Unit 2-Basic Writing Skills

Sentence Structures; Use of phrases

and clauses in sentences
Basic Grammar Terminology
To get started, here is a basic review of grammar
terminology.

Part of Speech Function or "job" Example

Verb action or state Peter ate dinner.

Noun thing or person The dog watched the

squirrel.

Adjective describes a noun The hungry dog watched

the grey squirrel.

Adverb describes a verb, The hungry dog intently

adjective or adverb watched the grey squirrel.
Basic Grammar Terminology
…continued

Part of Speech Function or "job" Example

Pronoun replaces a noun He ate dinner.

Preposition links a noun to I gave a bone to the dog.

another word

Conjunction joins clauses or Peter read the paper and

words listened to the radio while
he ate dinner.
What is a sentence?

 A sentence is a group of words

beginning with a capital letter and
ending with a full-stop, exclamation
or question mark in written
language, containing a main verb.
What Makes a Sentence?

Peter ate dinner.

Subject = Verb = Object =
noun or expresses noun or
pronoun the action pronoun
that does an or “state”of that
action or the subject receives
experiences the action
a state of of the verb
being
 This is also a sentence …

Peter is happy.
Subject Verb Complement

A complement is a great deal like an object, but it differs in

that is does not “receive” the action a verb. Instead it “is”
the subject.
Complements can be nouns or adjectives. The key to
understanding them is understanding the verbs that they
follow.
And this is also a sentence …

Peter was in the kitchen.

Subject = Verb = Adverbial =
noun or expresses adverb or
pronoun the action group of
that does an or “state”of words that
action or the subject tells
experiences where,
a state of when, why
being or how the
verb
happened.
Sentence Components

So, we can symbolize the basic components of a

sentence in the following way:

S+V/O
or C
or A
Where:
S = subject (a noun or pronoun that does an action)
V = verb (the action itself)
/ = “optional”  some verbs do not need an O, C or A
O = object (a noun or pronoun that receives an action)
C = complement (an adjective or noun that is the subject)
A = adverbial (an adverbial that tells more about the action)
What is a clause?

 A clause is a part of a sentence with

a verb. However, it doesn’t have to
start with a capital letter and end
with a full stop.
Two types of clauses:
 Independent/Principal– expresses a
complete thought & can stand by itself
as a sentence

 Dependent-(subordinate)-does not
express a complete thought & cannot
stand by itself as a sentence
Two types of clauses:

1 Noun Clause
2 Adjective Clause
3 Adverb Clause
4 Prepositional Clause
 Noun Clause

 Ex.1. She asked me what I wanted.

Principal Clause Subordinate Clause
The noun clause is in the place of Object.
Function: Object of the verb ‘asked’

2. That my brother will own the election is certain.

Subordinate Clause Principal Clause
Noun clause is in the place of the subject. It functions
subject of the verb ‘is’.
Subordinating Conjunctions are: and, that, wh. words
 Adjective Clause
 Ex. This is the house that my father bought.
Main Clause Subordinate Clause
Adjective clause qualifies the noun. Subordinating
conjunction ‘that’ qualifies the noun ‘the house’.

2. The book which I bought is a novel.

Subordinate Clause
Subordinating conjunction ‘which’ qualifies the noun ‘the
book’.
 Phrases

Phrase is a group of words that

makes sense but not complete
sense. It has no meaning in alone. If
it is used in a sentence, it has a
meaning.
 Types of Phrases

 1. Noun Phrase
 2 Adjective Phrase
 3. Adverb Phrase
 4. Verb Phrase
 5. Prepositional Phrase
Phrase
naming phrases

Phrases are classified by the type of head they take:

•Prepositional phrase with a preposition as head
(e.g. in love, over the rainbow)

•Noun phrase with a noun as head

(e.g. A women in the window shouted for help.)

•Verb phrase with a verb as head

(e.g She has finished her work.)

•Adjective phrase with an adjective as head

•(e.g. I am very happy with this work.)

•Adverbial phrase with adverb as head

•(e.g. They ran really fast.)
 Fill in the blanks:
1. A phrase is a group of related words
that is used as a part of ______ and
does not contain both a _______
and a _______.
2. A phrase ______ stand alone as a
sentence
3. A clause has both a _______ and a
_______.
4. A clause _______ stand alone as a
sentence if it’s an independent
clause.
 Fill in the blanks:
1. A phrase is a group of related
words that is used as a part of
speech and does not contain both
a subject and a verb.
2. A phrase cannot stand alone as a
sentence
3. A clause has both a subject and a
verb.
4. A clause can stand alone as a
sentence if it’s an independent
clause.
 Underline the independent clauses and double
underline the dependent clauses in the
following sentences.
1.Though women want to be called independent, how
many of us have actually understood the real
meaning of independence?
2 Whenever one faces difficulties, one can remember
messages by great men.
3 One is restricted to a tiny patch of boulders and a
rainforest relic on two islands, while the others
are restricted to remnant areas on the North Island.
4.Some investors, who are known as value investors,
invest in companies that have share prices close
 to or below the book value of the company.
 Types of Sentences

There are four types of sentences.

1. Simple Sentences
Roxie is a dog.
2. Compound Sentences
Roxie is a dog, and Bel is her friend.
3. Complex Sentences
Bel loves Roxie because she is adorable.
4. Compound-Complex Sentences
Bel loves Roxie because she is adorable, and
she defers to him.
 Simple sentence

 Simple sentences are single, independent

clauses. It expresses complete thought.

 EX.1 The boys went to the park.

2 He plays baseball.
 Compound sentences

 Compound sentences consist of two

independent clauses that are
combined with a coordinating
conjunction.
 I like coffee and he likes tea.
 Peter was late but Chris waited for him.
 I can walk home or I can take a taxi.
 Compound sentences are connected by
coordinating conjunction.
Coordinating Conjunctions
F or = because I like ice cream, for it is delicious.

A nd = more information I like ice cream, and Judy likes cookies.

N or = two negative options Neither ice cream nor cookies are good for
your health.
B ut I like ice cream, but I don’t like cake.
= contrast
O r
= alternative I could eat ice cream, or I could eat carrots.
Y et = contrast I could eat carrots, yet I wouldn’t feel happy.
S o =result/consequence I will eat ice cream, so I can feel happy.
 Complex Sentence

 Complex Sentence has one main clause

and one or more independent clauses.

 EX.1 When the cake is brown, take it out

from the oven.
 Exercise
 Combine the following sentences:

 1. The president failed to explain the cause of the

crisis. He did not offer any solutions.
2. Akira’s wife was due to give birth to their first
child in the next several days. He still worked
overtime.
3. Rekha had an intense headache all morning. She
smiled and remained alert throughout the entire
meeting.
4. The last storm to come through the area ripped
some of the siding off George’s garage. He visited
the hardware store and invested in storm-proofing
materials.
 Answers
1.The president failed to explain the cause of the
crisis, nor did he offer any solutions.
2.Akira’s wife was due to give birth to their first child
in the next several days, but (or yet) he still
worked overtime.
3.Rekha had an intense headache all morning, yet
(or but) she smiled and remained alert throughout
the entire meeting.
4.The last storm to come through the area ripped
some of the siding off George’s garage, so he
visited the hardware store and invested in storm-
proofing materials.