What is a Sentence

1
What is a Sentence?
2
Is this a sentence?

• A contract is a legal document.
• The data supports this theory.
• Research is being carried out in this field.
• He works.
• Is working.
• The concept he examines in his study.
• Are benefits to both management and employees.
• A minimum of 1500 words.
• Demonstrates that actions speak louder than
  words.
• Keeles great!

3
What do you need for a sentence?

• Subject (e.g., contract, data, research, he,
  concept, Keele)
• Verb (e.g., is, supports, works, are,
  demonstrates)
• anything else???

4
How about these???

• Chinese people are.
• Every study done so far has shown.
• Because the room was so hot.
• Therefore the results demonstrate.
• Why the concept of equal pay is so important.
• While the computers were down.
• Studying is fun!

5
So what do you need for a sentence?

• Subject (e.g., contract, data, research, he, the
  concept of equal pay, Keele, studying)
• Verb (e.g., is, supports, works, are,
  demonstrates, is being carried out)
• A complete idea

6
Sentence or not?

• Travel is stressful.
• People who have travelled abroad.
• Unimportant things can be upsetting.
• When you are tired.
• If English is not your first language.
• Local accents can be difficult to understand.
• He felt embarrassed.
• Whenever he felt embarrassed.
• First, you must try to eat well.
• He handed in.
• Seeing is believing.

7
A simple sentence subject verb

• BUT Some verbs need complements
• Chinese people are
• hardworking.
• He handed in
• his essay.

• AND It must be able to stand alone as a
  complete idea
• When Chinese people are hardworking
• they can achieve a great deal.
• After he handed in his essay
• he went for a long walk in the woods.

8
Independent Dependent Clauses

• A simple sentence an independent clause it
  can stand alone
• A subject and verb that do not form a complete
  thought a dependent clause this cannot exist
  on its own as a sentence.
• more on this tomorrow!

9
Compound Sentences

• Simple sentences can be combined to form compound
  sentences using coordinating conjunctions
• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So
• FANBOYS!

10
Coordinating Conjunctions

• For
• He studied hard on his management course, for he
  wished to return home to begin his own business.
• reason or cause
• And
• Many children now begin to learn English at age
  5, and they continue to study it through high
  school.
• additional information
• Nor
• Many British students are not required to study a
  foreign language, nor do they want to.
• additional negative information (invert subject
  verb)

11

• But
• More and more people are learning to speak
  English, but they might never use it to speak
  with a native English speaker.
• shows contrast or effect unexpected result
• Or
• They may need to use English for business, or
  they may need it for study.
• alternative, choice
• Yet
• A Japanese and an Italian businessperson may not
  know each others languages, yet they can conduct
  deals using English.
• contrast
• So
• The room was hot and the students were tired, so
  the teacher decided to end the lesson a few
  minutes early.
• connects an action to a result