At its most basic level English is an SVO language.

SUBJE

CT

VERB

OBJE

CT

These are extended by another element.

ADVE

RBIA

L

What makes a sentence?What makes a sentence?

On Saturday Pauline often jogs

briskly around the park for an hour.

adverbial subject adverbial verb

adverbial adverbial adverbial

This is an example of a simple sentence, it only contains one clause identified by one verb: “jogs”.

Sentences and Sentences and clauses?clauses?

A clause is the basic unit of meaning which expresses a message. It has a subject, finite verb and object if needed.

Heat rises. subject verb

Sentences can consist of a single clause or a number of clauses joined together.

A sentence can be as short as a clause and a clause can be as short as two words.

Independent and dependent Independent and dependent clausesclauses

We create different SENTENCE STRUCTURES by combining independent and dependent clauses in different ways.

A clause which can stand on its own is called an independent (main/principal) clause.

I love chocolate.

A clause which cannot stand on its own, ie it depends on the main clause for its meaning, is dependent.

Because I eat chocolate. . .

What is meant by sentence What is meant by sentence structure?structure?

There are 3 types of sentence structures.

1) Simple sentence: contains one independent clause. Ie only one verb.

2) Compound sentence: contains two or more independent clauses (main/principle clause), joined by a coordinate conjunction (traditionally, and, but, or, nor). Each of these clauses is capable of standing on its own and conveying a message. Each has equal status and provides equally important information.

3) Complex sentence: contains two or more clauses, one at least which must be dependent.The independent clause expresses the main message and another dependent clause or clauses elaborate on that message in some way. While the main clause is independent, the other clause cannot stand on its own and is dependent on the main clause to make sense.

Simple, compound or complex?Simple, compound or complex?

The length of the sentence is no indication of the type of sentence structure.

Which of the following sentences are simple, compound or complex?

Fish have gills that enable them to breathe.

The pretty girl with the red hair and blue coat walked slowly around the corner and out of sight.

I am tired and I need a rest.

The large pile of books with the purple covers is lying over there, just beyond my reach.

I do not fully understand all the implications and obscure references in this text.

Adjectival ClausesOne form of dependent clause is an adjectival or relative

clause. (Also known as an embedded clause.)

Adjectival clauses provide more information about the nouns (the subject or object) in a sentence. They are signalled by relative pronouns, eg who, whose, whom, which and that (and sometimes by where).

Students who live in the country will enjoy the city sights.

This is a film that you can see over and over again.

Adverbial clauses express meanings of time, place, condition, comparison, concession, reason, purpose, or result in relation to the main clause.

You may also like to think about adverbial clauses as giving additional information about the how, when, where or why of the event.

Adverbial clauses begin with conjunctions such as because, when, if, although, before, wherever, etc.

Adverbial Clauses

When we go on holidays, we will relax and unwind. (time)

She ran until it was dark. (time)

The accident occurred, where the two roads merge. (place)

They ran as if they were being chased by a madman. (condition)

They worked on it as no-one ever had before. (comparison)

Although he was not well liked, he was still able to succeed in business. (concession)

They were happy because they were going to the city. (reason)

We go to the beach so that we can enjoy the sea air. (purpose)

The project would work so that no-one would doubt its value. (result)

Noun ClausesNoun clauses take the place of a noun or noun phrase in the

main clause. A noun clause is often introduced by “that” but can also be introduced by words such as whether, why, how or what.

They explained what was going on. (object – they explained what?)

What was going on took some explaining. (subject – what took some explaining?)

The noun clause works as either subject or object of the main clause.

NB. For the purposes of BST WRITING or ELLA only complex noun clauses are considered as complexities.

