The sentence is the basic
unit of thought. We express our clear thought in sentences. One sentence is
connected with another one and another one with another one. This is how we
make a bigger piece of writing.
What is the definition of a
sentence? A sentence is a word or group of words
ensuring a clear sense in a given context. It may convey a statement,
question, command, or exclamation.
So, from the definition, we
have come to know that a single word can ensure a clear sense. And it is a
simple sentence. Let's have some examples where one word can function like a
sentence: Go. Do. Play. Watch. Enjoy. See. They all are one-word sentences. At
this point one question arises: can any word function like a sentence? Of
course not! Definitely not! Only a particular type of word can function as a
sentence and that is a verb. it means that a noun or a pronoun or an adjective
or an adverb or a preposition or a conjunction cannot function as a sentence. By
the way, these one-word sentences are simple ones.
However, the area of a simple sentence is limited to a subject and a predicate. Let's have some examples where we can see subjects and predicates in the sentence:
- John helps people.
- The sun rises in the East.
- Honesty is the best policy.
- Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh.
- He sings.
Here, "John", "The Sun", "Honesty", "Dhaka" and "He" are the subjects because they are being described in the sentence. So, what is the definition of a subject? A subject can be a person, place, event, thing, or idea which is being described in the sentence. And, the predicate describes the subject. What is the structure of a predicate? A predicate can consist of only a verb. Or, it can consist of a verb plus object or complement. So, let's have some other examples where we can see how a predicate can consist of a verb and how a predicate can consist of a verb plus object, complement, or adverbial.
- He Sleeps. (In that sentence the predicate ends up in only a verb. That is "sleep."
- The sun rises in the East. ("Rises" is the verb. "In the East" is the phrasal complement.)
- I eat rice. (Here, "rice" is the object, and "eat" is the verb.
- He runs fast. (In this sentence, “fast” is an adverbial.)
So, we can see that a predicate can consist of a verb. In the first example, only the verb "sleep," is the predicate. So, a predicate can consist of a verb only. At the same time, it can consist of a verb plus object, complement, or adverbial. At that point, you also need to understand what object, complement, or adverbial is. There will be a complete chapter entitled “Object, Complement and Adverbial” that will make you understand what object, complement, or adverbial is. So far, the chapter has talked about the area of a simple sentence. Now we know that the area is limited to one subject and one predicate. A subject can be a person, place, event, thing, or idea which is being described in the sentence. And, predicate describes the subject. A predicate can be as short as a verb and it can also have an object or complement or adverbial with a verb. So, a simple sentence has one subject and one predicate. And, we can make the sentence a bigger one if we connect two simple sentences by coordinating conjunction. When we connect two simple sentences by any coordinating conjunction, we end up making a compound sentence. For example:
- He is happy but he is poor. (Here, "He is happy" is a simple sentence. And, "he is poor" is another simple sentence. These two simple sentences are connected by one coordinating conjunction. That is "but." Let's have another example:
- Move or die. (Here, "Move" is one simple sentence, and "die" is another simple sentence. These two simple sentences here are connected by another coordinating conjunction. That is "or."
- He is happy and he is rich. "He is happy" is one simple sentence. "He is rich" is another simple sentence. And these simple sentences are connected by another coordinating conjunction and that is "and."
So, when two simple sentences are connected by any
coordinating conjunction, we end up making a compound sentence. Now, we
understand what a simple sentence is. A simple sentence is limited to one
independent clause that simple sentence has one subject and one predicate. In a
compound sentence, we have more than one simple sentence connected by
coordinating conjunction.
But there are
some clauses where we find subject and predicate but they cannot generate clear
sense. This type of clause is called a dependent clause.
- If you work hard .... Then, it has to be something. (If you work hard, you will succeed in life.)
- Though he is poor...... (Though he is poor, he is happy.)
- I know the man...........(I know the man who came yesterday.)
- This is the place..........(This is the place where I was born)
So, the clauses in bold are
dependent ones. They are joined with independent clauses to make complex
sentences. So, when a dependent clause is joined by an independent clause, we
end up making a complex sentence. If you want to understand complex and
compound sentences, you have to understand dependent and independent clauses.
At the same time, we use coordinating conjunctions to connect two independent
clauses, and we use subordinating conjunctions to connect one dependent and one
independent clause. So, you have to understand conjunction elaborately: the
coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. If you have not read the chapter
“Conjunction Explained”, you are advised to read it again. From there, you can
learn about various types of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. If
you understand coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, you will be able to
make compound and complex sentences.
So, from this
lecture, we have come to know about sentence structure. We have come to know
about the simple sentence that the area of a simple sentence is limited to one
subject and one predicate and then we can make a compound sentence by
connecting two simple sentences by coordinating conjunctions. Finally, we have
come to know how to make a complex sentence. We can make complex sentences by
connecting one dependent clause with an independent clause by any subordinating
conjunction.
Exercise:
- What is the subject?
- 2. What is a predicate?
- Tell what you know about the simple sentence.
- Describe the difference between complex and compound sentences.