Sentence Structure and Theme

2/14/2017 Study Island Lesson

— Sentence Structure

Every complete sentence contains Mo parts: a subject and a
predicate. The subject is vhat (or vMorn) the sentence is about, v’Mile

I the predicate tells something about the subject. A sentence begins
wth a capital letter and ends vtith a period, a question mark, or an
exclamation point. The different types of sentences are identified by
howthey are constructed and by how they express thoughts. Good
witers use a mixture of different sentence structures in their witing.
Varying sentences make witing more colorful and interesting.

Simpe Sentence

A simple sentence contains one independent clause.
Example: The dog barks.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence contains more than one independent clause.
Example: The dog barks, and then it goes to sleep.

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent
clause.

Example: After the dog barks, it goes to sleep.

Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence contains more than one independent clause and at
least one dependent clause.

Example: After the dog barks, it goes to sleep, and then it wakes up.

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Pre Phrases and Clauses

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Phrases

There are several types of phrases.

SaNç an excellent singer, wiN be singing the main part in the musical,

In this sentence, one phrase is wil be singing. This is a verb phrase that functions as a
verb.
The example sentence also has two other phrases in it. ft has an appositive phrase. An
appositive is a word that gives added information about a noun. An appositive phrase is
an appositive plus modifiers. Can you see that the appositive phrase in the example
sentence is an excellent singet’?
*Punctuation note:lf an appositive or appositive phrase gives information necessary to
understanding the sentence, no commas are needed. If an appositive or appositive
phrase gives extra, unnecessary information, set it apart with commas.
Finally, the example sentence has a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase is a
group of words that begins with a preposition. A prepositional phrase can act as an
adjective or adverb. In the example sentence, the prepositional phrase in the musical acts
as an adjective modifying the noun part. ft answers the question vMich part?

Clauses

There are two kinds of clauses.

Independent Clause — This clause can also be a sentence.
examples:

John runs.
John, a boy in sixth grade, runs very fast around the track.

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* Punctuation note: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or nor, for,
so, yet) that joins two independent clauses.

Dependent Clause — This clause has a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand alone as
a sentence, A dependent clause will begin with a subordinating conjunction, such as if
j,ijien that, unless. They make the clause they are added to less important than an
independent clause. The dependent clause depends on an independent clause for its
meaning.
example:

I will go outside if the rain ever stops falling.
After the teacher graded the tests, she reported the results to the class.

* Punotuauon note: if a derendent clause conies at the beqinnina nf thc sentenne.. use a
ccnma after his. clause (Hke in the second sentence aboe. Do not use a comma if the
dependent clause comes at the end of a sentence jike n the first sentence above).

Example:

(1) I always take along a swimming suit. (2) When I go to my Aunt Carolyn’s house. (3) She
has a swimming pool in her own backyard.

Which one of these is a dependent clause and, therefore, not a complete
sentence?
Sentence (2) is a dependent clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Lesson

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Prevj Conjunctions

21 Conjunctions are used to fink rds, phrases, and clauses.

Nextj Coordinating Conjunctions

Use a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet) to join individual
words, phrases, and independent clauses. (Note that you can also use the conjunctions
“but” and “for” as prepositions.)

- In this example, the coordinating conjunction “and” links two nouns.
• This movie is particularly interesting to Star Trek fans, for the screenplay was written by

William Shatner.
• In this example, the coordinating conjunction “for” is used to link two independent

clauses.
• Uncle Joe claimed that he spent most of his childhood playing baseball and going to

camp.
• Here the coordinating conjunction “and’ links two participial phrases (“playing

baseball” and “going to camp”) which act as adjectives describing the noun “Uncle
Joe.”

Subordinating Conjunctions

Use a subordinating conjunction (after, although, as, because, before, how, if, once,
since, than, that, though, till, until, when, where, whether, and while) to introduce
a dependent clause and show the relationship among the independent clause(s) and
the dependent clause(s).

examples:

• After she had learned to drive, Carrie felt more independent.
a The subordinating conjunction “after” introduces the dependent clause “After she had
learned to drive.”

• If the paperwork arrives on time, your application will be mailed on Tuesday.
• Similarly, the subordinating conjunction “if” introduces the dependent clause “If the
paperwork arrives on time.”

