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Sentence Structure
Avoiding common problems
What is a sentence?
What is a sentence?
Subject
What is a sentence?
Subject Predicate (verb & modifiers, object(s), etc.)
What is a sentence?
Subject Predicate: verb & modifiers, object(s), etc. Starts with a capital letter, ends with a period
What is a sentence?
Subject Predicate: verb & modifiers, object(s), etc. Starts with a capital letter, ends with a period Expresses a complete thought
What is a complete thought?
What is a complete thought?
It can stand alone
What is a complete thought?
It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it
What is a complete thought?
It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it Certain words can make a complete thought
less complete:
What is a complete thought?
It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it Certain words can make a complete thought
less complete: Examples--after, although, as, as if, because,
before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while
What is a complete thought?
It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it Certain words can make a complete thought
less complete: Examples--after, although, as, as if, because,
before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while
These words can make an independent clause into a dependent clause
Make sure you know the difference
Make sure you know the difference
Independent clause: subject and predicate and can stand alone
Make sure you know the difference
Independent clause: subject and predicate and can stand alone
Dependent clause: subject and predicate and cannot stand alone
All sentences are not created equal
All sentences are not created equal
There are simple sentences: one independent clause
All sentences are not created equal
There are simple sentences: one independent clause
“The student in the library read many interesting books.”
All sentences are not created equal
There are simple sentences: one independent clause
“The student in the library read many interesting books.”
There are compound sentences: two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor)
All sentences are not created equal
There are simple sentences: one independent clause
“The student in the library read many interesting books.”
There are compound sentences: two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor)
“The student in the library read many interesting books, but none provided the information needed for the research paper.”
All sentences are not created equal
There are complex sentences: an independent clause and a dependent clause, joined by a subordinating conjunction
All sentences are not created equal
There are complex sentences: an independent clause and a dependent clause, joined by a subordinating conjunction
Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper.”
All sentences are not created equal
There are complex sentences: an independent clause and a dependent clause, joined by a subordinating conjunction
Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper.”
There are compound-complex sentences: two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
All sentences are not created equal
Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.”
All sentences are not created equal
Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.”
The dependent clause: Although the student in the library read many interesting books
All sentences are not created equal
Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.”
The dependent clause: Although the student in the library read many interesting books
First independent clause: none provided the information needed for the research paper
All sentences are not created equal
Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.”
The dependent clause: Although the student in the library read many interesting books
First independent clause: none provided the information needed for the research paper
Second independent clause: and she began to despair.
Why does any of this matter?
Why does any of this matter?
Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors
Why does any of this matter?
Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors Sentences that are “too short” (sentence
fragments)
Why does any of this matter?
Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors Sentences that are “too short” (sentence
fragments) Sentences that are “too long” (comma splices
or run-ons)
Why does any of this matter?
Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors Sentences that are “too short” (sentence
fragments) Sentences that are “too long” (comma splices
or run-ons) WARNING: A long sentence is not
necessarily a run-on sentence
Sentence fragments
Sentence fragments
May be missing something
Sentence fragments
May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the
river.
Sentence fragments
May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the
river. May be a dependent clause
Sentence fragments
May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the
river. May be a dependent clause Which is the reason why I was always
confused
Sentence fragments
May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the
river. May be a dependent clause Which is the reason why I was always
confused Although I always come to class
Run-on sentence
“Too long”
Run-on sentence
“Too long” Contains more than one independent clause
Run-on sentence
“Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation
Run-on sentence
“Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot.
Run-on sentence
“Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot. John read the book. He liked it a lot.
Run-on sentence
“Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot. John read the book. He liked it a lot. It’s snowing outside let’s go play.
Run-on sentence
“Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot. John read the book. He liked it a lot. It’s snowing outside let’s go play. It’s snowing outside. Let’s go play.
However = but (not)
However = but (not)
But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses
However = but (not)
But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses
The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.
However = but (not)
But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses
The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.
However is an adverb and cannot link two independent clauses.
However = but (not)
But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses
The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.
However is an adverb and cannot link two independent clauses.
The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.
However = but (not)
But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses
The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.
However is an adverb and cannot link two independent clauses.
The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
However = but (not)
The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.
However = but (not)
The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.
Could be: The man ate the sandwich; however he was soon hungry again.
However = but (not)
The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.
Could be: The man ate the sandwich; however he was soon hungry again.
Or: The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.
However = but (not)
The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.
Could be: The man ate the sandwich; however he was soon hungry again.
Or: The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.
Or: The man ate the sandwich. However he was soon hungry again.
Skilled writers use a mix
Simple sentences are easy to read
Skilled writers use a mix
Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive
Skilled writers use a mix
Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety
Skilled writers use a mix
Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety But can become long and unwieldy
Skilled writers use a mix
Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety But can become long and unwieldy Complex sentences provide perspective
Skilled writers use a mix
Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety But can become long and unwieldy Complex sentences provide perspective But can be confusing
A simple sentence
Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials.
A simple sentence
Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials.
A simple sentence
Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials.
A compound sentence
But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.
A compound sentence
But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.
A compound sentence
But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.
A compound sentence
But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.
A complex sentence
Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.
A complex sentence
Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.
A complex sentence
Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.
A complex sentence
Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.
who has long played less of an operational role is a dependent clause
Credit
Sentence examples adapted from: Al Qaeda Chiefs Are Seen to Regain
Power NYT, Feb. 19, 2007
