Building Sentences

Professor: Specht-Jarvis, Roland H.

Group 3Adib KhanXiaojie YuYizhi Guo

Burim IbrahimiGabrielle Rheaume

Importance of Sentence Structure

Simple Sentences: These are basic sentences.

Ex: I go to school. I love food.

They are correct and we can use them anywhere.

But excessive use of them makes writings MUNDANE!

Solution! We develop COMPLEX Sentences.

These can be a combination of different simple sentences. Using suitable PHARASES and CLAUSES our sentences can be improved resulting in a more prolific Writing!

Ex:

As we presented, the professor looked at us with utter amazement!

I am practicing because I have a presentation tomorrow.

Different Types of Sentences.

CompoundLoosePeriodicDeclarativeExclamatoryInterrogativeImperative

Sentence Structure

Three types:1. The simple sentence2. The compound sentence3. The complex sentence

The Simple Sentence

Contains only a single clause.

Example: The ice melts quickly.

Can not distinguish by lengthThe most natural sentence structure also the

most common sentence in the spoken language. Effective for grabbing attention or for summing

up.Transitional phrases can be added to connect

them to the surrounding sentences.

The Compound Sentence

Consists of two or more independent sentence (or simple sentences) joined by co-ordinating conjunctions.

Example: Canada is a rich country, but still it has many poor people.

Very natureConnect ideas and to avoid pausing (and

allowing an adult to interrupt)Most effective to create a sense of balance

or contrast between two (or more) equally-important pieces of information

Two Special Cases

Compound-complex sentenceConsists at least one complex sentenceExample: The package arrived in the

morning, but the courier left before I could check the contents.

Compound sentence involves punctuationExample: The sun rises in the east; it sets in

the west.

The Complex Sentence

Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause; clauses are not equal.

Example: Although my friend invited me to a party,

I do not want to go.Clause with the subordinating conjunction is

an incomplete, or a dependent clause.Makes clear which ideas are most important.

Review questions I ate the sushi and left the restaurant.

Simple, compound predicate rather than a compound subject

When the train arrives and if Ms. Langlois is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.Complex, only one independent clause in the sentence

Susanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.Compound-complex sentence, contains two independent clauses, also dependent clause

The order of a sentence• The Loose Sentence

- The writer puts the main point at the beginning of a long sentence

• The Periodic Sentence - The writer puts the main point at the end of a long sentence.

The Loose Sentence Example 1

I am willing to pay slightly higher taxes for the privilege of living in Canada, considering the free health care, the cheap tuition fees, the low crime rate, the comprehensive social programs, and the wonderful winters.

Example 2 I go back to my country every summer, because I want to see my family and my friends.

The Periodic Sentence Example 1

Considering the free health care, the cheap tuition fees, the low crime rate, the comprehensive social programs, and the wonderful winters, I am willing to pay slightly higher taxes for the privilege of living in Canada.

Example 2

Because I want to see my family and my friends, I go back home every summer.

The purpose of sentenceThe Declarative

Sentence

The Interrogative Sentence

The Rhetorical Question

The Exclamatory Sentence

The Imperative Sentence

1.The Declarative Sentence The most common type, simply states a fact or

argument :

I am going home. Ottawa is the capital of Canada.

2. The Interrogative Sentence

Asks a direct question :

When are you going to work?

3.The Rhetorical Question

A question which you do not actually expect the reader to answer :

How much longer must our people endure this injustice?

4.The Exclamatory Sentence

Simply a more forceful version of a declarative sentence :

What a wonderful day this is!

5.The Imperative Sentence

Tells someone to do something :

Go to work at 7:30, tomorrow morning.

Mixed Constructions

These sentences have parts that do not sensibly fit together, they have a mix-match of grammar or logic.

Examples:

The squirrel that came down our chimney it did much damage. (INCORRECT)

The squirrel that came down our chimney did much damage. (CORRECTED)

Hearing screams, Serena ran over to the pool that her daughter was swimming in it. (INCORRECT)

Hearing screams, Serena ran over to the pool that her daughter was swimming in. (CORRECTED)

--You can’t start writing a sentence with one grammatical plan and switch to another without warning.

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Modifiers, whether they are single words, phrases or clauses should clearly point to the words they are trying to modify.

Example: Misplaced Modifiers

Lasers only destroy the target, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact.

--This limits the meaning of the target, not the word “destroy.”

Lasers destroy only the target, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact. (CORRECTED)

Example: Dangling Modifier

Upon entering the doctor’s office, a skeleton caught my attention. (INCORRECT)

Upon entering the doctor’s office, I noticed a skeleton. (CORRECTED) This sentence names who did the action.

--Can also be written as: As I entered the doctor’s office, a skeleton caught my

attention.

References"Building Sentences." Université d'Ottawa -

University of Ottawa. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. <http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/bldsent.html>.

Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. Print. (Pg 163 – 178)