The sentence

Tabla de contenido

Introducción ................................................................................................................... 1

Mapa conceptual ........................................................................................................... 1

1. The sentence ............................................................................................................. 2

Subjects and predicates .............................................................................................. 2
Finding subjects and predicates .................................................................................. 3
Transitive and intransitive verbs .................................................................................. 4

2. The phrases ............................................................................................................... 6

Adjective phrases ........................................................................................................ 6
Adverb phrases ........................................................................................................... 8
Noun phrases ............................................................................................................ 10
Clauses ..................................................................................................................... 11
Adverb clauses .......................................................................................................... 11
Adjective clauses....................................................................................................... 12
Noun clauses............................................................................................................. 12
Sentences: simple, compound, and complex ............................................................ 13
Sentences structure .................................................................................................. 16

Referencias .................................................................................................................. 19
 Introducción

Cada texto, formal o informal, está compuesto por oraciones. Desde el contexto de
exportación, es importante conocer la estructura y los tipos de oraciones para entender
el contenido de los documentos del proceso de exportación / importación, ya que
teniendo en cuenta estos conocimientos del idioma inglés, será más fácil aplicarlos en
el momento que se requieran.

Mapa conceptual

En el mapa conceptual que se comparte a continuación, se evidencia la interrelación

temática del contenido que se plantea en este material de formación.

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 1. The sentence

A sentence, considered as complete, contains at least a noun or pronoun, and a

verb, including a complete idea; but there are five other parts of speech that may
be added - but where? To answer this question it is important to learn about
subjects and predicates.

Subjects and predicates

A complete sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. The

following is a complete sentence. It expresses a complete thought. For example:

Noun Verb

Charlie sings.

Subject Predicate

In this sentence, Charlie is the noun, but is the subject too. Sings is the verb, but
is the predicate too.

The following is a complete sentence:

Susan is a teacher.

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 Predicate
Subject

Susan is a teacher.

Susan is the person that the It indicates that she is in the “state
sentence is talking about. of being” a teacher.

That means that Susan and the teacher are the same person, and the linking
verb is “is”.

Finding subjects and predicates

It is fairly easy to identify subjects and predicates. The subjects are usually at the
beginning of each sentence, and the predicates follow the subjects, finishing
each sentence. Some sentences, however, use a different word order.

Is your sister making crafts this year?

 Bare subject: sister.

 Bare predicate: is making.

 Complete subject: your sister.

 Complete predicate: is making crafts this year.

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If you have difficulty identifying subjects and predicates in sentences which ask
questions, try rewriting the sentence as a statement of fact first.

Your sister/is making crafts this year

Now, the subject is at the beginning, and the predicate follows the subject.

Transitive and intransitive verbs

Another grammar point becomes clear with an understanding of objects. When

using a dictionary to look up verbs, you may have been puzzled by the
abbreviations vi (intransitive verb) and vt (transitive verb).

An action verb which has an object, either direct or indirect, is called a transitive
verb. An action verb which does not have an object is called an intransitive
verb.

Transitive verbs Intransitive verbs

 They leaked the story to the

papers.
 Water leaked from the taps.
 The horse jumped the
fence easily.  Larry jumped on his motorcycle.

 He always fished that river in  Sue fished around in her purse.

spring.
 Zack fell down the stairs.
 The men felled the ancient
tree in minutes.

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Some verbs are always transitive verbs. They must have a direct object to
answer the questions who/whom? or what? Here are some examples of
transitive/intransitive verbs.

Give Cause Bring Raise Set

A corporation funded that literacy program.

Some verbs are always intransitive. Here are some examples.

Lie Arrive Rise Sit

They have been dieting for six weeks.

Many verbs, however, can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on the

meaning of the sentence. You must look at how the word is used in a particular
sentence before you can decide. (Childs et al., 1999)

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 2. The phrases

Adjective phrases

We have seen that sometimes a group of words does the work of an adjective.

Let’s examine the following pairs of sentences:

1. The vizier was a wealthy man.

o The vizier was a man of great wealth.

2. The magistrate was a kind man.

o The magistrate was a man with a kindly nature.

3. The chief lived in a stone house.

o The chief lived in a house built of stone.

4. I like to see a smiling face.

o I like to see a face with a smile on it.

5. The coolies belonged to a hill tribe.

o The coolies belonged to a tribe dwelling in the hills.

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In each of the above pairs of sentences, we have first a single word describing
the person or thing denoted by the noun, and then a group of words describing
the person or thing denoted by the same noun.

