Sentencing

1. Language Studies and Academics 1 Sentencing Structure, Types, and Common Problems 1

2. The Sentence A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. A sentence makes sense because it is a whole idea, not just part of one. It contains a subject and a predicate.

3. ? ! Kinds of Sentences Declarative – makes a statement • Your order is ready. Interrogative – asks a question • Has Mona stopped by yet? Imperative – gives a command • Please stir the soup. Exclamatory – expresses strong emotion • What a game that was! • I’m so sad!

4. Declarative • A declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period. • Example: • The sky is blue. • I am very hungry. • I went to the Villaggio with my friends on Thursday night.

5. Interrogative • An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark. • Examples: • What are you studying at CNA-Q? • Is Mohammed travelling after he graduates? • Are you enjoying your program so far?

6. Imperative • An imperative sentence makes a command or request and ends with a period. • Examples: • Laila, please shut the door. • Amr, shut the door. • Do your homework. • Please do your homework.

7. Exclamatory • An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong emotion and ends in an exclamation mark. • Examples: • I’m so happy! • Oh my goodness! • That is terrific news! • I can’t believe it!

8. Subjects & Predicates Subject Names the person, place, or thing about which something is said. Predicate Tells what the subject does, or what is done tothe subject.

9. Find the completesubject and predicate in the sentence below. (click to reveal) Now find the simplesubject and predicate. (click to reveal) (complete subject) Simple Subject Simple Predicate Example sat down abruptly. The man in the brown coat (complete predicate)

10. Sentence Structure Before we look at types of sentences, let’s review the various word groups that can be used to construct sentences. Clauses Independent (stand alone) Dependent (need support) Phrases Various types (often prepositional)

11. What is a Clause? A clause is a word group that contains a subject and verb, but may or may notexpress a complete thought. Independent Clause Dependent Clause Expresses complete thought. Stands alone. Works as simple sentence. Does not express complete thought. Cannot stand alone. Relies on another word group. Note: a dependent clause might also be called a subordinate clause

12. Dependent Clauses A dependent clause contains a subjectand a verbBUT… does not express a complete thought. Examples: Since I came here When we go home Before Mohammed writes a test After the Land Cruiser rolled down the dune Notice how the first word makes these clauses dependent: since, when, before etc. These clauses DEPEND on other word groups to form full sentences.

13. Because Before Even if In order to Just as Once Provided Rather than Since So that Unless When Whenever Wherever While Until However Words that Often Form Dependent Clauses Subordinating conjunctions After Although As As if As soon as As though Relative Pronouns Who, whose, whom, that, which, whoever, whomever, whichever

14. Phrases A phrase is a sentence part that adds information but does not containa subject or a verb. The most common type of phrase is the prepositional phrase. • on Sunday • before English class • under the small wooden table begins with preposition, ends with object • Consider this word group (clause or phrase?): • after the Land Cruiser rolled down the dune* Is down the dune a clause or phrase? Why?

15. Try your Skill On Sunday, everyone in Doha thought the dust storm would not last long; however, it continued for two full days. Can you find any prepositional phrases? • on Sunday • in Doha • for two full days

16. Subject(s) + verb(s) • complete thought independent clause + Could be more than 2 independent independent + independent dependent Sequence can vary + 2 independent 1 dependent Sentence Types Now let’s look at how clauses can be used to form different sentence types. Simple = Compound = = Complex = Compound/Complex

17. 2 subj. 2 verbs Simple Sentence A simple sentence is an independent clause that has a subject and verb and expresses one idea. Ali and Fahad traveled to Dubai and Bahrain last January and returned in April. We canceled the picnic. After my breakfast, I will go to school and take a test. NOTE: a simple sentence may have multiple subjects/verbs: Note of interest: Dubai and Bahrain is also a compound element (called object of preposition)

18. Compound Sentence A compound sentence is two or moreindependent clauses that are joined. Here are three ways to form a compound sentence: Canada is a very rich country, but it has many poor people. • comma + coordinating conjunction Canada is a very rich country; it has many poor people. • semicolon Canada is a very rich country; however,it has many poor people. • semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma Independent clauses Canada is a very rich country. It has many poor people.

19. Complex Sentence A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause. Independent Clause (IC) Dependent Clause (DC) Fahad asked for the day off Because his son was graduating + = Fahad asked for the day off because his son was graduating. Can you think of another way to combine these two clauses?

20. Quick Review Let’s review the 3 sentence types discussed so far, by working with the following two clauses: My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go. + My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go. Simple Compound My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go. Complex Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go.

21. Joined by comma & conjunction (, but) Compound Complex Sentences A compound complex sentence contains two independent and one or more dependent clauses. Although my friend invited me to a party,I do not want to go, but I will go. • I do not want to go • I will go Which clauses are independent? Which clauses are dependent? • Although my friend invited me to a party

22. Complex Sentence Patterns IC DC No comma needed Fahad asked for the day offbecause his son is graduating. DC, IC Comma needed Because his son is graduating,Fahad asked for the day off. IC,DC, IC Two commas show where DC interrupts IC Fahad,whose son is graduating,asked for the day off.

23. Direct and Indirect Objects SOMETIMES:The verb gives the complete meaning of the sentence. Example: The plane will land. OTHER TIMES: Additional words are needed to complete the sentence. Example: The student carried…. (Carried what?)

24. Verb carried Carried what? books V S Verb likes Likes whom? father V S Direct Object completes or receives action of the verb 1. Find the subject and verb 2. Ask whom or what after the verb To find the Direct Object… Examples (click to reveal): The student carried his books. Ali likes his father.

25. Indirect Object When a sentence has a direct object, it may have an indirect object. Indirect objects tell either… To whom or to what about the verb Or For whom or for what about the verb

26. Indirect Object How to find the Indirect Object (I.O.) • Find the subject, verb and direct object • Look between the verb and direct objectto see if there is a noun or pronoun • If so, ask to/for whom or to/for whatafter the verb and direct object.

27. Gave books to whom? V D.O. S I.O. Indirect Object Find subject, verb and d.o. Look betweenverb and d.o. for noun/pronoun Ask to or for whom/whatafter verb and d.o. The student gave Ali the books. Let’s try one together… Hints: The I.O. is always between the verb and the D.O. The I.O. is always a noun / pronoun.

28. Subject-Verb Agreement

29. Singular Subject Singular Verb Plural Subject Plural Verb AgreementBasic Concept A verb must agree with its subject in number. Moza buys a new purse every year. Meshaal comes to class on time. Families usually have the evening meal together. Cats are common in Doha

30. AgreementCommon Mistakes Mistakes are often made when… • There are words between the subject and verb. • The verb comes before the subject. • Compound subjects are used. • Indefinite pronouns are used. • Titles and units are used in a sentence. Let’s look at each of these situations…

31. Words Between Subject & Verb Words that come between the subject and verb DO NOT change the subject/verb agreement! The sharp teeth in the dog’s mouth (look / looks) scary. The colour of the bedrooms (need / needs) to be changed. The lockers in the hall at school (has / have) been painted. REMEMBER:a prepositional phrasecannot be and does not contain the subject of a sentence

32. Verb before Subject REMEMBER:The verb must agree with its subjecteven if it comes before the subject! • There (is / are) many cats on the street. • Where (is / are) your husband’s mobile phone? • When (do / does) lunchtime start? • There (was / were) a huge sandstorm yesterday.

33. Compound Subjects Compound Subject = 2 subjects (joined by conjunction) If conjunction is correlativeEITHER / ORNEITHER / NORNOT ONLY/BUT ALSO Verb agrees with closest subject If conjunction is AND… Verb should be plural

34. EXCEPTION:Sometimes the word AND joins two words to form a singular subject. If so, we need a singular verb. Peaches and cream is a tasty dessert. The horse and buggy was used for transportation in the past. Compound Subjects When a compound subject is joined by AND, it needs a plural verb! Fruit and yogurt (taste / tastes) good together. My kitchen and bedroom (need / needs) new paint

35. Compound Subjects When a correlative conjunction is used to form a compound subject, the verb agrees with the closest subject Neither the students nor the teacher (want / wants) to leave. Either the bus or the taxis (was / were) used for transportation.

