). 

The subject can be longer than one word.

  • [A glass of orange juice] || is on the table. 

  • A fat red one-legged rat was crawling on the floor.

A verb in a sentence may take either object or complement.

  • India || is progressing (V) /fast/ (C). 

  • The verb may take direct (DO) or indirect object (InO).

  • Sameer || gave me (DO) an apple (InO) to eat.

We can use modifiers (M) to expand our sentences. Modifiers add extra information about subjects or verbs.

  • India || wins freedom /at midnight/ (M). 

  • India || is /a great/ (M) country.  

  • India, /the land of Lord Ram/ (M), || always spreads love.

We can also use clauses (Cl) to make our sentences more expressive. 

  • India {which was once called a golden bird } (Cl)|| proves herself the same.

  • India || won freedom {when her people || thought to be united} (Cl).

Our thoughts cannot be expressed with a single sentence, but with two or more sentences. Conjunctions (Con) are used to add two or more sentences together. 

  • India || won freedom in 1947 \and\ (Con) gave a constitution in 1950.

  • India || progressed a lot, \yet\ (Con) she needs a lot more.

Each sentence has a purpose to achieve. 

A sentence may be a statement.

  • India is a progressive country.

  • A sentence may be used to ask questions.

  • Is India a progressive sentence?

A sentence may be used in negative implications.

  • India is not a progressive country.

  • Is India not a progressive country. 

A sentence may be used to give instructions or advice and to express a command, an order, a direction, or a request.

  • Let me tell you the rules of the game. (instruction)

  • Please, give me that book. (request)

  • Open the door for me. (order)

  • Bring that boy to me right now. (command)

  • Don’t take a shortcut in life. (advice)

Emotions and excitement may also be expressed with the sentence.

  • Happy birthday!

  • Ohhh! What the hell are you?

  • Wow! I got the ticket.

No comments:

Post a Comment