sentence structure english

Dear students

You are advised to read and do the exercises in this material.

1) WI-H students: Do exercises 3, 5 and read the section of Complex Sentence

2) WI-G students: Do exercises 1, 3, 5 and read the section of Complex Sentence

Kiet, Nguyen Tuan

383

Grammar Time Nguyen Tri Tuan – Nguyen

Tuan Kiet

Chapter 18

SENTENCE CLASSIFICATION BY STRUCTURE

115. Simple Sentences116. Compound Sentences117. Complex Sentences SELF-TEST

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Nguyen Tri Tuan – Nguyen Tuan Kiet Chapter 18

Simple Sentences

I. Affirmative Statements

1)

Subject Verb My head and neck The students

hurt.studied and worked.

2)

Subject Verb Complement His friends It The students We My father

Her younger sister

The children

Their daughter

The boy

are is snowingare learning don’t understand owns

wants

are playing

taught

wants

smart. (adjective)now. (adverb)English. (noun)her. (pronoun)his own business.(noun phrase)to study abroad. (verb phrase)in the front yard. (prepositional phrase)French at this school. (noun + prepositional phrase)to get married soon. (verb phrase + adverb)

3)

Subject VerbObject

Indirect ObjectDirect Object

He They

teachesbought

usMary

English.some flowers.

Notice that if the indirect object follows the direct object, it is introduced by a preposition (to or for).

They bought some books for Mary.He teaches English to us.

EXERCISE 1

Use the following sets of words and phrases to write complete

sentences.

1. their daughter / teach / French / this school / last year.

______________________________________________________________.

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2. boy / want / get married / soon.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Dave / one of / most prominent businessmen / this city.

______________________________________________________________.

4. today / I / celebrate / anniversary / my father's death.

______________________________________________________________.

5. He / speak / write / English / equal / well.

______________________________________________________________.

II. Negative Statements

The Negative Statement is expressed mainly in two ways:

1. With the Negative of Special Finite

Subject Special finite + not Complement

Alice

He

All of us

They

We

is not

cannot swim

are not working

will not be

have not arrived

an engineer.

across this river.

at this moment.

doctors.

yet.

2. With the Negative of other Verbs

Subject do/does/did + NOT + V(-to) Complement

I My teacher

Tom

do not know

does not enjoy

did not like

anybody here.

classical music.

coffee.

III. Interrogative Statements (Questions)

When forming a question, we place the auxiliary or the verb “be”

before the subject. If there is no auxiliary or “be”, we must use the

correct form of “do, does, did”. After “do, does, or did”, the simple

form of the verb must be used.

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1. Yes / No questions

Auxiliary

Subject (Main Verb)

Complement?

Is Do Will

Ho Chi Minh Cityyouthe committee

believedecide

a major cultural center?what he tells you?on the proposal today?

2. Negative questions

Auxiliary

Subject (Main Verb)

Complement/object?

Is Isn't Did Doesn't

he Annayour parentsJohn

not

not findlove

a student?clever?the car key?animals?

3. WH-Questions

a) Who, What, Which in subject questions

Who What Which

Verb Complement?

Who What Which

washappenedis

the first to come?last night?your hat?

b) Whom, What, or Which in complement questions

Whom What Which

Auxiliary

Subject

Verb Complement?

Whom What

dodid

you Peter

likebuy

most?at the supermarket?

c) When, Where, How, and Why questions

When Where Why How

Auxiliary

Subject

Verb Object

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Why When

don'tshould

youI

buyend

some meat for dinner?a letter with "Yours sincerely”?

4. Indirect Questions

a)

Subject Verb Question word

Subject

Verb Complement

I Know why he Is worried.

b)

Aux

S V Question word

S Verb

Complement?

Do you know whyTom

was absent from class?

EXERCISE 2

Use the following sets of words and phrases to write complete sentences.

1. you / receive / letter yet?

______________________________________________________________.

2. Who / going / drive?

______________________________________________________________.

3. How long / it / take / fly / New York / California?

______________________________________________________________.

4. you / know / when / they / go / build / new house?

______________________________________________________________.

5. who / you / talk / to / yesterday?

______________________________________________________________.

Compound Sentences

A. With Coordinating Conjunctions: AND, BUT, SO, FOR, OR, YET, …

Independent Clause, + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent

Clause

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We’re making good progress, but we’ve still got a long way to go.

He obviously doesn’t have a plan, or he would have said something.

She was often sad, and sometimes she didn’t eat her food.

EXERCISE 3


sentences.

1. You / cook / lunch / and / I look / after / children.

______________________________________________________________.

2. The novel / 800 pages / long / yet / it read / quickly / than / many

shorter books.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Solar heating system / economical / operate / but / cost /

installation / very high.

______________________________________________________________.

4. There / be / enough beds / so / I / have / sleep / floor.

______________________________________________________________.

5. We must / begin / plan / now / for / future / may / bring /

unexpected changes.

______________________________________________________________.

B. With Conjunctive Adverbs: HOWEVER, NEVERTHELESS, MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE, ACCORDINGLY...

Independent Clause; + Conjunctive adverb, + Independent Clause

No formal complaint was made; accordingly, the police took no action.

Many colleges do not have dormitories; however, they provide housing referral service.

EXERCISE 4


sentences.

1. Mr. Brown / earned / respect / farmers / everywhere / furthermore / know / they / trust / him.

______________________________________________________________.

2. His first response / be / say / no / however / change / mind / later.

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______________________________________________________________.

3. It / difficult race / nevertheless / about 1,000 / runners / participate /

every year.

______________________________________________________________.

4. There / be / growing opposition / capital punishment / moreover /

there / be / now / evidence / many executed prisoners / innocent.

______________________________________________________________.

5. It / be / too late / invite / any more people / besides / you / know /

how / Tim / hate parties.

______________________________________________________________.

C. With Semicolons

Independent clause; Independent clause

Bob dominated Dave; Ken dominated me.

The American way of life apparently does not foster happiness; half of all the American marriages end in divorce.

EXERCISE 5


sentences.

1. Some people / keep dogs / pets / others / have / cats.

______________________________________________________________.

2. My older brother / study / law / my younger brother / study / medicine.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Three hundred guests / attend / wedding / two / attend / funeral.

______________________________________________________________.

4. train / be / half / hour late / leave / station / we / not get / our destination / time.

______________________________________________________________.

5. I / always / sleep / alarm clock / my mother / have / wake / me / every morning.

______________________________________________________________.

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Complex Sentences

I. WITH ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

1. With WHO, WHOM, WHICH, THAT, WHOSE

Subject Pronouns

(who, which, that)

The student is from China. He sits next to me.

The student who sits next to me is

from China.

The student that sits next to me is from China.

Object Pronouns

(who(m), which, that)

I liked the woman. I met her at the party last night.

I liked the woman who(m) I met at the

party last night.

I liked the woman that I met at the party

last night.

I liked the woman I met at the party last night.

Object of a Preposition

(who(m), that, )

The man was very kind. I talked to him yesterday.

The man to who(m) I talked yesterday is

very kind.

The man who(m) I talked to yesterday is

very kind.

The man that I talked to yesterday is very

kind.

The man I talked to yesterday is very

kind.

Possessive

(whose) I know the boy. His bicycle was stolen.

I know the boy whose bicycle was stolen.

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I have a chair. One leg of which is broken.

I have a chair whose one leg is broken.

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EXERCISE 6


1. I’ve / think / questions / you / ask / me / last week.

______________________________________________________________.

2. I / want / speak / person / deal with / my account.

______________________________________________________________.

3. I / know / boy / bicycle / stolen.

______________________________________________________________.

4. The winner / a Brazilian player / name / I / forget.

______________________________________________________________.

5. Dr. Doran / secretary / resign / two weeks ago / have / had / do / all / own typing.

______________________________________________________________.

2. With WHERE, WHEN

Where = In which

The building is very old. He lives there. The building in which he lives is very

old. The building where he lives is very

old.

When = On which / At which

I’ll never forget the day. I met you then. I’ll never forget the day when I met you. I’ll never forget the day on which I met you.

EXERCISE 7


1. I / work / full-time / days / I / not / have classes.

______________________________________________________________.

2. she / never / return / city / she / born.

_______________________________________________________________

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3. lives / thousands of Germans / change / the night / East German soldiers / begin / build / the Berlin Wall.

______________________________________________________________.

4. he / not be / looking forward / time / he / have / give evidence / court.

______________________________________________________________.

5. beach / be / place / I / like most / be / summer.

___________________________________________________.

II. WITH ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

1. Adverbial Clause of Time

CLAUSE

when, until, while, before,

after, as soon as, just as, since,

whenever

CLAUSE

My children had gone to bed

I won’t believe you

when

until

I came home.

