7.55: Text- Common Sentence Structures
- Page ID
- 59234
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Basic Sentence Patterns
Subject + verb
The simplest of sentence patterns is composed of a subject and verb without a direct object or subject complement. It uses an intransitive verb, that is, a verb requiring no direct object:
- Control rodsremain inside the fuel assembly of the reactor.
- The development of wind power practically ceased until the early 1970s.
- The cross-member exposed to abnormal stress eventually broke.
- Only two types of charge exist in nature.
Subject + verb + direct object
Another common sentence pattern uses the direct object:
- Siliconconductselectricity in an unusual way.
- The anti-reflective coating on the the silicon cell reducesreflection from 32 to 22 percent.
Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object
The sentence pattern with the indirect object and direct object is similar to the preceding pattern:
- Iam writingher about a number of problems that I have had with my computer.
- Austin, Texas, has recently built its citizens a system of bike lanes.
Practice
Identify the basic sentence pattern of the sentences below:
- All amplitude-modulation (AM) receivers work in the same way.
- The supervisor mailed the applicant a description of the job.
- We have mailed the balance of the payment in this letter.
[reveal-answer q=”77635″]Click to Show Answer[/reveal-answer]
[hidden-answer a=”77635″]
- This is a subject + verb sentence:
- All amplitude-modulation (AM) receiverswork in the same way.
- This is a subject + verb + indirect object + direct object sentence:
- The supervisormailed the applicant a description of the job.
- This is a subject + verb + direct object sentence:
- Wehave mailed the balance of the payment in this letter.
[/hidden-answer]
Sentence Types
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is one that contains a subject and a verb and no other independent or dependent clause.
- One of the tubes is attached to the manometer part of the instrument indicating the pressure of the air within the cuff.
- There are basically two types of stethoscopes.
- In this sentence, the subject and verb are inverted; that is, the verb comes before the subject. However, it is still classified as a simple sentence.
- To measure blood pressure, a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscopeare needed.
- This sentence has a compound subject—that is, there are two subjects—but it is still classified as a simple sentence.
Command sentences are a subtype of simple sentences. These sentences are unique because they don’t actually have a subject:
- Clean the dishes.
- Make sure to take good notes today.
- After completing the reading, answer the following questions.
In each of these sentences, there is an implied subject: you. These sentences are instructing the reader to complete a task. Command sentences are the only sentences in English that are complete without a subject.
Compound Predicates
A predicate is everything in the verb part of the sentence after the subject (unless the sentence uses inverted word order). A compound predicate is two or more predicates joined by a coordinating conjunction. Traditionally, the conjunction in a sentence consisting of just two compound predicates is not punctuated.
- Another library media specialist has been using Accelerated Reader for ten years and has seen great results.
- This cell phone app lets users share pictures instantly with followers and categorize photos with hashtags.
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, yet, for) and a comma, an adverbial conjunction and a semicolon, or just a semicolon.
- In sphygmomanometers, too narrow a cuff can result in erroneously high readings, and too wide a cuff can result in erroneously low readings.
- Some cuff hook together; others wrap or snap into place.
Practice
Identify the type of each sentence below:
- The sphygmomanometer is usually covered with cloth and has two rubber tubes attached to it.
- There are several types of sentences; using different types can keep your writing lively.
- Words, sentences, and paragraphs are all combined to create a book.
- Read the following examples.
[reveal-answer q=”745490″]Click to Show Answer[/reveal-answer]
[hidden-answer a=”745490″]Put Answer Here
- This sentence has a compound predicate—that is, there are two predicates, joined with the conjunction and:
- is usually covered with cloth
- has two rubber tubes attached to it
- This is a compound sentence. There are two independent clauses joined together by a semicolon.
- This is a simple sentence with a compound subject.
- Subject: Words, sentences, and paragraphs
- Predicate: are all combined to create a book
- This is a command sentence. It has the implied (not stated) subject you.
[/hidden-answer]
- Revision, Adaptation, and Original Content. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
- Basic Patterns and Elements of the Sentence. Authored by: David McMurrey. Located at: https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/twsent.html. License: CC BY: Attribution