GRAMAMR : LECTURE 1

SENTENCE STRUCTURE
 SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Subject
The subject is the actor of a sentence in active voice. It is the person or thing that performs, or is responsible
for, the action of the sentence. It usually begins the sentence and precedes the verb. Every sentence in
English must have a subject.

Commands will not have a visible subject, however, the subject [you] is understood.

Example: Run quickly! = You run quickly! (See more under

Commands later in the book.)

The subject can be a single noun.

Cats chase mice.

Children like candy.

The subject can also be a noun phrase, which is a group of words ending with a noun.

The car is in the garage.

That hot red dress looks fabulous.

Examples of subjects:

Tom likes to go fishing.

The English teacher is a very nice person.
Susan and Alex went to the movie together.
Those boys are good basketball players.
We actors are a happy group

Verb

Every sentence in English must have a verb. The verb follows the subject when the sentence is assertive . A
verb normally reveals the action of the sentence.

The verb can be a single word.

Mary likes chocolate cake.
They play soccer.
The verb can also be a verb phrase. A verb phrase contains one or more auxiliary verbs and one main
verb. The main verb is always preceded by the auxiliary verbs.
Martha has been talking to her new friend.
Terry is visiting his aunt today.

Examples of verbs and verb phrases:

Jerry has returned from lunch.
The storm made a lot of noise.
George is playing in a tournament tomorrow.
I will go to bed soon.
Sally was jealous of Lisa’s new dress.

Complement (Object)
A complement (object) provides more information about the verb. Often, the object is a noun or noun phrase,
and will usually follow the verb in a sentence in active voice.
A complement (object) CANNOT begin with a preposition.

An object answers the question What? or Whom?

Examples of object:
Jack threw the stone far.
(What did Jack throw?)
The hungry bird ate a worm.
(What did the bird eat?)
He called Janice after the party.
(Whom did he call?)
She was chewing gum in class.
(What was she chewing?)
The ball hit Mike during the game last night.
(Whom did the ball hit?)

Modifier
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that gives information about—that “modifies”—another
word in the sentence. In this section, we will focus on a modifier that gives us information about the
action.

This kind of modifier answers the question of Where? When? or How?

That is, a modifier tells the time, place, or manner of action. The modifier usually follows the
complement. Not every sentence requires a modifier.

Prepositional phrases are commonly used as modifiers. Preposition phrases starts with a preposition
and ends with a noun. Such as, under the house, after breakfast, in the morning

Adverbs and adverbial phrases are also used as modifiers, or modifiers of time. A modifier of time
will usually come last when more than one modifier is used.

Examples of adverbs and adverbial phrases:

yesterday, quickly, last semester, overhead, quite awful

Examples of modifiers:

She is earning her degree at Cornell University.

(Where is she earning her degree?)
John fell down the stairs
(Where did John fall?)
yesterday.
(When did John fall?)
The cheetah was running quite fast.
(How was the cheetah running?)
We have an appointment at ten o’clock tomorrow. (When do we have an appointment?)
The soldier fired the gun repeatedly.
(How did the soldier fire the gun?)

CLAUSES

All sentences consist of one or more clauses. A simple sentence consists of one clause. For example:
People need vitamins. Every clause follows a simple formula. It will have a subject and a verb. The number
of subject and verb in a clause should remain the same.
The man took a vitamin pill.
Judy lives in northern California.
In the summer, Tom walks to his office.
A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (such
as and and but). Such as:
The man took a vitamin pill, and he drank a glass of orange juice.
Judy lives in northern California now, but she was raised in Ohio.
A complex sentence consists of an independent clause (called the main clause) and a subordinate
(dependent) clause. A clause marker ( If, since, that etc) connects a dependent and an independent
clause. When relative pronoun works as clause marker, they can act as subject too.

1. Before the invention of the printing press, books _________________.

(A) that were very rare
(B) were very rarely
(C) were very rare
(D) as very rare

2. _________ a tomato plant from seventy-five to eighty-five days to develop into a mature plant with
ripe fruit.
(A) It takes
(B) To take
(C) That it takes
(D) By taking

3. There are six types of flamingos, all ________ have long legs, long necks, and beaks that curve
sharply downward.
(A) of them
(B) that
(C) of which
(D) they

4. Most beans _________________________________ are a form of kidney bean.

(A) that are cultivated in the United States
(B) their cultivation in the United States
(C) are cultivated in the United States they
(D) they are cultivated in the United States

5. In addition to being a naturalist, Stewart E. White was a writer _______________________ the struggle
for survival on the American frontier.
(A) whose novels describe
(B) he describes in his novels
(C) his novels describe
(D) who, describing in his novels
6. _________________ toward shore, its shape is changed by its collision with the shallow sea bottom.
(A) During a wave rolls
(B) As a wave rolls
(C) A wave rolls
(D) A wave’s rolling

Word order in sub-ordinate clause

The word order in direct questions is not the same as it is in sub-ordinate clauses. It
follows statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order (auxiliary + subject + main
verb)
I don’t know what is her name. (incorrect use of question word order)
I don’t know what her name is. (correct word order)
She called him to ask what time did his party start. (incorrect use of question word order)
She called him to ask what time his party started. (correct word order)

1.One basic question psychologists have tried to answer is __________________ .

(A) people learn
(B) how do people learn
(C) people learn how
(D) how people learn

2.Scientists cannot agree on ____________ related to other orders of insects.

(A) that fleas are
(B) how fleas are
(C) how are fleas
(D) fleas that are

3. ___________________________________ is a narrow strip of woods along a stream in an open

grassland.
(A) Ecologists use the term “gallery forest”
(B) What do ecologists call a “gallery forest”
(C) “Gallery forest” is the term ecologists use
(D) What ecologists call a “gallery forest”

4. In order to grow vegetables properly, gardeners must know ___________________________________.

(A) what the requirements for each vegetable are
(B) that the requirements for each vegetable
(C) what are each vegetable’s requirements
(D) that is required by each vegetable

5. Although (A) geologists have a clear (B) understanding of why earthquakes occur ( C ) , they cannot
reliably predict (D) when will they take place. ( E ) No error

Extended Part of a clause

1.Non-Finite Verb

- Skydiving is fun.
- Jay enjoys swimming.
-Lee is boring.
- I found the man beaten.
- The window was broken.
- To swim in the pond is a good form of exercise.

Any non-finite verb or phrases derived from non finite verb is an extended part of a clause.
I saw the man running.
Seeping, I saw the man running.
Sleeping in the bed, I saw the man running in the field constructed by the local government elected by the
people.

2. Prepositional phrase

- Begins with a preposition and ends with a noun.

- Modifies a noun or a verb.

Henry photographed the flock of flamingos.

The boy of blue eyes with red T shirt is running in the field.

Any Prepositional phrase is an extended part of a clause.

The color is blue.

The color of the shirt is blue.
The color of the shirt of the students is blue.
The color of the shirt of the students in the classroom is blue.
The color of the shirt of the students in the classroom of the school is blue.

To make the structure of a clause more complex, more than one extension tools can be used

Forced into early retirement, the surgeon found a new career performing liposuction on pets.

In the waning days of emperor life, the conquest of new lands of the borders of the empire is considered
vital by the advisors elected by the mass people of the kingdom surrounded by so many hostile regions.

3. Appositive

Appositive gives extra information about noun. An appositive can be a word, a phrase, or a clause.
Commas separate appositive phrases and corresponding nouns.

The fifth car, which is red, is mine.

Jake, an enormous man with great strength, carried the cow with ease.

Appositive is an extensive part of any clause.

Vancouver is the home of the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia, is the home of the Vancouver Canucks, the finest
hockey team in the National Hockey League.

In the waning days of emperor life, the conquest of new lands, a very common technique used by emperors
for expansion, of the borders of the empire is considered vital by the advisors elected by the mass people of
the kingdom surrounded by so many hostile regions.
4. Modifier

The effort is praiseworthy.

The relentless effort is very praiseworthy.
The government’s relentless effort is more than praiseworthy.

The government’s tireless efforts to preserve the blue-finned wigglefish, the smallest species in the bluefish
family, has negatively impacted the local fishing industry.

5.Dependent Clause with relative pronoun.

A dependent clause begins with a clause marker. Sometimes, dependent clause begins with a relative
pronoun ( who, which, what , that). If we eliminate dependent clause we get a full independent clause which
is a complete sentence.

The boy is my brother.

The boy who is waving from window is my brother.
The pen is red.
The pen which I bought last night is red.
The tidal forces to which an object falling into a black hole is subjected are sufficient to tear the object apart.

Exercise
1. The (A) recent string of burglaries, (B) in addition to poor building maintenance, ( C )have inspired the
outspoken resident (D) to call a tenants meeting. ( E ) No error
2. A new text book (A) focused on (B) recent advances C)in artificial intelligence (D) assigned by our
instructor. E) No error
Choose the correct sentence
3.The proliferation of computer games designed to involve many players at once were first developed
before the widespread availability of high-speed internet connection.
A. The proliferation of computer games designed to involve many players at once were first developed
before the widespread availability of high-speed internet connection.
B. The proliferation of computer games designed to involve many players at once was first developed before
the widespread availability of high-speed internet connection.
C.Computer game’s proliferation designed to involve many players at once was first developed before the
widespread availability of high-speed internet connection.
D. Computer game designed to involve many players at once were first developed and proliferated before
the widespread availability of high-speed internet connection.
E. None of these

