Sentences

Sentence – a set of words that contains a subject and a predicate and conveys a statement, command, question, or an exclamation. Sentence Parts

Subject – what/who the sentence is about Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system.

Predicate – what the subject does The cat is sleeping in the sun.

Sentence Types Declarative – a sentence that makes a statement (ends with a period mark) The weather is warm and sunny, a perfect day for a picnic.

Imperative – a sentence that makes a command (ends with a period mark) Stop feeding the cat from the table.

Interrogative – a sentence that asks a question (ends with a question mark) Where is your new cat?

Exclamatory – a sentence that expresses great emotion, passion, excitement (ends with an exclamation mark) Ice cream sundaes are my favorite!

Sentence Patterns

Simple Sentence: A sentence that is just one independent clause. I was tired after working all day, so I decided to go to sleep early.

Compound Sentence: A sentence with multiple independent clauses, but no dependent clauses - connected by FANBOYS (coordinating conjunctions) or a semicolon (;).

Cats are good pets, for they are clean and not noisy.

Complex Sentence: A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Wherever you go, you can always find beauty.

Complex-Compound Sentence: A sentence with multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. Though my mother says it doesn’t matter, I am tall, and she is short.

Loose Sentence: A sentence that contains an independent clause plus a subordinate construction (either a clause or phrase) with your main point at the beginning. You can pass all your classes with good study habits and good attendance.

Periodic Sentence: A sentence in which the independent clause is given at the end of the sentence to create interest or generate suspense with the main point coming at the end. Positive thinking, by helping us stay focused and maintaining a good attitude, is important for a happy life.

Parallel Structure: A sentence using the same pattern of two or more verbs or ideas that match intense or structure to show that they are of equal importance and to help the reader comprehend what is being written - this sentence requires symmetry. My parents say to get a good education and do not settle for less.

Balanced Sentence: A sentence where phrases or clauses at the beginning and the end parallel each other by their likeness of structure, meaning, or length - this sentence requires symmetry. My cat likes to eat and sleep all day.

Chiasmus: A sentence that includes a repetition of ideas (words, phrases, or clauses) in inverted (reversed) order - this sentence requires symmetry. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.

Asyndeton: A sentence that leaves out conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses for a rhetorical purpose. Every person should be brave, honest, good, and decent.

Polysyndeton: A sentence that uses multiple conjunctions close to each other between words, phrases, or clauses for a rhetorical purpose. Today, my teachers gave me math homework, science homework, reading homework, and a project to complete.

Anaphora: A sentence that features the purposeful repetition of a word, words, or a phrase at the beginning of several successive clauses to place emphasis and draw attention. I am awake, I am strong, and I am ready.

Epistrophe: A sentence featuring several phrases or clauses ending with the same word or words. I came as a child, I spoke as a child, and I thought as a child.

Sentence Errors

Run-On/Rambling/Fused Sentence – a sentence construction error where two or more independent clauses are connected incorrectly without punctuation. I ran across the road and it was very dangerous. [WRONG] I ran across the road. It was very dangerous. [RIGHT]

Comma Splice – a sentence construction error where two or more independent clauses are connected incorrectly using commas The teacher was angry, the students were too loud.[WRONG] The teacher was angry. The students were too loud.[RIGHT]

Fragment – incomplete sentence pieces that are not connected to or do not form an independent clause After I finish the project. [WRONG] I will get a bonus after I finish the project. [RIGHT]

Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers – modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add a description; a misplaced modifier describes the wrong part of a sentence and a dangling modifier is missing the part it’s supposed to modify People who laugh rarely are sad. [WRONG] People who rarely laugh are sad. [RIGHT]

Double Negative – combining two or more negative words in a sentence in a way that is supposed to produce a positive force I don’t have any money. [WRONG] I don’t have any money. [RIGHT]