A sentence is what we refer to as independent clause. It is the basic unit of a written language. It is a grammatically arranged group of words that includes a subject and a predicate. It is not subordinate to or dependent upon any other group of words for meaning.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SUBJECT AND PREDICATE IN A SENTENCE
A subject is what or who is talked about e.g. Simi ran away from home (subject is Simi), while the predicate is what is said or asked about the subject e.g. Simi ran away from home. The predicate is ran.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF SENTENCE
CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCE ACCORDING TO CLAUSES CONTAIN
Sentences are classified according to the number and type of clauses they contain.
1. SIMPLE SENTENCE
A simple sentence is a one clause sentence that is, having one independent clause. For example, Simi ran away from home; this example does not contain any dependent clause. However, the independent clause may have a compound subject or compound predicate.
For example:
Simi and Sami ran away from home (compound subject); Simi ran away from home and joined the Army (compound predicate).
2. COMPOUND SENTENCE
A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses linked or connected together by coordinating conjunctions.
For example:
� Simi is a marketer but Sami is a manager.
The sentence is compound sentence of equal status.
3. COMPLEX SENTENCE
A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
For example:
� Simi who ran away from home joined the army.
The sentence is a complex sentence and who ran away from home is an adjectival clause (dependent clause)
� Simi who ran away from home when the going became tough joined the army.
The sentence is also a complex sentence an d who ran away from home is an adjectival clause, post-modifying the noun 'Simi' while when the going become tough is an adverbial clause of time, functioning as modifier of the verb 'joined'.
4. COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE
This sentence contains or consists of at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
For example:
� Simi who ran away from home when the going became tough joined the army and became a successful officer.
Analysis of this sentence:
� Simi -subject
� who ran away from home -Independent clause I
� when the going became tough -Independent clause II
� joined the army and -dependent clause I
� became a successful officer. -dependent clause II
CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCE BY FUNCTION
Sentences can be classified by function. When classified such, we have:
1. DECLARATIVE SENTENCE
2. INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE
3. IMPERATIVE SENTENCE, and
4. EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE
These are in turn discussed below.
DECLARATIVE SENTENCE
A declarative sentence makes statement
Examples:
We are in the class.
We are learning English.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE
An interrogative sentence asks questions.
Examples:
The wh-type:
Who are you? Where are you coming from?
The do-type:
Do you know him? Did it rain yester-night?
The high-intonation type:
You went to him.
IMPERATIVE SENTENCE
This requests or commands; it does not usually have a subject. It may or may not carry exclamation mark.
Examples:
Get out of my life!
Shut up your mouth!
EXCLAMATION SENTENCE
This expresses feelings or emotions and it usually begins with what or how and ends with an exclamation mark.
Examples:
What a day!
What a fateful day!
CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCE WITH AFFIRMATIVE OR NEGATIVE
There are two of them: Affirmative and negative sentences.
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE
This speaks positive.
For example:
We are here.
Seats are here.
NEGATIVE SENTENCE
This speaks negative. This is expressed by the use of no, not, never, etc.
For example:
We are not here.
No, we are not.