For instance, the group of words of great wealth tells us what sort of man the
vizier was. It qualifies the noun man just as an adjective does. It therefore does
the work of an adjective and is called an adjective phrase.

Definition: an adjective phrase is a group of words that does the work of an

adjective.

Adjectives Adjectives phrases

 A golden crown.  A crown made of gold.

 A purple cloak.  A cloak of purple colour.

 A white elephant.  An elephant with a white skin.

 A jungle track.  A track through the jungle.

 A blue-eyed boy.  A boy with blue eyes.

 A deserted village.  A village without any inhabitants.

 A blank page.  A page with no writing on it.

 The longest day.  The day of greatest length.

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 The Spanish flag.  The flag of Spain.

 A heavy load.  A load of great weight.

Adverb phrases

Just as the work of an adjective is often done by a group of words called an

adjective phrase, so the work of an adverb is often done by a group of words.

Study the following pairs of sentences carefully:

1. Rama ran quickly. (How?).

o Rama ran with great speed. (How?).

2. He answered rudely. (How?).

o He answered in a very rude manner. (How?).

3. He does his work carelessly. (How?).

o He does his work without any care. (How?).

4. He is coming now. (When?).

o He is coming at this very moment. (When?).

5. No such diseases were known then. (When?).

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 o No such diseases were known in those days. (When?).

In each of the above pairs of sentences we have first a single word (an adverb)
modifying a verb, and then a group of words modifying a verb in the same way.
For instance, the group of words with great speed tells us how Rama ran. It
modifies the verb ran just as the adverb quickly does. It therefore does the work
of an adverb and is called an adverb phrase.

Definition: an adverb phrase is a group of words that does the work of an

adverb.

Note: an adverb phrase, like an adverb, may modify also an adjective or adverb:
as, Quinine is good for malaria.

Adjectives Adjectives phrases

 In a brave manner, or with bravery.

 Bravely.

 In an unwise manner, or without

 Unwisely.
wisdom.

 Swiftly.
 In a swift manner, or with swiftness.

 Beautifully.
 In a beautifully style.

 Formerly.
 In former times, or once upon a time.

 Recently.
 Just now, or at a recent date.

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  Soon.  Before very long, or at an early date.

 There.  At that place.

 Away.  To another place.

 Abroad.  To (in) a foreign country.

Noun phrases

Examine the following sentences:

1. The boy wants something.

2. The boy wants to go home.

The word something is a noun and it is the object of the verb wants, in sentence
1. Similarly the group of words, to go home, is the object of the verb wants, in
sentence 2. Hence this group of words does the work of a noun. The group of
words, to go home, is therefore a noun phrase.

Definition: a noun phrase is a group of words that does the work of a noun.

Further examples of noun phrases:

 Early to bed is a good maxim.

 He hopes to win the first prize.

 We enjoy playing cricket.

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 He loves to issue harsh orders.

 Did you enjoy reading this book?

 I tried to get the sum right.

 To win a prize is my ambition.

 Standing about in a cold wet wind did me no good.

Clauses

Adverb clauses

Look at the groups of words in italics in the following sentences:

1. They rested at sunset. (Rested when?).

2. They vested when evening came. (Rested when?).

It is evident that both the groups of words in italics, in 1 and 2, do the work of an
adverb as they modify the verb rested, showing when the action was performed.

Such a group of words that forms part of a sentence, and has a subject and a
predicate of its own, is called a clause. Since the clause, when evening came,
does the work of an adverb clause.

Definition: an adverb clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a

predicate of its own, and does the work of an adverb.

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Adjective clauses

Look at the groups of words in italics in the following sentences:

1. The umbrella with a broken handle is mine. (Which umbrella?).

2. The umbrella which has a broken handle is mine. (Which umbrella?).

The first group of words, with a broken handle, describes the umbrella; that is, it
qualifies the noun umbrella, and does the work of an adjective. It is what we call
an adjective phrase. The second group of words which has a broken handle, also
describes the umbrella and so does the work of an adjective. But because it
contains a subject and a predicate of its own, it is called an adjective clause.

Definition: an adjective clause is a group of words which contains a subject and

a predicate of its own, and does the work of an adjective.

Noun clauses

Examine the groups of words in italics in the following sentences:

1. I expect to get a prize. (Expect what?).

2. I expect that I shall get a prize. (Expect what?).

The first group of words, to get a prize, does not contain a subject and a
predicate of its own. It is therefore a phrase. This phrase is object of the verb
expect and hence does the work of a noun. It is therefore a noun phrase. The
second group of words, that I shall get a prize, contains a subject and a predicate
of its own. It is therefore a clause. This clause is the object of the verb expect and

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so does the work of a noun. We therefore call it a noun clause, now examine the
sentence.