I’ve seen it myself.

EXERCISE 8


1. Our friends / wait / us / until / we / get back.

______________________________________________________________.

2. Our eating habits / change / as soon as / food processing methods /

improve.

______________________________________________________________.

3. When / students / other countries / come / the United States / often / suffer / culture shock.

______________________________________________________________.

4. I / review / class notes / before / I took / final exam.

______________________________________________________________.

5. Robert / suddenly / feel / ill / while / he / do / examination.

______________________________________________________________.

2. Adverbial Clause of Place

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CLAUSEwherewherever

CLAUSE

We go fishing He slept

where wherever

we can find a lake.he could find a hotel.

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EXERCISE 9


sentences.

1. Garlic / grow / wherever / there / be / warm climate.

______________________________________________________________.

2. Most people / prefer / shops / where / can / sure / quality.

______________________________________________________________.

3. There are / few / places / business / Viet Nam / where / credit card /

accept.

______________________________________________________________.

4. Wherever / you / go / I / be / right here / wait / you.

______________________________________________________________.

5. I / sitting / where / I / watch / athletes.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Adverbial Clause of Condition

Type I: FIRST CONDITIONAL

will If + Subject + Simple Present tense…+ can + [Verb in simple form] may

If I have money, I will buy a new car.If I see him at the meeting, I’ll give him your message.

NOTE:

UNLESS = IF ... NOT

If you don't come now, I am going to leave without you. Unless you come now, I’m going to leave without you.

EXERCISE 10


1. If / we / miss / last bus / we / have / walk / home.

______________________________________________________________.

2. I can’t help you / unless / tell me / what / wrong.

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______________________________________________________________.

3. I / only / stay / if / you / offer / me / more / money.

______________________________________________________________.

4. If it / necessary / I / come / here / 6:00.

______________________________________________________________.

5. Unless / it / rain / within / next week / water supplies / be / cut off.

______________________________________________________________.

Type II: SECOND CONDITIONAL

wouldIf + Subject + Simple Past tense…+ could + [Verb in simple form] might

If we caught the early train, we’d get there by lunch.If I were to win the lottery, I’d buy another house.

EXERCISE 11


sentences.

1. If I / offer / job / I / take it

______________________________________________________________.

2. If someone / walk / in here / gun / I / very frightened

______________________________________________________________.

3. What / you / do / if / win / a million pounds?

______________________________________________________________.

4. Tom / angry / if / I / not visit / him

______________________________________________________________.

5. More tourists / come / this country / if it / have / better climate

______________________________________________________________.

Type III: THIRD CONDITIONAL

wouldIf + Subject + Past Perfect tense + could have + [V3/-ed] might

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If we had known that you were there, we would have written you

a letter.If she had worked harder, she would have passed the exams.

EXERCISE 12


sentences.

1. If I / see / you / yesterday / I / take / you / to / cinema.

______________________________________________________________.

2. If I / go / party / last night / I / see / Ann.

______________________________________________________________.

3. I / send / you / postcard / while / I was / holiday / if I / have / your

address.

______________________________________________________________.

4. Tom got / station / in time / If he / miss / train / he / be / late / his

interview.

______________________________________________________________.

5. If I had / realize / what / bad driver / you / be / I / not / come / you.

______________________________________________________________.

4. Adverbial Clause of Manner

CLAUSE as though, as if, as

CLAUSE

He acts The house was in such a mess - it looked.

as if as though

he were very sad.a bomb had dropped on it.

EXERCISE 13


sentences.

1. Jack smile / as though / enjoying / private joke.

______________________________________________________________.

2. When I / tell them / my plan / they / look / me / as if / I / mad.

______________________________________________________________.

3. I / not / a child / but / sometimes / you / talk / me / as if / I / a child.

______________________________________________________________.

4. Kate / speak / as though / she / be / an authority / on / subject.

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______________________________________________________________.

5. She / look / me / as if / I / mad.

______________________________________________________________.

5. Adverbial Clause of Comparison

CLAUSEas…. as,“_er”…. than,more…. than

CLAUSE

The climate is not Is the world a

as bad as safer place than

it would be.it was a year ago?

EXERCISE 14


sentences.

1. The storm / be / violent / than / we / expect.

______________________________________________________________.

2. Pat / jog / on / beach / as / far / she / can.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Many people / want / move / as / far / they / can / polluted / cities.

