Sentence
A combination or group of words that gives a complete meaning, thought or idea is called a sentence.
Example:
I ate an apple.
The above combination of words gives a complete meaning or idea. Such a group words can be called a sentence.
Now, see another combination of words “table he a bought” or “mango read car big”. These combinations of words do not express a complete meaningful sense to a reader or a listener. Hence, such a combination of words cannot be termed as a sentence.
A sentence must have all the words in proper sequence to reveal a proper complete meaning. A sentence can have nouns, adjectives, verbs, subject, object and article in correct sequence according the rules of English grammar. A sentence starts with a capital letter (first alphabet of first word) and ends with full-stop (or period), exclamation mark or question mark.
Here are examples:
She is singing a song.
He is a doctor.
Kids are playing in the garden.
He will come here tomorrow.
We watched a movie.
What is your name?
What a pleasant weather!
It has been raining since 3 O’clock.
I am learning how to drive a car.
She wrote him a letter.
They bought a new computer.
There ten students in the classroom.
Where had you gone the last night?
The birds are flying in the sky.
He got admission in a new school.
Subject, Predicate and Object
A sentence is a combination of words that gives a complete meaning or thought. A sentence has the following three parts.
- Subject
- Predicate
- Object
1. Subject
Subject is a noun or a pronoun used in a sentence. It is an agent in the sentence which does some action in the sentence. Read the following examples.
He is writing a poem.
She is laughing.
They are playing football.
David works in a factory.
It can be seen in the following examples, that the subjects (he, she, they, David) are performing certain action.
In some sentences, the subject may not necessarily perform some task. Hence, subject can also be defined as the noun or pronoun used in a sentence about which some thing is being told in the sentence. This definition of subject applies to sentence having static verbs. Read the following examples.
He is very happy.
David seems to be angry.
She looks very beautiful.
2. Predicate
Predicate is the part of a sentence which says something about the subject of the sentence. Predicate is usually a large part of the sentence. The part of sentence, other than the subject, is called predicate of the sentence. The underlined part in the following examples is the predicate of each sentence.
Example:
He is writing a poem.
She is laughing.
They are playing football.
David works in a factory.
It can be seen in the above examples, that underlined part of each sentence is predicate part of the same sentence as it is telling something about the subject.
3. Object
Unlike the subject who acts, an object is a noun or a pronoun in a sentence which is acted upon. The subject is the actor of the sentence who acts upon the object. The object is a noun or a pronoun that is acted upon by the subject.
Example:
He is eating an apple.
The noun ‘apple’ in the above sentence is the object of the sentence because it is being acted upon by the subject ‘He’. The subject ‘He’ is acting (eating) and the object ‘apple’ is being acted upon (is being eaten) by the subject.
Examples.
She is singing a song.
He is writing a letter.
She is repairing her laptop.
Note. All sentences do not have an object. Some verbs do not require an object, which are known as intransitive verbs. Hence, sentences having intransitive verb may not have an object. Read the following examples.
He is laughing.
She is sleeping.
They are running.
Types of Sentences (Function)
A combination of words which gives a complete meaning is called a sentence. There are various types of sentence depending upon its function and structure. On the basis of its function, a sentence has the following four kinds.
- Declarative Sentence
- Interrogative Sentence
- Imperative Sentence
- Exclamatory Sentence
1. Declarative sentence
A sentence which declares or asserts a statement is called declarative sentence. It simply announces an idea. It has a plan statement. A declarative sentence ends with a full-stop mark or a period (.).
Examples:
He bought a new laptop.
They are playing football.
He is going to college.
I saw my friend in the street.
He is studying a book.
She is watching a movie.
2. Interrogative sentence
A sentence that has a question is called Interrogative sentence. It is also called a question-sentence. An interrogative sentence ends with a question-mark (?).
Examples:
How are you?
When will he come?
Where are you going?
What is your hobby?
Will you help me?
3. Imperative sentence
A sentence which expresses a request, a command or an order is called imperative sentence. An imperative sentence mostly ends with a period (.). It can also sometimes ends with an exclamation mark (!) depending upon the emotion in the sentence.
Examples:
Turn off the light. (command)
Give me some food. (request)
Please cooperate with me. (request)
Don’t smoke. (advice)
Don’t waste your time. (advice)
Get out of the room. (command)
4. Exclamatory sentence
A sentence which expresses strong emotion or feeling is called an exclamatory sentence. It describes emotions or feelings of joy, anger, sorrow, surprise, excitement, frustration and appreciation. An exclamatory sentence is ended with an exclamation mark (!).
Examples:
Hurrah! We won the race! (emotions of joy)
Alas! I lost my purse! (emotions of sorrow)
What a nice car! (emotions of surprise)
Hurrah! I got selected for the job! ( emotion of joy)
How nicely they are dancing! (emotions of surprise)
It’s fantastic! (emotion of excitement)
How intelligent you are! (emotions of surprise)
Types of Sentences (Structure)
A sentence can consist of one clause (independent clause) or more than one clause (independent and dependent clauses). The independent clause is also known as a main clause. The dependent clause is also known as a subordinate clause.
Different sentences have different structures. There are four types of sentences depending upon its structure or formation (the numbers of clauses in the sentence).
1. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence comprises only one clause (main or independent clause). A main clause has both the subject and the verb and expresses a complete meaning. Hence, a simple sentence is simply a main-clause. It has no dependent clause.
Examples:
I bought a chair.
He ate a mango.
She goes to college.
They are laughing.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence has at least two main (or independent) clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions. It has no dependent clause.
The coordinating conjunctions, used to join main clauses, are “and, for, nor, but, so, yet, or”. Independent clauses are also sometime connected by a semicolon (;) mark. A comma may not or may be used before a conjunction in a compound sentence.
Examples:
I wrote him a letter but he didn’t reply me.
I told him about his failure in the exam and he became sad.
She failed many times yet she is not disappointed.
I needed help; he helped me.
3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence has one main-clause (independent clause) and at least one subordinate-clause (dependent clause) connected by subordinate conjunctions such as ‘although, because, since, unless, when’ or a relative pronoun such as ‘who, that, which etc’.
In the following examples, the underlined part of each sentence is a main clause while the remaining part is a subordinate (dependent) clause.
Examples:
I saw a man who was wearing a white shirt.
The girl bought a doll which sings a song.
She gifted me a book that has a great knowledge.
We helped a child who was crying.
Note. If the complex sentence starts with the independent (or main) clause, a comma will not be used between clauses in the complex sentence. But if the complex sentence starts with a dependent (or subordinate) clause then the comma will be used after the dependent clause in the complex sentence. Read the examples given below.
It is quite hot today although it is raining.
Although it is raining, it is quite hot today.
4. Complex-Compound Sentence
A complex-compound sentence has at least two main (independent) clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses. It can also be called compound-complex sentence.
In the following examples, the underlined parts represent main clause while the non-underlined parts represent subordinate clause.
Examples:
I like Physic, but my friend likes Biology who wants to become a doctor.
I waited for him, but he didn’t come which disappointed me.
She bought a green shirt and I bought brown shirt which looks very decent.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject-verb agreement refers to the rules of English grammar for using correct verb according to singular or plural subject in a sentence.
Basic rule: A singular verb is used for a singular subject whereas a plural verb is used for a plural subject in a sentence.
Examples:
David has shifted to a new house.
David and Sara have shifted to a new house.
David, along with his wife, has shifted to a new home.
- In the first sentence, singular helping verb ‘has’ is used because the subject ‘David’ is singular.
- In the second sentence, the plural helping verb ‘have’ is used for plural subject ‘David and Sara’.
- In the third sentence, though there are two persons but the use of ‘along with’ separates the subject ‘David’ to be treated as singular, that is why a singular helping verb ‘has’ is used for the subject ‘David’
The rules of subject-verb agreement are as follows:
Rule – 1.
If nouns or pronouns joined by and, use a plural verb.
John and David are going to a zoo.
He and his friend have finished the work.
A male and a female were selected for the job.
Rule - 2.
If two or more singular nouns or pronouns are joined by either/or or neither/nor, a singular verb will be used.
Neither David nor Sara is interested in music.
Either he or his brother has written this poem.
David, John or Sara has to answer the question.
Rule - 3.
If singular and plural nouns are connected by or or nor, the verb will be used according to the noun nearest to it.
Either the boy or the girls have cleaned the room.
Either the girls or the boy has cleaned the room.
Neither he nor his friends were attending the classes.
Neither his friends nor he was attending the classes.
Rule - 4.
If a singular noun is connected to a plural noun by word ‘of ’, a singular verb will be used.
The list of guidelines were prepared (Wrong)
The list of guidelines was prepared. (Correct)
A group of students are trained for the competition. (Wrong)
A group of students is trained for the competition. (Correct)
Rule - 5.
Sometimes, a singular noun is connected to other nouns with words such as together with, as well as, along with, in addition to, besides, accompanied by. Such a phrase is not treated as part of the subject. A singular verb will be used in such cases.
John, accompanied by his friends, is going to a cinema.
He, along with other students, was awarded a prize.
She, as well as her brother, has applied for a visa.
Rule - 6.
collective noun expresses more than one person but it will be treated as singular and singular verb will be used for it, such as committee, team, family and so on.
Our team is playing well.
The committee has prepared a report.
His family was concerned about his studies.
Rule - 7.
In sentences starting with there or here, the verb will be used according to the words that follow it.
There are many people in the market.
There is a huge number of people in the market.
Here are some instructions for the exam.
Here is a list of instructions for the exam.
Rule - 8.
The words such as every, each, either, neither, none, any, nobody, no one, somebody and everyone are singular. Hence, a singular verb will be used for these words.
None of them was ready to take a risk.
Everyone was laughing.
Each of these fruits is delicious.
Somebody is knocking at the door.
Modifiers and Participles
Dangling Modifier
A modifier is a word, a phrase or a clause that adds information to another word, phrase or clause. Read the following example:
Being a student, I should prefer study over music.
The phrase ‘Being a student’ is a modifier part in the above sentence. Even without this modifier part, the remaining part can alone stand as a complete sentence giving a complete idea, but the modifier part adds more information to it – that I am a student and that’s why as a student, I should prefer study over music. Such a word or a phrase is called a modifier.
WHAT IS A DANGLING MODIFIER?
A dangling modifier is a word or a phrase which does not clearly refer to the part of a sentence which is modified by it. A dangling modifier is a writing error and the sentence having a dangling modifier is grammatically wrong.
Examples 1.
Focus on the meaning of the following sentence to understand.
At the age of fourteen, my father took me to London.
The phrase ‘at the age of fourteen’ is a dangling modifier. Due to this dangling modifier, the sentence literally means something different than what the speaker intends to say in the sentence. The speaker intends to say that when he was fourteen years old, his father took him to London. But the way the sentence is written, it literally means that when his father was fourteen years old, his father took him to London. A modifier modifies the word that is closest to it. As the words ‘my father’ come right after the modifier part, the modifier modifies the age of father, not the age of the speaker.
A dangling modifier is basically a writing mistake and it is corrected by re-arranging the words of the sentence or adding a few words to the sentence. The above sentence can be corrected by writing it in following two ways:
At the age of fourteen, I was taken to London by my father.
When I was fourteen years old, my father took me to London.
Example 2.
Such a modifier is called a dangling modifier because it dangles between the target words that it modifies.
Read another example to understand.
Flying in the sky, I saw a huge flock of birds.
The phrase ‘Flying in the sky’ is a dangling modifier. This sentence confuses the reader that whether the subject ‘I’ was flying in the sky when he saw the birds or the birds were flying in the sky? We know that a human cannot fly and the flock of bird is the target of the modifier but the structure of the sentence is wrong. The way the sentence is structured, it literally means that the subject ‘I’ was flying which is not the intended meaning of the speaker of the sentence.
A dangling modifier is a grammatical error which needs to be corrected. The above sentence can be corrected by simply writing it as:
I saw a huge flock of birds flying in the sky.
CORRECTING DANGLING MODIFIERS
A sentence having a dangling modifier is corrected by following ways:
- Re-structuring the sentence
- Adding a few words (missing words) to the sentence
- Changing the voice of the sentence or its part (Active & Passive voice)
Focus on the target word (noun or other word) that is intended to be modified by the modifier and make changes to the sentence in the above three ways to correct it.
Examples:
Having a funny face, the kids were laughing at the Joker. (Wrong)
The kids were laughing at the joker having a funny face. (Correct)
The kids were laughing at the joker who had a funny face. (Correct)
Answering all the questions correctly, the interviewer selected him for the job. (Wrong)
Answering all the questions correctly he was selected for the job by the interviewer. (Correct)
The interviewer selected him for the job because he answered all the questions correctly. (Correct)
Worried about him, the sudden news of his death saddened her wife. (Wrong)
The sudden news of his death saddened her wife who was worried about him. (Correct)
Worried about him, her wife was saddened by the sudden news of his death. (Correct)
Tired of whole day work, watching a movie relaxed me. (Wrong)
Tired of whole day work, I was relaxed by watching a movie. (Correct)
The dangling modifiers are corrected by re-structuring the sentence to clear the dangling confusion and to give a clear sense of the word being modified by the dangling modifier.