A third form of dependent clause is the non-finite clause. They have no time element as finite clauses do. These begin with a non-finite form of the verb (‘ing’ or ‘ed’ form without an auxiliary, or infinitive ‘to…’ form):

We will have lasting memories treasured by all. (Alternative to an adjectival)

Many students want the beach excursion, to improve their surfing skills. (Alternative to an adverbial - purpose)

Rushing out of the room, she grabbed her coat and left. (Alternative to an adverbial – condition)

Non-finite clauses work as alternatives to all kinds of subordinate clauses; noun, adjectival and adverbial.

Non-finite clauses

As we have already discussed, a clause is a group of words that comprises a unit of information.

Generally, clauses need a finite verb. Dependent clauses contain a unit of information but are dependent on the main clause to make complete sense so they don’t always have a finite verb. (The main clause always contains a finite verb.)

In verbless clauses, the verb has been ellipsed or nominalised, but the unit of information is still a clause. (Nominalisations are when the action in a clause has been transformed into a noun)

The point of a verbless clause is syntactic compression and when it is used correctly, it is another indicator of controlled sentence structure.

Verbless Clauses

Ellipsing the verb - examples

Although somewhat edgy, she said she would stay.[Although she was somewhat edgy]

In suspense from beginning to end, you will thoroughly enjoy this movie.[As you will be in suspense…]

Whether right or wrong, he always comes off worst.[Whether he is right or wrong]

Nominalising the verb - examples

After much consideration, I suggest we go to the farm for our holiday.[After considering the matter…]

In view of the wishes of the students, the School Council decided against a uniform. [what the students wished]

The protection of our native fauna is of vital importance to our nation.[The need to protect our native fauna]

Examples of Verbless Clauses

Because it is in the best interest of the students, the Student Council has made this decision. (Finite clause – adverbial clause in first position.)

Knowing the views of the most students, the Council has made this decision. (Non-finite in first position.)

In the view of the wishes of the students, the Council has made

its decision. (Verbless in first position)

Finite, Non-Finite, Verbless

Simple, compound and complex Simple, compound and complex sentencessentences

The cat attacked the dog. simple

The cat attacked the dog and it tried to escape. compound

The cat attacked the dog because it was quite slow. complex

The cat, which constantly terrorised all the animals in the neighbourhood, attacked the dog.

complex - embedded

The attack on the dog exemplified the cat’s constant reign of terror over the animal neighbourhood.

complex - verbless

The cat, which constantly terrorised all the animals in the neighbourhood, attacked the dog because it was quite slow and it tried to escape.

FOUR CLAUSES (claws)!!

Two independent clauses:

The cat attacked the dog.

It tried to escape.

Two dependent clauses on one independent clause:

which constantly terrorised all the animals in the neighbourhood.

(embedded adjectival clause)

because it was quite slow.

(adverbial clause indicating reason)

Valued writingValued writing

Text A

A small piece of pure potash, which had been exposed for a few seconds to the atmosphere, so as to give conducting power to the surface, was placed upon an insulated disk of platina, which was connected to the negative side of a battery; and a platina wire connected to the positive side, was brought in contact with the upper surface of the alkali. The whole apparatus was in the open atmosphere.

Text B

The scientist exposed a small piece of pure potash to the atmosphere. He did this because it gave conducting power to the surface. He then placed it upon an insulated disk of platina. This disk was connected to the negative side of a battery. He then connected a platina wire with the positive side of the battery. He then brought this wire in contact with the upper surface of the alkali. He then placed the whole apparatus in the open atmosphere.

A small piece of pure potash,

noun group (subject of the independent clause)

which had been exposed for a few seconds to the atmosphere,

embedded adjectival clause

so as to give conducting power to the surface,

embedded adverbial clause indicating reason (dependent)

was placed upon an insulated disk of platina,

independent clause

which was connected to the negative side of a battery; ANDadjectival clause (dependent)

a platina wire noun group (subject of the independent clause)

connected to the positive sidenon-finite clause (alternative to adjectival: finite part of the verb, “which is”, has been elipsed)

was brought in contact with the upper surface of the alkali.independent clause

The whole apparatus was in the open atmosphere.independent clause (simple sentence)