• Terrance had to begin his paper over again when his computer crashed.

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The subordinating conjunction when” introduces the dependent clause “when his
computer crashed.”
Parents tell their children to study their lessons because they want their children to do
well in school.
The subordinating conjunction “because” introduces the dependent clause “because
they want their children to do well in school”

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjLlnctions (both and, either. . . or, whether. or,
not only . . . but also, neither. . . nor, and so.. as) always appear in pairs and are
used to link equal sentence parts.

examples:

Both my mom and my sister have red hair.

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phrases that act as the compound subject of the sentence: “my mom’ and “my
sister”

• Bring either a watermelon or a bag of pretzels to the picnic.

• In this sentence, the correlative conjunction “either.. . or” links two noun phrases: “a
watermelon” and “a bag of pretzels.”

• Elaine is trying to decide whether to go to medical school or to go to law school.

• In this sentence, the correlative conjunction “whether. . . or” links the two infinitive
phrases “to go to medical school” and “to go to law school.” (An infinitive phrase is a
phrase that starts with “to” and acts as a noun, adverb, or adjective.)

• The explosion destroyed not only the school but also the store next door.

• In this sentence, the correlative conjunction “not only... but also” links the two noun
phrases (“the school” and “the store next door”) which act as direct objects.

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IPrey Appositives

2f An appositive is a noun or pronoun that renames or stands for

another noun.

ClOse Because most appositives are nonrestrictive (that means they add on extra
information that is unnecessary for the reader), you should use commas around the
appositives. But, you should be aware that some appositives are restrictive (that

means they add on information that is absolutely necessary for the reader), and
resfrjcflve aroos yes do rot use commas,

Examples:

The well-known writer Murray Spats will be visiting the school Friday.

Murray Spats is the appositive. The name is restrictive because the information is
important to the meaning of the sentence.

• Our teacher Mr. Johnson wont be here today.

Mr. Johnson is the teacher’s name. This is restrictive because without knowing his
name, it could be any teacher that will be absent.

• The words “no” and “please” are not in his vocabulary.

This is restrictive because without knowing which words are not in his vocabulary, we’re
only left to guess.

• Ann Smith, the accordion player, will be in concert Friday.

This is nonrestrictive, The accordion player is extra information. If it was left out, the
sentence would still make sense. We don’t need to know that she’s an accordion player
for the sentence to work.

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Mr. Buttons, the butler, is still missing.
This is nonrestrictive. We don’t need to know what Mr. Buttons does. Knowing that he’s
missing is enough information.

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Theme

The theme is the most important message in a stoiy The theme vill say
something about life or human nature. Sometimes the theme is a moral
or short lesson about life. Because the theme is a message, it must be
expressed in a complete sentence. Sometimes the author does not tell
you the theme. Instead, you have to figure it out from the text.

Some Common Themes Found in Literature:

Man is his own worst enemo

A person grows by facing obstacies.
• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Notice that the themes aren’t describing particular events or characters. They are broad
ideas that can apply to all people.
example:

The Fox and the Grapes

by Aesop

One afternoon, a fox was walking through the forest. The fox saw a bunch of grapes
hanging from over a branch.

Just the thing I need vdien I’m thirsty the fox thought.
Taking a few steps back, the fox jumped and just missed the hanging grapes. Again,
the fox took a few steps back and tried to reach the grapes but still failed.

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Finally, giving up, the fox said, “They’re probably sour, anyway’ Then, the fox walked
away.

Question: Which of the following best describes a theme of the passage?
A. It is easy to dislike what you cannot have.
B. It is easy to find food for tall animals.
C. Many animals like to eat fruits.
D. A fox always knows when grapes are sour.

Explanation: In the above story, the fox is trying to eat the grapes, but he or she cannot
reach them. When the fox fails after trying, he or she says the grapes must be sour. One
theme, or message, of this passage is, “It is easy to dislike what you cannot have.”

Tips for identifying Theme:

Look cIose at tne dte. Sometrnes von wd find a ciue about the theme.
• Look for ideas that are repeated more than once.

• Look for lessons that the character learns.

• Think about what happens in the story and how it can apply to life. For example, if the main
character must survive an approaching tornado, the theme may be, “Nature is at war with
mankind.”

Lesson

Practice

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