Essay: Sentences in English

Sentences in English

In Linguistics, sentence is a group of words which carries a sense of meaning. It consists of subject and a verb. Sentences can be divided based on two categories, that is based on its structure and its purpose. Based on its form it can be divided into four types: Simple Sentences, Compound Sentences, Complex Sentences, and Complex-compound Sentences. Meanwhile, based on its purpose, sentence can be divide into five types: Declarative sentences, Interrogative sentences, Imperative sentences, Exclamatory sentences, and Rethorical sentences.

Types of Sentences
As stated above, types of sentences can be lied on two categories that is based on its structure and its purpose. Here are the following explanation.

1. Based on its structure
Based on its structure, types can be divided into four, i.e.:

a. Simple Sentence
Simple sentence is a type of sentences which has only one main or independent clause. It has one subject and one verb. The subject (sometimes called the object) comes before the verb. The verb comes after the subject to describe what the subject is doing or has done. The object is an optional. If the verb is an intransitive verb, the object does not necessary. But, if the verb is a transitive verb, you must place the object after the verb.

Examples:
1. She walks.
'She' is the subject of the sentence which has function as the doer of the verb 'walks'. In this sentence, the object does not necessary as 'walks' is an intransitive verb that is a verb which does not need any object. But, if you want to add any other word, you can add an adverb to it, e.g. 'in the garden'. So, the sentence becomes "She walks in the garden."

2. I write a letter.
This sentence is almost similar to the first sentence. The difference is only on the verb. The verb in this sentence 'write' is a transitive verb. That's why, it needs any object. But, if you want to add any adverb, you can also do it. For example you want to add 'yesterday', you can also add it thought the verb is transitive. You put 'yesterday' after the object or before the subject. But remember! If you put the adverb before the subject, you must put a comma after it. It will become "I write a letter yesterday" or "Yesterday, I write a letter."

b. Compound Sentences
In the English language, a compound sentence is composed of at least two independent clauses, but no dependent clauses. The clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (with or without a comma), a correlative conjunction (with or without a comma), or a semicolon with no conjunction.

For example:
1. He finally bought the book, or so I thought.
The two independent clauses are joined by a comma and the coordinating conjunction "or".

2. Either he goes or I go.
The compound sentence is held together by the correlative conjunction "either…or".

3. Mary understands math; she has studied it for years.
Here the two are joined by a semicolon with no conjunction.

c. Complex Sentences
In syntax, a sentence with an independent clause and at least one dependent clause (subordinating clause) is referred to as a complex sentence. The dependent clause is often introduced by a subordinate conjunction such as "which", "while" or "because".

For example:
1. When I saw what you had done, I was happy.
It consists of two dependent clauses and one independent.

2. That you love me makes me happy.
It is a complex sentence with a sub-clause functioning as a subject.

3. It makes me happy that you love me.
It is a clefted complex sentence with a sub-clause indicating what the dummy pronoun "It" refers to.

4. The book is where you have put it.
It is a complex sentence with a sub-clause functioning as subject complement. "Be" is a copula verb; it links the sub-clause to the subject.

d. Complex-compound Sentences
In syntax, a sentence with at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clause is referred to as a complex-compound sentence.

For example:
1. The dog lived in the backyard, but the cat, who thought she was superior, lived inside the house.
This sentence consists of two independent clause and one dependent clause. The following is the description of them:

Independent clauses:
The dog lived in the backyard.
The cat lived inside the house.
Dependent clause:
who thought she was superior

2. Though the movie had been tested on the market, The Last Shadow did not fare well in the United States, but it did develop a huge following in Europe which usually does not go for this movie genre.
This sentence consists of two independent clause and two dependent clause. Here are the following description about it:

Independent clauses:
The Last Shadow did not fare well in the United States.
It did develop a huge following in Europe.
Dependent clauses:
though the movie had been tested on the market
which usually does not go for this movie genre


2. Based on its purpose
Based on this category, sentences can be divided into five, i.e.:

a. Declarative sentences
A declaration is a form of statement, which expresses (or declares) some idea; declarations attempt to argue that something is true. Some types of written text are said to be declarations, such as the US Declaration of Independence or the proposed Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Quebec. The declerative sentence is the most common type, commonly makes a statement, e.g.: I am going home.

b. Interrogative sentences
An interrogative sentence is commonly used to request information. A question is any of several kinds of linguistic expressions normally used by a questioner to request the presentation of information back to the questioner, in the form of an answer, by the audience. For example: When are you going to work?. The question needs an answer as the information which is given by the audience.

c. Imperative sentences
An imperative sentence is a sentence which carries any request or demand to the audience. For example: Go do your homework. This sentence means that anyone to whom the speaker talks to, have to do it.

d. Exclamatory sentences
An exclamatory sentence is a sentence which is generally a more emphatic form of statement. For example: What a wonderful day this is!

e. Rhetorical sentences
A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer. ("How many times do I have to tell you to stop walking into the house with mud on your shoes?").

A rhetorical question seeks to encourage reflection within the listener as to what the answer to the question (at least, the answer implied by the questioner) must be. When a speaker declaims, "How much longer must our people endure this injustice?" or "Will our company grow or shrink?", no formal answer is expected. Rather, it is a device used by the speaker to assert or deny something.

Examples:
1. "How can people have hope when we tell them that they have no recourse, if they run afoul of the state justice system?" Edward Kennedy Senate debate on the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 1968

2. "Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? / When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: / Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: / Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; / And Brutus is an honourable man. / You all did see that on the Lupercal / I thrice presented him a kingly crown, / Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?" William Shakespeare Julius Caesar, Act 3, scene 2.

Some rhetorical questions become idiomatic English expressions:

"What's the matter with you?"
"Don't you know any better?"
"Have you no shame?"
"Is the Pope Catholic?"
"Do fish swim?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Who cares?"
"How should I know?"
"Are you kidding me?"


Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia