A Sentence:
•
A sentence is a combination of
words, phrases and clauses
which gives a
complete meaning. Sentences can be classified according to the purpose
they serve and the manner in which the thought is expressed.
•
A sentence comprises of a
Subject
and a
Predicate.
Eg. She is going to
college. Here ‘She’ is the subject and ‘is going to college’ is the predicate.
•
A sentence structure comprises of three main parts. A
subject, verb
and an
object
(S,V,O). ‘She’ is the subject, ‘is going’ is the verb , and ‘to college’
is the object.
Various Sentence Structures:
•
Sub. + Verb:
The baby is crying.
He works.
Singers sing.
•
Sub. + Verb + Complement (Noun)
She is a singer.
•
Sub. + Verb + Complement (Adj.)
The ball was white.
The boy is tall.
The girl is beautiful.
•
Sub. + Verb + (Adverb)
The ball is in the field.
He was here.
•
Sub. + Verb + Complement (Noun)
He became a minister.
He remained a barber.
She remained a tailor.
•
Sub. + Verb + (Adj.)
She looked happy.
The plant grew pale.
He became happy.
•
Aux. Verb + Sub. + Verb + Object
Have you read this book?
Is she making the tea? Can you ride a bicycle? Should I help him?
• Sub. + Verb + Compliment + Gerund+ Object
It is no use waiting here.
It is fun playing with children. It is a big task starting a college.
• Sub. + Verb + Object +Prep. + Gerund + Object He earns his living by selling readymade garments. He left the meeting without saying anything.
He entertains all by mimicking great men.
• Sub. + Verb + Indirect object + Infinitive He told me how to get there.
These patterns show you how to make sentences. I advised him where to go for the holidays.
No one taught him how to read and write.
I will instruct you when to resume the treatment.
• Sub. + Verb + Gerund He loves swimming. She likes cooking. I hate driving.
•
Wh. word + Aux + Sub. + Verb + Object
Where can I find him?
When did she leave home?
Where should I see her?
How will he get here?.
•
Sub. + Verb + Object
Who can go with this child? Who lived in that house? Who will help her?
What is noun?
• Wh. Word + Auxiliary + Sub. + Verb + Object How can she eat an apple?
When will you drink milk? Why did they call you? What do you do with saw?
• Auxiliary + Sub. + Verb + Object Will she marry me?
Are you writing a letter? Do we know the way? Had he killed the dog?
• Aux. negative + Sub. + Verb + Object
Aren’t you singing a song? Doesn’t she teach you?
Hasn’t he solved the problem? Don’t we know the way?
Will she not invite me?
• Exclamation Word + Article + Adj. + Noun + Sub. + Verb What a beautiful shirt she has!
What a heavy box he carried! What a stroke he played!
What a Beautiful dance she did!
• Exclamation Word + Adj. + Sub. + Verb
How difficult it looks! How tall she is!
How intelligent this dog was! How beautiful this flower is!
• Exclamation Word + Adverb +Subject + Verb How far you go!
How easily we win!
How fast he drives!
Types of Sentences
Sentences may be classified in
Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative and
Exclamatory.
Declarative /Assertive-
A declarative or assertive sentence states a fact, opinion
or idea.
Exercise 1- Convert the below mentioned assertive sentences into the other three
types (if possible):
•
I get up early in the morning.
•
I like reading.
Imperative Sentence-
An imperative sentence gives a command or a request..
Exercise 2- Convert the below mentioned imperative sentences into the other
three types (if possible):
•
Go to your room now.
•
Stop.
Interrogative Sentence-
An
interrogative sentence generally enquires
something
Exercise 3- Convert the below mentioned interrogative sentences into the
other three types (if possible):
•
Have you ever seen a flying fish?
•
Would you like another piece of pie?
•
Where do you live?
•
Is the train late?
•
What do we have for dinner?
Exercise 4- Convert the below mentioned exclamatory sentences into the other three types (if possible):
• That sounds incredible!
• Alas! Abandon.
• Hurrah! My father has come.
• What a beautiful bird it is!
• How beautiful is this flower!
ANSWERS Exercise
1-• He sold cakes to the class. (Declarative)
Wow! He sold cakes to the class. (Exclamatory)
•
No, I don’t like to eat fish. (Declarative)
Do I like to eat fish? (Interrogative)
Do know that I don’t like to eat fish. (Imperative)
Shit! I don’t like to eat fish. (Exclamatory)
•
The child is going to school. (Declarative)
Is that child going to school? (Interrogative)
Bravo! The child is going to school. (Exclamatory)
•
I get up early in the morning. (Assertive)
•
I like reading. (Declarative)
Do I like reading? (Interrogative)
Well, I like reading! (Exclamatory)
Exercise
2-•
Go to your room now. (Imperative)
You may go to your room now. (Assertive)
Can you go to your room now? (Interrogative)
•
Stop. (Imperative)
You must stop. (Assertive)
Could you stop? (Interrogative)
I want you to lend me your book. (Assertive) Can you lend me your book? (Interrogative) Great! You lend me your book. (Exclamatory)
• Have a good time at picnic. (Imperative)
I wish you to have a good time at picnic. (Assertive) Do you have a good time at picnic? (Interrogative)
• Leave this place at once. (Imperative)
I order you to leave this place at once. (Assertive) Can you leave this place at once? (Interrogative)
Exercise
Wow! I have seen a flying fish. (Exclamatory) Go and see a flying fish. (Imperative)
• Would you like another piece of pie? (Interrogative)
I want to know if you need another piece of pie. (Assertive) Take another piece of pie. (Imperative)
• Where do you live? (Interrogative)
I want to know your address. (Assertive) Woo! You live there. (Exclamatory) Tell me your address. (Imperative)
• Is the train late? (Interrogative)
Let me know about the departure of the train. (Imperative) • What do we have for dinner? (Interrogative)
We must be having something for dinner. (Assertive) Alas! There is nothing for the dinner. (Exclamatory) Let me see the menu of the dinner. (Imperative) Exercise
4-• That sounds incredible! (Exclamatory) Does that sound incredible? (Interrogative) That was an incredible sound. (Assertive) Let it sound incredible. (Imperative)
• Alas! It is abandoned. (Exclamatory) It is abandoned. (Assertive)
• Hurrah! My father has come. (Exclamatory)
I am happy that my father has come. (Declarative) Do you know that my father has come? (Interrogative) Please, let my father come. (Imperative)
• What a beautiful bird it is! (Exclamatory) It is a very beautiful bird. (Declarative)
Do you find that bird beautiful? (Interrogative) Appreciate the beauty of the bird. (Imperative)
• How beautiful is this flower! (Exclamatory)
Do you find this flower beautiful? (Interrogative) This flower is very beautiful. (Assertive)
