What is a Sentence? A group of words giving a meaningful sense is called a sentence. It must contain a subject and a verb followed by a part of speech. A single word cannot complete a meaning. For making a sentences author uses many grammatical rules. Correct sentence formation makes an author’s writing justified. Parts of speech provide a framework to write any idea clearly and effectively.
Definition of sentence formation- “The grammatical arrangement of words in sentences is called a sentence structure.”
“A sentence is a collection of words that convey sense or meaning and is formed according to the logic of grammar.”
“A sentence is a set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a subject and predicate, conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command, and consisting of a main clause and sometimes one or more subordinate clauses.”
Elements of a Sentence-
- A sentence provides a clear meaning to the author’s written matter.
- It follows the rules of grammar.
- Correct punctuation is necessary to explain complete sense.
- Two or more noun, pronoun and verb may be used according to the types of sentence.
- It draws the framework for writing to an author.
- A sentence can be in the form of a question, a statement, an exclamation or command.
Types of Sentences-
Basically, sentences are of four types, but some other types of sentences also can be seen. We will explain all these with examples ahead. So that it could be easily understood.
[1] Simple and Declarative sentence
This is a simple statement which states a fact and ends with a full stop (period). It contains one independent clause. For example- (i) Ramesh goes to the cinema hall to watch a movie.
(ii) He is an intelligent boy.
[2] Compound sentence
When two or more simple sentences are written jointly, it is called a compound sentence. These sentences have an independent clause that may or may not be connected with conjunction like and, so, but, yet, because and so on. It can also be joint with a comma or semi-colon. For example- (i) Chirag likes to read comics; he feels fresh after that. (ii) John has an antique watch because he is fond of collecting antiques.
[3] Complex sentence
These types of sentences combine both dependent and independent clauses. A complex sentence can start by any clause either dependent or independent clause, but if it begins with a dependent clause, it is separated from the independent clause with the ‘comma’ simply. But, if independent clause comes first, the words like although, as, even though, if, instead, when, whenever, where, while are used to joint dependent clause. For example- (i) If you work hard, you will definitely get success. (ii) I want to reach there where you want to go.
(iii) Although he earns well, he is still unhappy with his job.
[4] Compound-Complex Sentence
As the rule of complex sentences, it begins with a dependent clause separated from the central clause by a comma. In compound-complex sentences, the rule for both types of compound and complex sentences is followed. Dependent and independent, both clauses are used. At the end of the sentence, the independent clause is joined by a comma and the word or, as in the rule for the compound. So, a compound complex sentence is made up of more than one sentence joined by a conjunction, and at least one of those sentences is complex. For example- (i) I will go to the market, but first, I have to complete my homework after I prepare the tea. (ii) When I woke up in the morning, I saw the birds’ chirping in the garden, and it made me happy.
[5] Imperative Sentence
This sentence shows command, order, or request. It ends with a mark of a period (full stop). For example- (i) Open the door. (ii) Please give me a glass of water.
[6] Interrogative Sentence
This type of sentence is used for asking something, and this ends with question mark (?). For example- (i) Where are you going? (ii) May I borrow your shirt for some days?
[7] Exclamatory Sentence
It is used for showing exclamations like emotion, grief, happiness etc. It ends with an exclamation mark (!). For showing exclamatory expressions like wow, alas, hurray, oho, bravo, fantastic ouch, etc is used before exclamation sign. As- (i) Wow! It’s amazing. (ii) Hurray! We won. (iii) Oh! I forgot my notebook at my home.
Tips to Be Kept in Mind in Sentence Formation/ Structure-
A good sentence structure helps to eliminate the use of sentence fragments as well. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. So, under mentioned are some tips to be kept in mind while forming a sentence:
- Be careful not to err on the side of a run-on sentence to avoid a sentence fragment. A run-on sentence is when two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction.
- Get the words in the right order. The most common order for the part of the sentence is subject, verb, and object.
- Be aware of punctuation that can present a sentence correctly. One may decide whether to use a comma with the subordinate clause in a complex sentence.
- Do not use “you” or “myself” in the imperative sentence.
- Do not use a question mark in a declarative sentence but the interrogative sentence must end with a question mark.
- Check carefully for the subject and verb in the text after conjunction to confirm the text is an independent clause.