Unit 1: Sentence

Structures

Are these sentences?

1. Made in China
2. Do you like?
3. Ready?
4. How to cook Tom Yam Koong.
5. Jane jogs every evening.

What is a sentence?
A sentence contains at least one main
clause (subject + verb) and a complete i
dea. For example:
I will not go to Hatyai this afternoon.
S

V.

Exercise 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Made in Germany.
This car was made in Germany.
Crying in the rain.
Sit down please.
The train has arrived.
A bottle of ink.
You should listen first.

What is a clause?
Clauses = Subject + verb

Main clause expresses a complete

idea.
Subordinate clause does not express
a complete idea. It begins with a subo
rdinator (or subordinate conjunction).

Example
Raymond is an excellent golfer
S1

V1

although he seldom plays.

S2

V2

Main clause + subordinator +

subordinate clause.
clause

Example
Although he seldom plays, Raymond
S1

V1

S2

is an excellent golfer.

V2

Subordinator + subordinate
clause, + main clause.
clause

Parts of Speech

Nouns
1. Proper nouns: Thaksin University,
Kanchanawanit Road, James Bond
2.Common Nouns: a computer, a
table, mother, a student, etc.
Nouns can be used as a subject (in
front of a verb) or an object (after
a verb or a preposition).

Pronouns
Pronouns can be used as a subject
(in front of a verb) or as an object
(after a verb or a preposition).
There are many different kinds of
pronouns. (details in books)

Verbs
There are 2 kinds of verbs:
Action verbs:
Transitive verbs followed by a
noun (object)
John made an apple pie for me.
S
V
O

Intransitive verbs no objects

Hans ran all the way home after the game.
S

Linking verbs: followed by an

adjective or a noun
Helen is a woman of integrity.
S
V N = complement

Adjectives
Modify and describe a noun or a
pronoun:
a small round table
Adj. may come after a linking verb
or be placed in front of the noun.
A poisonous plant is dangerous.

Adverbs
Modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs
The president walked across the room
quickly.
Thelma almost always arrives on time
for work.

Prepositions
Links a noun or a pronoun to the rest of
the sentence.
Prepo. + Noun = prepositional phrase
Adj.
The cat from next door caught a rat.

Prepositions
Prepo. + Noun = prepositional phrase
Adv.
The burglar jumped from the window
of our bedroom.
Adj.

Conjunctions
Co-ordinating conjunctions: and, but,
or, so, yet, for, nor (FANBOYS)
The rain had fallen steadily all week
long, so the river was close to overflo
wing.

 Subordinating conjunctions:
When people know that they have the
power to make their own decision,
they are more creative and productive.

Basic
sentence structures

1. Subject + verb.
This shop closes at 7.30.
The train arrived 15 minutes late.

2. Subject + linking verb + subj complement.

Wind speed seems to be highest

during the middle of the day.
Frank is a clever architect.

3. Subject + verb + direct object.

Silicon conducts electricity in an unusual
way.
Arsenal beat Liverpool.

4. Subject + verb + indirect object +

direct object.
We are sending you the balance of the
payment.
The supervisor mailed the applicant a
description of the job.

5. Subject + verb + direct object

+ object complement.
The plant shutdown left the entire
area an economic disaster.

5. Subject + verb + direct object

+ TO + indirect object.
He explained the situation to me.
He confessed his crime to the court.

Types of sentences
A simple sentence contains only one
main clause (one subject + predicate).
Predicate ( = )
action verb (+object)
linking verb + complement (= adjective
or noun)

Examples
Learning English is fun.
Subject

Predicate

Deaf people use their eyes very well.

Basic Sentence Patterns

for a Simple Sentence

Subject + verb (SV):

The plane flew over the stadium.
Over the stadium flew the plane.

Subject + subject + verb (SSV):

The plane and the helicopter flew
over the stadium.

Subject + verb + verb (SVV):

The plane flew over the stadium and
turned north.

Subject +subject + verb + verb

(SSVV):
The plane and the helicopter flew over
the stadium and turned north.

Compound Sentences
Main
Clause

Subj. + V.
(+ Obj.)

Coordinating
Conjunction

Main
Clause

and, but, Subj. + V.

or, so,
(+ Obj.)
yet, for,
nor

Compound Sentences
Deaf people use their eyes very well, so
they do not need help driving.
Most people use their ears for hearing
the car motor, but deaf people feel vibr
ations.

Complex Sentences
Main
Clause

Subj. + V.
(+ Obj.)

Subordinate
Conjunction

Sub.
Clause

Subj. + V.
when,
because, al (+ Obj.)
though, et
c.

Complex Sentences
I will meet you for lunch unless
you call to cancel.

Complex Sentences
Main clause + subordinator +
subordinate clause.
Subordinator + subordinate
clause, + main clause.

Adverb clauses
Clare ate a big breakfast because
she had a busy day ahead of her.

Adjective clauses
On the top of the shelf was the
trophy that Irma had won for her
model of the Battle of Shiloh

Appositive
My neighbour, who is insensitive,
plays his trombone all night long.
My neighbour, an insensitive man,
plays his trombone all night long.

Noun clauses
Arlene knew that it was nearly time
for James and his wife to leave.

Compound-complex sentences
On the day-long bicycle trip,
Ophelia ate the food that she
packed, but Henry had forgotten to
bring anything to eat.