Sentence and Independent Clause

SENTENCES
What is sentences?
Sentence is a large unit of words that is grammatically complete and used to express exclamation, statement ,and questions. A sentence must have a main clause or more than one main clause. There are as many clauses as there are finite verbs in a sentence. (The finite verb is the verb that changes with the person or number of the subject.)
; FORMS OF SENTENCES\ * Simple sentence: A sentence with one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

Example: Ezra enjoyed the evening party. The boy finished his food quickly.

* Compound Sentence: A sentence with multiple independent clauses but no dependent clauses.

Example: I scared my brother, and he cried instantly. Born on March 9, 1930 and she is considered leader of the pact.\

* Complex Sentence: A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Example: After she finished her lunch, she washed the dishes. Sara practised so hard because her dance recital is nearing.

FUNCTIONS OF SENTENCE
There are four sentence functions in English: declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, and imperative. * Declarative sentences state an idea.

It was stated that Malaysia and Japan are officially in war.
The old lady is staring at us.

* Exclamatory sentences often ends with exclamatory mark(!).They also show strong emotions.

This is such a pathetic party! * Interrogative sentences ask a question.it They end with a question mark(?).

Would you like to have another cup of coffee?
Have you ever thought of my feelings?

* Imperative sentences give orders or directions, and so end with a period or an exclamation mark.

Take the books to Mr Mahendran.
Everyone please keep quiet!

STRUCTURES OF SENTENCE * Simple sentences

This type of sentences are the easiest of all. SENTENCE = SUBJECT + PREDICATE

The subject often occurs at the beginning of the sentence and they indicate the topic of the discussion. Subject of a sentence also consist of noun phrase.

The predicate usually follows the subject and often starts with a verb .A predicate convey thought about the subject.

A subject and predicate, together, form a simple sentence. The term "simple" refers to the basic structure of a sentence. Simple sentences can be: * short or long, * can express simple or complex thoughts and may contain complex constructions Examples: * Marie who suddenly appeared in the middle of the party with a ridiculously looking hat on her head ate the whole turkey on her own. * Marie ate the turkey.

Both of the sentences are simple and they can be reduced with the usage of pronoun.

* Marie ate it

* Compound sentences.

As stated, a compound sentence consist of multiple independent clauses with no dependent clause.

Compound sentences can be structured using three methods;

1. Using a comma and a coordinating conjunction
We can use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join two or more independent clauses into a compound sentence. The comma comes before the conjunction. Examples of conjunctions; for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so

Independent clauses + coordinating conjunctions + Independent clauses

Ezra used to love singing, but he lost his voice.
He was starving ,so I cooked him a quick meal

2. Using a semicolon.
A semicolon, like a period, creates a stop between two independent clauses.

Independent clauses + semicolon + Independent clauses

I cleared the room; Ezra painted it
I couldn’t eat the pizza; she was staring at me.

3. Using a semicolon with a transitional expression.

A transitional expression shows the relationship between two ideas. A semicolon with a transitional expression often makes a smoother connection than a semicolon alone.

Examples of transitional expressions are:

Addition: also, in addition, moreover
Contrast: however, in contrast, on the other hand
Result: therefore, as a result, consequently
Example: for example, for instance
Listing: first, second, third A comma is used after the transitional word or expression. Independent clauses + semicolon + transition + Independent clauses Examples: I cleared the room; on the other hand, Ezra painted it. * Complex sentence

A compex sentence is formed when you join a main clause and an dependent clause.Example;

Although it was raining, I managed to catch the bus.

Note!
Although it was raining = this is a dependent clause as it does not make sense on its own.

If I practice harder, we might win the Olympiad.
Though he was tired, Ezra finished his essay.
When he screamed, everyone was startled.

The examples above follows the pattern ; dependent clause main clause

The same sentence are used below but with the format ;main clause dependent clause

We might win the Olympiad ,if I practised harder.
Ezra finished his essay, though he was tired.
Everyone was startled, when he screamed.

When a complex sentence starts with a dependent clause, the sentence begin with subordinate conjunction.
Ie: after,although,as,,unless,because,when,where,wherever,even,if,since,

The subordinate clause can also be put in the middle of the main clause.

Miller ,who stutters ,gave out the speech.
Malik, talking to himself, fell the over the stone.

PATTERNS OF SENTENCE STRUCTURES
Independent clause I love eating raw foods.
Lou starts singing at the age of five.
She is a proud person.
Independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause
Morrie is nice, but he is sarcastic.
I went for morning walk, and I found a dead body.
Lola hates me, yet she visits me everyday.
Independent clause + semicolon + independent clause.
I walked quickly; the rain poured heavily
He fell of the stair; the tiles were oily
Mae slept on the bed; Ryan rested on the couch.
Independent clause + adverbial conjunction + independent clause
I went for a walk; consequently, I was soothed by the gentle night air.
I talked for hours; eventually,I got tired.
Dependent marker + clause + independent clause
Because I hoped to be soothed by the gentle night air, I went for a walk
Before the situation turns worse, I pushed everyone out.
Relative pronoun + clause
The beautiful scenery which took my breath away.
Whoever danced well was given ticket to the concert.
Marie was dumbfounded when she found out the truth.
Dependent clause + independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause
As I walked out of the room, all the memories played in my mind, and I started to feel guilty.
Before she tore the paper, I grabbed her hand,and she screamed.
After finishing the homework, I rest, but I couldn’t sleep.

* TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

The basic sentence may be transformed in the following ways: 1.Transform to passive voice Active = I gave Zoe a book Passive = The book was given to Zoe by me. 2.Transform to the expletive there is / there are Sentence = The insect is creeping on the floor Transformed = There is an insect creeping on the floor. 3. Transform to negative Original sentence = That is my car. Transformed = That is not my car. 4. Transform to interrogative Original sentence = Ben is my kitten The cat is eating the fish Marie was getting healthy Transformed = Is Ben my kitten? What is the cat eating?| Was Marie getting healthy? 5. Transform to emphasis / emphatic To make the emphatic transformation, place do, does, or did in front of the verb Original sentence = I gave Ashfaq a ring. I love Maddy. The people made Danny famous. Transformed = I did gave Ashfaq a ring. I do love Maddy. The people did make Danny famous 6. Transform to imperative 7. Transform to exclamatory

* REFERENCES

http://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/phrfunc.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sentence structure http://www.towson.edu/ows/sentence.htm Abdul Halim bin Ibrahim , Dr. (2012). Building Sentenses Skills Part 1