, The basic parts of a sentence are the subject and the verb.
The subject is usually a noun (ie. A word or a phrase) - names a place, person or thing.
The predicate (ie the verb) usually follows the subject and identifies the action or state of
being.
Can you identify the subject and the predicate in the following short sentences?
1. The dog is rowdy
2. The children are sleepy
3. My niece is a medical doctor
In each of the sentences above, the subject is a noun – ie dog, children, niece
The verbs in these sentences can be termed as linking verbs – ie. is, are as they link the
subject with the predicate.
A simple predicate usually consists of only a verb or a compound verb.
1. A simple sentence is a sentence with just one independent clause, ie one finite verb
(also referred to as a main clause)
Example: Mary played
2. A compound sentence contains atleast two independent clauses. These sentences have
more than one main clause.
Example :Mary was born in Polokwane and/however she attended school in
Johannesburg.
3. A complex sentence contains a simple sentence plus one or more subordinate clause
that provides extra information.
Example: Mary played while John cried.
4. A compound-complex sentence contains more than one main clause and atleast one
subordinate clause
Example: When Shakespeare went to Italy, he taught poetry to many students.
Subordinate clause main clause
Clauses
A clause is a group of words containing a finite verb.
A clause conveys a single idea
A clause is sensibly arranged within a sentence
A clause always contains a finite verb
, Underline the finite verbs and these will tell you how many clauses there are in each sentence?
1. As the sun went down, we listened to classical music.
2. The girl, whose name was Jane, was chosen to be the leader.
Clauses may be classified as:
1. The main clause (also known as the Independent clause)
The main clause is the main idea of the sentence
It is able to stand alone and makes complete sense.
The van came to a halt after it had run out of petrol.
2. The subordinate Clause
This always contains a verb but cannot stand alone
It is dependent on the main clause for its meaning.
A comma often separates the main clause from its subordinate clause.
While the engine was running, the man jumped out of the car.
Subordinate clauses may be further classified as:
1. Noun clauses – perform the same functions as nouns. They can be replaced
by it or that.
They may be the subject or object of the sentence and answer to
who or what.
What they learnt at school helped them in the work place.
2. Adjectival Clauses always qualifies a word or words in the main clause.
It usually begins with who, which, that, whom, and whose.
It is similar to additional information that is found in parenthesis.
The girl who had the longest hair won the beauty competition.
3. Adverbial Clauses perform the same functions as adverbs.
Time (when?)
Place (where?)
Manner (how?)
The subject is usually a noun (ie. A word or a phrase) - names a place, person or thing.
The predicate (ie the verb) usually follows the subject and identifies the action or state of
being.
Can you identify the subject and the predicate in the following short sentences?
1. The dog is rowdy
2. The children are sleepy
3. My niece is a medical doctor
In each of the sentences above, the subject is a noun – ie dog, children, niece
The verbs in these sentences can be termed as linking verbs – ie. is, are as they link the
subject with the predicate.
A simple predicate usually consists of only a verb or a compound verb.
1. A simple sentence is a sentence with just one independent clause, ie one finite verb
(also referred to as a main clause)
Example: Mary played
2. A compound sentence contains atleast two independent clauses. These sentences have
more than one main clause.
Example :Mary was born in Polokwane and/however she attended school in
Johannesburg.
3. A complex sentence contains a simple sentence plus one or more subordinate clause
that provides extra information.
Example: Mary played while John cried.
4. A compound-complex sentence contains more than one main clause and atleast one
subordinate clause
Example: When Shakespeare went to Italy, he taught poetry to many students.
Subordinate clause main clause
Clauses
A clause is a group of words containing a finite verb.
A clause conveys a single idea
A clause is sensibly arranged within a sentence
A clause always contains a finite verb
, Underline the finite verbs and these will tell you how many clauses there are in each sentence?
1. As the sun went down, we listened to classical music.
2. The girl, whose name was Jane, was chosen to be the leader.
Clauses may be classified as:
1. The main clause (also known as the Independent clause)
The main clause is the main idea of the sentence
It is able to stand alone and makes complete sense.
The van came to a halt after it had run out of petrol.
2. The subordinate Clause
This always contains a verb but cannot stand alone
It is dependent on the main clause for its meaning.
A comma often separates the main clause from its subordinate clause.
While the engine was running, the man jumped out of the car.
Subordinate clauses may be further classified as:
1. Noun clauses – perform the same functions as nouns. They can be replaced
by it or that.
They may be the subject or object of the sentence and answer to
who or what.
What they learnt at school helped them in the work place.
2. Adjectival Clauses always qualifies a word or words in the main clause.
It usually begins with who, which, that, whom, and whose.
It is similar to additional information that is found in parenthesis.
The girl who had the longest hair won the beauty competition.
3. Adverbial Clauses perform the same functions as adverbs.
Time (when?)
Place (where?)
Manner (how?)