36. Indefinite Pronouns Here is a list of singularindefinite pronouns. They all use singular verbs… -one words One Anyone Everyone Someone -body words Nobody Anybody Everybody Somebody -thing words Nothing Anything Everything Something others Each Either Neither

37. Indefinite Pronouns These pluralindefinite pronounsuse plural verbs. Both Several • Both candidates are qualified • Few of the students were there. Few Many Theseindefinite pronounscan be singular or plural. All Any • All of the studentsare writing a quiz. • All of the moneyis gone. More Most None Some

38. Indefinite Pronouns - practice Neither of those textbooks (is / are) very good. Both of my brothers (has / have) brown hair. Somebody with 2 children (was / were) in your office. None of my friends (like / likes) spicy food. Everyone at work (like / likes) coffee in the morning.

39. Agreement - Titles and Units Titles of books, plays, poems, movies, and companies are treated as singular. Jeans Experts ishiring new staff. Units of time, money, distance, capacity and weight are also treated as singular. Two hours is too long to wait. Fifteen grams is a small amount.

40. More Agreement Rules:Collective Nouns Collective nouns are singular in form, but plural in meaning. The band were wearing their new uniforms. Examples:band, class, community, team When they act as one entity, use a singular verb. Our band is the best in the city. When they do separate things, use a plural verb.

41. Plural Nouns as Singular Subjects Some plural-sounding nouns take singular verbs Examples:athletics, economics, politics, news, mumps, measles Measles is very contagious. Other nouns require a plural verbeven though they refer to one thing. Examples:jeans, scissors, eyeglasses The scissors are broken.

42. The Word - Number The expression thenumber requires a singular verb. The number of suicides is increasing The expression a number requires a plural verb A number of products are not fit to eat,

43. Common Sentence Errors Fragments,comma splices, run-on

44. No Subject! No Predicate! Sentence Fragments AFragmentisanincomplete sentencethat is punctuated as though complete It could be missing asubjectOR apredicate Was running upstairs. Mohammed, a business student. The girl was running upstairs. Mohammed, a business student, listens carefully.

45. comma is the correct punctuation Sentence Fragments Sometimes fragmentsare formed when complete sentences are punctuated incorrectly. Because of the students' debate. Their classes will be excused. Because of the students' debate, their classes will be excused.

46. Correcting Sentence Fragments Possible Fix #1:Join fragment to a main clause Fragments: • Mohammed, a business student. • Wants to specialize in accounting. Sentence??? (click to reveal) Mohammed, a business student, wants to specialize in accounting.

47. Correcting Sentence Fragments Possible Fix #2:Add missing subject/verb to complete the thought. To become a marketing specialist. (fragment) Fixes???(click to reveal) Fatima wants to become a marketing specialist. To become a marketing specialist, you must work hard.

48. forms two sentences joins two ind. clauses called conjunctive adverb Comma Splices There are many ways to fix a comma splice. 1. Period and capital letter Hanna worked very hard. She graduated from CNA-Q. 2. Semicolon Hanna worked very hard; she graduated from CNA-Q. 3. Semicolon with connecting word and comma Hanna worked very hard; consequently, she graduated from CNA-Q.

49. Comma Splices More ways to fix a comma splice. For And Nor (neither) But Or (either) Yet So 4. Conjunction after comma Hanna worked very hard, so she graduated from CNA-Q. Hint: use FANBOYS to remember common conjunctions 5. Subordinated first clause Since Hanna worked very hard, she graduated from CNA-Q.

50. Run-On Sentences Run-on sentence: Two or more full sentences joined without punctuation. The new instructor arrived in Doha three weeks ago he does not know his way around the city he can not drive a car because you have to be a resident to get a driving license. Fix???(click to reveal) He does not know his way around the city. The new instructor arrived in Doha three weeks ago. He can not drive a car because you have to be a resident to get a driving license.