______________________________________________________________.

4. The examination / be / easy / than / we / expect.

______________________________________________________________.

5. you / know / laser / burn / billions / times / brightly / than / light /

sun / surface?

______________________________________________________________.

6. Adverbial Clause of Reason

CLAUSEsince, as, because

CLAUSE

I couldn’t phone you

You should talk to Karen

because

since

I hadn’t got your

number.

she’s the one responsible for authorizing payments.

EXERCISE 15

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1. Since / Barbara / be / no longer / my wife / I’m / no longer / responsible / her debts.

______________________________________________________________.

2. As / they / live / near / we / see / quite often.

______________________________________________________________.

3. European nations / try / reduce / level / carbon dioxide / atmosphere / because / it / cause / global warming.

_______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________.

4. We / chose / Calvert / lead / us / as / he / say / he / know / way.

______________________________________________________________.

5. Since / all / cakes / look / good / she / not / decide / which / choose.

______________________________________________________________.

7. Adverbial Clause of Result

CLAUSE

so + adj. (adv.) + that

such (a/an) + noun + that

CLAUSE

New textbooks are

He speaks to me in

so expensive that

such a way that

many students buy used ones.

I always feel he is insulting me.

EXERCISE 16


sentences.

1. We have / such / hard homework / I always / need / help.

______________________________________________________________.

2. Last night / I / tired / go to bed / 7 o'clock.

______________________________________________________________.

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3. It / lovely weather / we / spend / whole day / garden.

______________________________________________________________.

4. The book / good / I / couldn't / put it down.

______________________________________________________________.

5. He / commit / serious / crime / that / he / to stay / prison / life.

______________________________________________________________.

8. Adverbial Clause of Purpose

CLAUSE so that, in order that

CLAUSE

We planned for a long time Regular checks are required

so thatin order that

we had a good trip.safety standards are maintained.

EXERCISE 17


1. He / stand / shadow / so that / I / not see / his face clearly.

______________________________________________________________.

2. Chemicals / use / food / products / so that / stay / fresh / longer.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Most farmers / use / fertilizers / in order that / increase / food crops.

______________________________________________________________.

4. He / left / early / order that / he / will / arrive / on time.

______________________________________________________________.

5. you / give up / job / so that / you / take care / your mother?______________________________________________________________.

9. Adverbial Clause of Concession

CLAUSEthough, although, even though

CLAUSE

He bought the tickets although the price was high.

EXERCISE 18

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1. Although / he / have got / good job / now / he still / complain.

______________________________________________________________.

2. I really / enjoyed / your lecture / though / there / be / some parts / I / not quite understand.

______________________________________________________________.

3. She / very popular / author / although / personally / I find / her books / rather boring.

______________________________________________________________.

4. Although scientists / know / why / earthquakes / happen / they / not able / predict them.

______________________________________________________________.

5. Even though / much / power / trade union / have / be / lose / their political influence / not be / underestimate.

______________________________________________________________.

III. WITH NOUN CLAUSES

That he will succeed is certain.

N.Cl V OWhat I need is a good long holiday. N.Cl V O

EXERCISE 19


sentences.

1. What / you / do / seem / very difficult.

______________________________________________________________.

2. What / annoy / me / way / he / boast / what / he / done.

______________________________________________________________.

3. Where / temple / once / stand / there / be / now / multi-storey / car

park.

______________________________________________________________.

4. How I / spend / free time / be / private matter.

______________________________________________________________.

5. When / next earthquake / occur / California / be / unknown.

______________________________________________________________.

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1)

Noun Clause + Verb + Complement


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2)

Subject + Verb + Noun Clause

Experts agree that women learn languages more easily than men (do) .

S V N.ClHe said (that) he was glad of your success . S V N.Cl

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EXERCISE 20


1. Louis / be / only person / understand / how / system work.

______________________________________________________________.

2. We / suddenly / realized / what / happen.

______________________________________________________________.

3. My proudest moment / be / when / I / received / poetry prize.

______________________________________________________________.

4. I / not know / where / Jack / taking / me for / anniversary.

______________________________________________________________.

5. I / never / forget / when / we / use / stay here / holiday.

______________________________________________________________.

I was sure that I had left my keys on the counter .