4. The term "Eureka," meaning "I have found it" in ancient Greek and famously uttered by
Archimedes, and ever since then, scientists have exclaimed th same word upon making important
discoveries.
A. The term "Eureka," meaning "I have found it" in ancient Greek and famously uttered by Archimedes, and
ever since then, scientists have exclaimed the same word upon making important discoveries.
B.The term "Eureka," meaning "I have found it" in ancient Greek, WAS famously uttered by Archimedes,
and ever since then, scientists have exclaimed · same word upon making important discoveries.
C. The term "Eureka," means "I have found it" in ancient Greek and famously uttered by Archimedes, and
ever since then, scientists have exclaimed the same word upon making important discoveries.
D.The term "Eureka," means "I have found it" in ancient Greek, WAS famously uttered by Archimedes, and
ever since then, scientists have exclaimed · same word upon making important discoveries.
E. None of these
5. The Bentley trench, situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered by
Antarctic glaciers, and it is the lowest point on the planet not under the Oceans.
A. The Bentley trench, situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered by
Antarctic glaciers, and it is the lowest point on the planet not under the Oceans.
B. The Bentley trench, situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered by
Antarctic glaciers, is the lowest point on the planet not under the oceans.
C. The Bentley trench, which is situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered
by Antarctic glaciers, and it is the lowest point on the planet not under the Oceans.
D. The Bentley trench, which is situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered
by Antarctic glaciers, and is the lowest point on the planet not under the oceans.
E. None of these

Home Exercise

If the sentence is a fragment, or if the subject and verb do not make sense together, or if the
subject and verb do not agree,or if the sentence is incorrect, rewrite the sentence correcting the
mistake. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark it with the word CORRECT.

1. A venomous snake designated the emblem of the rebellion by the insurgency.

2. A number of players on the team have improved since last season.
3. Jack, along with some of his closest friends, is sharing a limo to the prom.
4. There is, according to my doctor, many courses of treatment available to me.
5. After all the gardening we did, the sun shining on the flowerbeds make a beautiful
sight.
6. The decision to place the beautiful artifacts in out-of-the-way nooks around the mansion's various rooms
was inspiring.
7. Just around the corner is a fantastic bakery and a small supermarket.
8. The music company was afraid of the accelerating decline of sales of compact disks
would not be compensated by increased internet revenue.
9. The petroleum distillates were so viscous, the engineers had to heat the pipe by nearly
30 degrees.
10. The municipality's back-to-work program has had notable success, nevertheless, it is
not suitable for a state-wide roll-out for several reasons.
11. Historically, the Isle of Man had an economy based primarily on agriculture and fishing;
now, one based on banking, tourism, and film production.
12. The Bentley trench, situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered by
Antarctic glaciers, and it is the lowest point on the planet not under the
Oceans.
Solution
1. A venomous snake vvas designated the emblem of the rebellion by the insurgency.
2. A number of players on the team have improved since last season. CORRECT
3. Jack, along with some of his closest friends, is sharing a limo to the prom. CORRECT 4. There are ,
according to my doctor, many courses of treatment available to me.
5.After all the gardening we did, the sun shining on the flowerbeds makes a beautiful sight.
6. The decision to place the beautiful artifacts in out-of-the-way nooks around the mansion's various rooms
was inspiring. CORRECT.
7. Just around the corner are a fantastic bakery AND a small supermarket. [If you re-arranged the sentence,
it would read: A fantastic bakery AND a small supermarket ARE just around the corner. The word and
makes a compound subject, which is plural.]
8. The music company was afraid THAT the accelerating decline of sales of compact disks would not be
compensated by increased internet revenue.
The original sentence has an independent clause (The music company was afraid of the accelerating
decline of sales of compact disks) with another verb phrase-would not be compensated by increased
internet revenue-inappropriately tacked on. One way to fix the sentence is to replace the preposition
of with that
9. The petroleum distillates were so viscous THAT the engineers had to heat the pipe by
nearly 30 degrees.
The original sentence is a run-on sentence. To fix the sentence, you need to insert that.
10. The municipality's back-to-work program has had notable success; nevertheless, it
is not suitable for a state-wide rollout for several reasons. [semicolon before nevertheless]
The word nevertheless is not a FANBOYS conjunction (such as and). As a result, you need to
use a semicolon, not a comma, before nevertheless.
11. Historically, the Isle of Man had an economy based primarily on agriculture and fishing; now, IT HAS
one based on banking, tourism, and film production.
Just like the words that come before a semicolon, the words that come after a semicolon
must constitute a complete sentence. In the original sentence, the second part of the sentence does not
form a valid independent clause.
12. The Bentley trench, situated more than a mile and a half below sea level and completely covered by
Antarctic glaciers, IS the lowest point on the planet not under the
oceans.
The original sentence has an independent clause linked to a sentence fragment by the use of
and. In the corrected version, one main clause combines all of the information given