Sentence

Types of Sentences

Declarative Sentence

To make a statement, a fact or an opinion.

• It is a beautiful day.
• Lavender hated ball.

Interrogative Sentence

To ask a question.

• Where did you go last night?
• How is he still singing that note?

Imperative Sentence

To command.

• Follow the bunny!
• Remember to wash the dishes!

Exclamation Sentence

To express with emotion, volume or with tone.

• "AHHH!"
• "Look Out!", she shouted.
• "I was wrong about it!"

Sentence Structures

Simple

1 independent clause.

• I bought my friends some candy.
• I visited the beach.

Compound

2 or more independent clauses.

• I bought my friend some candy, and I guided them to the beach.
  • I bought my friend some candy.
  • I guided them to the beach.
• I visited the beach, and I got myself burnt.
  • I visited the beach.
  • I got myself burnt.

Complex

1 independent clause, many dependent clauses. Also known as describing the main sentence.

• When we buy his birthday cake (dependent clause), we have to make sure it's lemon.
• Although our tent was zipped up (dependent), even the sky is dark (dependent), the sound of hyenas in the distance still frighten us.

Compound Complex

Many independent clauses, many dependent clauses.

• After the storm passed (dependent), I went outside (independent); I picked the flower (independent), as they're vibrant (dependent).
• Through he has a crippling allergy (dependent), Alberto bravely walked through the walnut grove (independent), but he made sure to wear long sleeve (independent).

Active and Passive Voices

Normally we write our sentences in active voice. Passive voice makes your writing and contents:

• boring, monotone
• confusing

Active voice focuses on the acting itself, describes clearly and straightforward about the subject performing onto the objects in a sentence. To spot passive voices, you should question the subject:

• Is the subject receiving the acting force (not descriptive like the past participle) from the verb?
  • The apple was eaten by me. (subject is apple, the verb is acting on the apple itself)
  • I was eating the apple. (subject is I, the verb is acting on the apple)
  • The apple was eaten. (subject is apple, verb is describes the on-going action in the past)

In this case, the 1st sentence is passive voice. The 2nd and 3rd are not.

Acting Force and Descriptive Differences

• There are multiple forms of "to-be". Most of them appears in passive voice. However, these are the common exceptions:
  • The train is coming. (clarity for subject; the verb is present progressive)
  • The passenger was waiting. (clarity for subject; the verb is past progressive)
  • The National Industrial Recovery Act was unconstitutional. (clarity for subject; the verb is simple past)

Guideline

• Keep the sentence in this manner: <subject> <verb> <object, verb acting onto object>.
  • It's commonly use and recognizable.

Examples

• Mistake were made with passive voices.
  • Student made mistakes with passive voices.

• The Confederacy was defeated in 1865.
• The Confederacy was defeated by The Union in 1865.
  • The Union army defeated the Confederacy in 1865.

• In 1885, a major strike against Jay Gould's Southwestern Railroad System had been won by the Knights of Labor.
  • In 885, the Knights of Labor won a major strike against Jay Gould's Southwestern Railroad System.

• The National Industrial Recovery Act was declared unconstitutional in 1935.
  • The Supreme Court declared the National Industrial Recovery Act unconstitutional in 1935.

Checklist for Grammar Review

1. What is the delivery channel (reading, speaking or both)?
2. What is the purpose of the sentence?
   1. Make a statement?
   2. Make a question?
   3. Make a command?
   4. Make an exclamation?
3. How many dependent clauses and independent clauses needed for that sentence?
   1. 1 independent clause - simple
   2. 2 or more independent clause - compound
   3. 1 independent with many dependent clauses - complex
   4. many independent with many dependent clauses -compound complex
      1. If the delivery channel involves speaking (script for speech), can you speak the sentence in 1 breath or 1 go?
         1. NO - shorten it.
      2. Can the audience catch the meaning in less than 1 second after speaking the sentence?
         1. NO - shorten it.
4. Is the sentence having an active voice?
   1. NO - change to active voice.