S V A N.ClIt is necessary that all citizens comply with the new

restrictions . S V A N.Cl

EXERCISE 21


1. It was / very clear / something / worrying / him.

______________________________________________________________.

2. The board / doubtful / whether / her estimates / be / realistic.

______________________________________________________________.

3. It / true / car / cost / a lot / but it / good investment.

______________________________________________________________.

4. It / seem / likely / interest rates / increase.

______________________________________________________________.

5. It / essential / every child / have / same / education opportunities.

______________________________________________________________.

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3)

Subject + Verb + Adjective + Noun Clause


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SELF-TEST

TEST 1

Identify the type of the sentences by writing one of the following abbreviations in the space on the left.

S if the sentence is simple

Cp if the sentence is compound

Cx if the sentence is complex

Example: __Cx_ Once the days grew longer, we often saw

picnickers in the park.

1. ______ Fred told us about the large crowds at the new seafood

restaurant, so we decided to be there at six o'clock.

2. ______ My neighbor has never had more beautiful irises than those

that are blooming on the north side of her house.

3. ______ I don't know which I prefer: the bright yellow ones or those

that are a gorgeous shade of purple.

4. ______ Their being planted in front of the split-rail fence makes

them all the more attractive.

5. ______ I immediately decided to gather together all those odds and

ends that I no longer used but that were taking up valuable space

in kitchen cabinets.

6. ______ My collection included four vases, two unusual pitchers,

several teacups of an unknown pattern, and one ceramic calico cat.

7. ______ After careful consideration I decided that these items were

more suitable for a yard sale than for a consignment shop.

8. ______ Jane has a new bicycle.

9. ______ Jane likes bicycles, but Lou prefers tricycles.

10. ______ The ice skates that you bought for Susan have dull blades.

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TEST 2

Each sentence contains a clause in bold letters. Decide whether this clause is dependent or independent.

1. Tomorrow I will go on a trip if the car is in good working order. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

2. Since the tire is flat, we had better get it fixed before traveling. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

3. I want to see the Corning Glass Museum because I am interested in glass blowing. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

4. When we get there, I would like to look at the displays. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

5. I would like to leave home early unless the traffic is slow. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

6. He told me the museum was closed on Mondays, though it wasn't listed on the schedule. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

7. Even though it takes a long time to get there, we would still like to go. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

8. When we drove there, we got lost. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

9. Since the displays were great, I am glad we went. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

10. In case you are wondering how we get there, I will give you our map with the directions. A. dependent clause B. independent clause

TEST 3

Identify the one word or phrase that best completes the

sentence.

1. I feel as if my head _________ on fire now, doctor.

A. was B. isC. were D. has been

2. I know a place _________ roses grow in abundance.

A. which B. thatC. when D. where

3. The teacher with _________ we studied last year no longer teaches

in our school.

A. who B. whom

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C. whose D. that

4. _________ I realized that they hadn’t told us the truth at all.

A. After B. BeforeC. Until D. No word is needed

5. I wish I _________ all about this matter several weeks ago.

A. knew B. knowC. had known D. B and C are correct

6. He runs _________ I can’t catch him.

A. so quick that B. so quickly that C. such quick that D. so quickly as

7. They are _________ they are punished.

A. so lazy boys that B. so lazy boys as C. such lazy that D. such lazy boys that

8. _________ is a mystery.

A. Why exploded the plane B. Why did the plane explodeC. Why the plane exploded D. Why the plane’s explosion

9. Nobody knows _________.

A. how did language first start B. how language did first startC. how first language started D. how language first started

10. _________ that they are threatening their health, they continue to

overeat and to eat the wrong foods.

A. However many overweight people realize

B. Many overweight people realizing

C. Because of the fact that many overweight people

realizeD. Even though many overweight people realize

11. If you _________ this window, you would have to pay for it.A. broke B. breakC. have broken D. had broke

12. He would enjoy the concert if he _________ present.A. were B. beC. would be D. had been

13. If you _________ someone else, who would you like to be?A. can be B. could beC. are D. have been

14. If you _________ English, which language would you study?A. were studying B. are studyingC. weren’t studying D. have been studying

15. If you could choose your job, what _________?

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A. would you have B. would have you gotC. would you be D. can you do

16. If you _________ in history, who would you like to meet?A. could meet one B. could meet himC. could meet anyone D. can meet one

17. He was _________ he could not wake up.A. very tired that B. such tired thatC. too tired that D. so tired that

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