Sentence Structure : Grammar Levels

When we analyse how sentences work, we need to be able to identify and separate the different grammatical levels.

Let's consider the above example. It is an example of a complex sentence. Simple sentence consists of only one clause. But here , in the above example, two clauses are present.

A sentence can consist of one or more than one clauses.
Simple sentence: If it contains just one clause, it is referred to as a simple sentence.
Compound or Complex sentence: If it contains more than one clause - those are joined together with conjunctive words (i.e. joining words) - then such sentences are termed as complex or compound sentences.

Now, What is a Clause? 

A clause is a unit of a sentence which consists of at least one subject and one predicate (i.e. verb, and / or an object, and / or a compliment).

So, in the above example, the sentence can be broken down into two clauses :

(a) Rama & Jaya were watching a cartoon show
And
(b) Their mother made their tea

Similarly each sentence is further broken down into phrases. Phrases can be a single word or a group of words giving a complete meaning.

And phrases are further broken down into words.

Next Post : Clause Components and Patterns 

Structure of A Simple Sentence

From our last two discussions, we came to know that a sentence is the fundamental unit of a language to convey a meaningful communication.

Now the point is : how can we construct a simple sentence in English language.

Let's take the example of below sentence:

The girls watched a movie. 

A. Subject : 

In the above sentence, the phrase - 'The girls' - is known as Subject.  The subject of a sentence is a person(s), place(s), idea(s)  etc which are either performing a task or indicating of their being / existence (at some state).

Here, in the above sentence, the subject is 'The girls' and they performed an action , which is 'watched'.

B. Verb: 

In a simple declarative sentence, the subject is followed by an action word which denotes an action already performed / to be performed / are being performed. This action word is known as Verb.

Here, in the above example, the action word i.e. verb is 'watched'.

C. Object:

After the verb, there comes a single word or a group of words , which provides information about the action of the verb. In each case, they answer the question 'What?' or 'Whom?' . This part of sentence is known as object.

In the above example, if we ask the question, 'What did the girls watch?', the answer is  - 'A Movie'. This is the additional information about the verb.

In a sentence, there can be one object and can be more than one object. If there is more than one object, then the concept of direct and indirect object comes into the picture.

If we consider the below statement,

Rama bought a car for his brother

Subject : Rama 
Verb: bought
Object 1: a car
Object 2: for his brother

Direct Object: Direct object answers for 'What' or 'Whom'.
Indirect Object: It answers for  -- 'For what ?' / 'For whom ?' / 'To Whom ?'

So, in the above sentence, the direct object is : 'a car'
and, the indirect object is : 'for his brother'.


A simple sentence thus follows the below structure : 

1. Subject + Verb + Object

Or,

2. Subject + Verb + Object + Object 

Or, 

3. Subject + Verb + Object + Complement 

So, What is a 'Complement' ? 

A complement completes the object. As in the example:

The Company made him CEO

Here, the subject = The Company
Verb = made
Object = him
But, without the complement , the meaning of the sentence remains incomplete. If we consider the sentence, 'The Company made him' - here we get all the three parts i.e. subject, verb and object; still, something is missing here. The company made him 'What'? Complement answers this 'What' part of the Object. Here, in this sentence, when we add CEO to complement the object 'him', the sentence gets his complete meaning.


Stay tuned with us for our next post on Sentence Structure !!

English Sentences : The What and How to Communicate

When we speak or write in any language, we use words - a bunch of words, with a proper order and arrangement. The proper word order and arrangements are required to convey the exact meaning which we intend to. Thus a sentence is formed. So, we can grossly say, a sentence is a bunch of words placed together with a proper order and arrangement to convey a specific meaning.

Now, it is required to understand, how many purposes can be served by a sentence : 


1. Just to make a statement , i.e. to state or declare a fact --

E.g. Rohit is elder than Ram


2. To ask a question -- 

E.g. Who is elder in between Ram and Rohit ?


3.  To give an order -- 

E.g. Don't drive the car so fast.


4. To make a request -- 

E.g. a)  May I borrow your pen please ?
       b)   Would you please get me some sugar from the grocery store ?


5. To make an exclamation (exclamation means emotion or feeling)  --
An exclamatory sentence differs from a fact stating or declarative sentence by the usage of emotion or feeling. Therefore, in an exclamatory sentence, an exclamation mark (!) is used.

E.g. a) How fast the car is travelling ! (Surprise)
       b) I am really going to miss this place ! (Sorrow)
       c) You were meant to return home in the last week only ! (Anger, Disgust)
       d) Finally, we won the match ! (Happiness, Joy)


So, considering the above sentence structures, we can notice that sentence structure is different in each case. Therefore, it is evident that sentence structure varies basis what we intend to convey and how we would like to do that.


Next Post: In our next post, we shall start discussing the sentence structure. Stay tuned with us !!




  

English Language: Why To Learn Grammar?

One of the most crucial activities of our daily life is communication. Communication is essential. Through communication, we interact with each other. We can interact with others without speaking a single word and through body language. That is possible, but that limits us t a certain extent. Almighty blessed human beings with speaking power. When we speak to interact with others, then we need a language.

Now the very important question is how to make a meaningful signal to others through language, which can convey exactly the same message which we intend to convey ? Conveying exactly the same message intended is important. Otherwise, people around us will misunderstand us and therefore, a chaos in terms of miscommunication would be created.

A language is a necklace of letters and punctuations. Letters together form words and words together form sentences. But to make the sentences meaningful, we need to follow certain rules.

Those rules are being given by grammar.

As for eg,

If I am fond of apple, I can say: "I Love apple". It gives a complete and clear meaning. But It does not make any sense if I say, " I apple love".

Therefore, rules / word orders and punctuations are so very important to express the proper meaning of our sentences, which we use.

Thus comes the usefulness and necessity of the 'Grammar' of any language.

'English' is the popular global business language. Therefore, knowing it thoroughly is very important.  And, therefore, knowing 'English Grammar' is an essential requirement.

With this note, we shall start discussing the various aspects of 'English Grammar' step by step. Please stay tuned with us for the subsequent posts on the subject.