That you have come pleases me.

Here the clause, that you have come, is the subject of the verb pleases. It
therefore does the work of a noun, and is what we call a noun clause.

Definition: a noun clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a

predicate of its own, and does the work of a noun.

Sentences: simple, compound, and complex

Examine the following sentences:

1. His courage won him honour.

We see that sentence 1 has only one subject and one predicate, such a
sentence is called a simple sentence.

Definition: a simple sentence is one which has only one subject and one
predicate.

2. The moon was bright and we could see our way.

Sentence 2 consists of two parts:

o The moon was bright.

o We could see our way.

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 These two parts are joined by the coordinating conjunction and. Each part
contains a subject and a predicate of its own. Each part is what we call a
clause.

We further notice that each clause makes good sense by itself, and hence
could stand by itself as a separate sentence. Each clause is therefore
independent of the other or of the same order or rank, and is called a principal
or main clause.

A sentence, such as the second, which is made up of principal or main

clauses, is called a compound sentence.

3. Night came on and rain fell heavily and we all got very wet.

Sentence 3 consists of three clauses of the same order or rank. In other

words, sentence 3 consists of three principal or main clauses:

o Night came on.

o Rain fell heavily.

o We all got very wet. Such a sentence is also called a compound sentence.

Definition: a compound sentence is one made up of two or more principal or

main clauses.

4. They rested when evening came.

Sentence 4 consists of two parts:

o They rested.

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 o When evening came.

Each part contains a subject and a predicate of its own, and forms part of a
large sentence. Each part is therefore a clause. We further notice that the
clause, they rested, makes good sense by itself, and hence could stand by
itself as a complete sentence. It is therefore called the principal or main
clause.

The clause, when evening came, cannot stand by itself and make good sense.
It is dependent on the clause, they rested. It is therefore called a dependent or
subordinate clause. A sentence, such as the fourth, is called a complex
sentence.

5. As the boxers advanced into the ring, the people said they would not allow
them to fight.

Sentence 5 consists of three clauses:

o The people said. (Main clause).

o As the boxers advanced into the ring. (Subordinate adverb clause).

o They would not allow them to fight. (Subordinate noun clause).

Such a sentence is also called a complex sentence.

Definition: a complex sentence consists of one main clause and one or more
subordinate clauses.

6. Anil called at 5.30 and I told him that you had gone out.

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 Sentence 6 consists of three clauses:

o Anil called at 5.30. (Main clause).

o I mid him. (Main clause).

o That you had gone out. (Subordinate noun clause).

Such a sentence is also called a compound sentence. In addition to two or

three main clauses, a compound sentence sometimes includes one or more
subordinate clauses.

Sentences structure

Generally speaking, there are about 10 different structures of a sentence. For

example:

a. Subject + Be + Adverbial of time or place

Adverbial is a term which refers to all adverb forms, whether single forms,
phrases, or clauses. For example:

The kids are near here.

b. Subject + Be + Adjectival

Adjectival is a term which refers to all adjective forms, whether single words,
phrases, or clauses. For example:

They are good students.

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c. Subject + Be + Nominal

Nominal is a term which refers to all words that function as a noun, whether
single words, phrases, or clauses. For example:

The police man is a young boy.

d. Subject + Linking verb + Adjectival

My sister looks elegant.

e. Subject + Linking verb + Nominal

The seeds became plants.

f. Subject + Verb intransitive

The kids rested.

g. Subject + Verb transitive + Direct object

My mom wrote many letters.

h. Subject + Verb transitive + Indirect object + Direct object

The boss gave Thomas the money.

i. Subject + Verb transitive + Direct object + Adjective

We considered the test easy.

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j. Subject + Verb transitive + Direct object + noun

I named my car “Lucas”. (Wren y Martin, 2000).

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 Referencias

Childs, L., Acott, A. y Curtis, K. (1999). Parts of the sentence. Canadá: Autores.

Wren, P. y Martin, H. (2000). English grammar and composition. New Delhi, La India: S.
Chand & Company Ltd.

Control del documento

Nombre Cargo Dependencia Fecha

Centro de Servicios
Ismari Herrera Experta Empresariales y Agosto
Autor
Jerez Técnica Turísticos de 2016
Regional Santander

Guionista -
Leydi Johana Centro Agroindustrial Octubre
Adaptación Línea de
Navarro Ríos Regional Quindío de 2016
producción

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