The structure of the english sentence

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

WORD CLASSES:
1. MAIN CLASSES
a. CLOSED CLASSES preposition pronoun determiner conjunction modal verb primary verb
THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

WORD CLASSES (2):
1. MAIN CLASSES
b. OPEN CLASSES noun
adjective full verb adverb
THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

2. LESSER CATEGORIES

3. 
   numerals
   
4. 
   interjections
   

The status of these two categories is open to discussion (as far as the fact of their belonging to the ‘open’ or ‘closed’ class is concerned).

The 7-clause patterns in English

SV The computer was operating
SVC_s The computer was operative
SVA The computer is here
SVO The computer handles information
SVOO The dealer provided me expensive software
SVOCo We consider the program the best
SVOA The programmer installed the software in the PC
/yesterday

Parts of the sentence

Identify the highlighted word in each of the sentences below as a simple subject, a verb, a direct object, an indirect object, or a subject complement.

1. 
   The old house on the hill gave Leonora chills and conjured up images of ghosts and monsters and other unknown beings.
   
2. 
   Next to the china cabinet, Mrs. Wilkes placed a polished side table and an antique jug.
   
3. 
   Despite winning the lottery last week, my cousin still seems unhappy.
   
4. 
   They gave the university a large endowment for the scholarship fund.
   
5. 
   Some experts believe it is easy to overstate the role that genes and heredity play in determining a person's predisposition to alcoholism.
   
6. 
   After the luncheon buffet, she grew drowsy and decided to take a nap.
   
7. 
   I don't know how you can understand anything that professor says.
   
8. 
   There were no credits after the movie.
   
9. 
   His deaf aunt will be going to the symphony next week.
   
10. 
    The company has been mailing George CD catalogues ever since he bought his stereo.
    

Written by Frances Peck © University of Ottawa