DANGLING PARTICIPLES
A dangling modifier is also called a dangling participle if it contains a present participle (e.g. 1st form of verb + ing) or a past participle (2nd form of verb).
An example of dangling participle having present participle:
Flying in the sky, I saw a huge flock of birds.
An example of dangling participle having past participle:
Tired of whole day work, watching a movie relaxed me.
Note. Some dangling modifiers do not have a present or past participle. Such a modifier cannot be called a dangling participle. Such a modifier is simply called dangling modifier. Read the following example.
At the age of fourteen, my father took me to London.
Dangling Participle
To understand dangling participle, you should first know what is a participle phrase? A participle phrase is a combination of a few words having a present participle (1st form of verb + ing) or a past participle (2nd form of the verb). The participle phrase act as a modifier in a sentence – it adds information to other words or part of the sentence. Read following example:
Eating sweets for a long, she gained a lot of weight.
In the above sentence, the phrase ‘eating sweets for a long’ is a participle phrase having a present participle (eating). It modifies (adds information to) the remaining part of the sentence (she gained weight) that the weight was gained due to eating sweets for a long time. Participle phrase acts as a modifier in a sentence.
WHAT IS A DANGLING PARTICIPLE?
A dangling participle is a participle phrase which does not clearly refer to the target word that is modified by it. It confuses the reader to understand the meaning of the sentence. A dangling participle is basically a writing mistake.
Example 1.Focus on the meaning of the following sentence to understand.
Flying in the sky, I saw a huge flock of birds.
The above participle phrase ‘flying in the sky’ is a dangling participle. It confuses the reader to understand the correct meaning of the sentence that whether the subject ‘I’ was flying in the sky when he saw the birds or the birds were flying in the sky. A modifier always modifies a word closest to them. As the subject ‘I’ is right after the modifier part ‘flying in the sky’, the sentence would literally mean that the subject (I) was flying in the sky, which is not intended meaning of the writer of the sentence. Though we know that a human cannot fly and the ‘flock of birds’ is likely to be the target of the modifier (participle phrase) but the way this sentence is written gives wrong meaning.
A dangling participle is a writing error. A sentence having dangling modifier is grammatically wrong. Such sentences are corrected by re-arranging the words of the sentence or adding a few words (missing words) to it.
For instance, the above sentence is corrected by writing it as:
I saw a huge flock of birds flying in the sky.
Example 2. Dangling participle having a past participle (2nd form of verb)
Injured in a car accident, we took the man to a hospital.
The phrase ‘injured in a car accident’ is a dangling participle having past participle (injured). The participle phrase lies in a wrong place in the sentence and confuses the reader about the correct meaning of the sentence – whether the subject (we) were injured in a car accident or the man was injured in a car accident. The sentence, as in this structure, means that the subject (we) were injured in a car accident, not the man – which is not meaning intended by the writer of the sentence. Because the writer intends to say that they took the man to a hospital who was injured in a car accident, but the wrong structure of sentence does not convey that meaning.
The above sentence will be corrected by writing it in the following two ways:
Injured in a car accident, the man was taken to a hospital by us.
We took the man to a hospital who was injured in a car accident.
CORRECTING DANGLING PARTICIPLES
The sentences having a dangling participle can be corrected in the following ways:
- Re-structuring the sentence
- Add a few words (missing words) to it
- Changing its voice (Active and Passive voice)
To correct dangling participle, find the target word (noun, pronoun or other word) and restructure the sentence correctly.
Examples:
Talking funny, the audience were laughing at the Joker. (Wrong)
The audience were laughing at the Joker who was talking funny. (Correct)
Crying out of pain, the doctor encouraged the patient. (Wrong)
Crying out of pain, the patient was encouraged by the doctor. (Correct)
The doctor encouraged the patient who was crying out of pain. (Correct)
Worried about her result, the news of her failure in exam saddened her. (Wrong)
Worried about her result, she was saddened by the news of her failure in the exam. (Correct)
The news of failure in exam saddened her who was worried about her result. (Correct)
Note. Some dangling phrases do not have a participle in it. Such a phrase cannot be called a dangling participle. Such a phrase is simply called a dangling modifier. Read the following example:
At the age of sixteen, my father gifted me a bicycle. (Wrong)
At the age of sixteen, I was gifted a bicycle by my father. (Correct)
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