Write with Might #13: Sentence Structure 1
The topic of this week's writing tip is sentence structure. The ability to communicate our social justice values in writing is not the only way to work for social change, but it certainly is a powerful skill that is important for each of us to hone. As social work graduate students, we know that the ability to construct an effective sentence is integral to our success both as students and future practitioners who will use the English language. I do not believe that all social workers must be experts in English grammar. However, I do believe that gaining a basic understanding of sentence patterns is a worthwhile endeavor. For those of you who already have a strong foundation in English grammar, this tip may be a review. However, next week's tip may bring new information as it will cover the various types of sentence patterns and how to use them properly. The following information is adapted from Chapter 6 and Chapter 9 in Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook, Second Edition, with citation following.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE BASICS
1. What exactly is a sentence? A sentence is a group of words that must contain a subject and a predicate and expresse acomplete thought.
a subject is a person, thing or idea about which the rest of the sentence comments.
a predicate is the part of the sentence that makes a claim about the subject. It is what the sentence is saying about the subject.
2. What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?
A phrase is a group of words that, together, function as a part of speech (ie noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, etc.) Phrases do not include a subject and a predicate.
o Writing papers about social work topics can be very inspiring. Writing papers is the (verbal) phrase. o She left the cookies in the cookie jar. In the cookie jar is the (prepositional) phrase.
o The student who has red hair is the tutor. Who has red hair is the (noun) phrase.
A clause is a sentence or sentence-like construction within another sentence; clauses have both a subject and a predicate. Clauses can be independent or dependent (subordinate). An independent clause can stand alone (can function as a sentence by itself), but interacts well with other elements in the sentence so it is part of the larger sentence. A dependent clause cannot stand alone (cannot function as a sentence by itself).
o Because it was snowing, I was unable to go for my morning run. Independent clause: I was unable to
go for my morning run.
- The King Charles Cavalier puppy that I want to adopt is brown. Dependent clause: that I want to adopt.
- There are three basic types of sentences: simple, complex and compound.
Simple sentences contain only one independent clause. o I am going to begin my studies after breakfast.
Complex sentences include an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. When the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma is needed for separation.
- While the student is responsible for bringing his syllabus and draft, the tutor will provide a collaborative learning process.
Compound sentences house multiple independent clauses, which are often linked by a coordinating conjunction (but, and, or, for, nor, yet etc). They must always be separated by a semicolon or comma and may also use a conjunction as a link.
- Although Sarah loves to go snowboarding every weekend, she stayed home on Saturday to help her sister move, and she ended up having fun anyway.
- Delineation by sentence function: declarative (makes a statement), interrogative (asks a question), imperative (makes a command) and exclamatory (displays strong emotion).
- Varying sentence patterns. In academic and professional writing, it is essential that sentences are not only grammatically correct, but also that they are varied in pattern. Stay tuned for next week's tip that will cover the various types of sentence patterns and how to use them effectively.
Loberger, G., & Shoup, K. (2009). Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook (2nd ed.) (pp.143-148, 183-233) Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc.