Sentences are the foundation for everything you write. Therefore, having at least a rudimentary understanding of the roles they can play in expressing your ideas and how they’re structured is important.
Roles
• A declarative sentence is very straightforward. It helps you state your case very clearly.
• An interrogative sentence poses a question. In your writing it is especially valuable because it enables you to create an atmosphere of conversation with your readers. It can also set the stage for an argument you want to present.
• An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion using the exclamation point. If you’re writing fictional dialogue, it can be especially effective in communicating the mood of your character. In today’s fast-paced world, however, we’re probably all guilty of overusing the exclamation point in emails. We do it to let the reader know that we’re excited or angry rather than taking the time to use well-chosen, forceful words to convey our message instead.
• An imperative statement conveys a command to another person. This type of sentence is often seen in dialogue.
Structures
The basic patterns of sentences are enhanced through the addition of words, phrases, and clauses that expand and refine the content to make the sentences more interesting or informative. This creates four structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
• A simple sentence has a single subject and a single predicate. It can, however, have lots of modifying words and phrases. Simple does not necessarily mean short.
• A compound sentence consists of two subjects and two predicates that are joined together by conjunctions. Conjunctions may be coordinate conjunctions (or, nor, and, but, yet, for, so), correlative conjunctions (not only/but also, both/and, neither/nor, either/or), or conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, indeed, consequently).
• A complex sentence has one independent clause (one that can stand alone) and at least one dependent clause. A dependent clause is joined to an independent clause by a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun.
A subordinate conjunction, such as when, while, if, since, because, and although, leads off an independent clause, transforming it into a dependent clause because it can no longer stand alone. A relative pronoun, such as who, whom, that, which, and whose, relates to the noun or pronoun it is describing or modifying.
• A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. All of the other information for the compound and the complex sentences described above applies to this structure as well.
Although it is important to utilize the functions and structures of sentences properly, it is just as important not to get so caught up in the technique that your writing loses its heart. Don’t swing to the other end of the pendulum’s arc either. Not all writing can be filled with creative imaginings. Sometimes conveying information will require a more classical approach.
Regardless of what you are writing, use your common sense. If you are not creating a clear image for your reader, it won’t matter how many clauses and phrases you tack onto your subject and predicate. So if you have any doubts, simplify.
©2010 Dannye Williamsen
Roles
• A declarative sentence is very straightforward. It helps you state your case very clearly.
• An interrogative sentence poses a question. In your writing it is especially valuable because it enables you to create an atmosphere of conversation with your readers. It can also set the stage for an argument you want to present.
• An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion using the exclamation point. If you’re writing fictional dialogue, it can be especially effective in communicating the mood of your character. In today’s fast-paced world, however, we’re probably all guilty of overusing the exclamation point in emails. We do it to let the reader know that we’re excited or angry rather than taking the time to use well-chosen, forceful words to convey our message instead.
• An imperative statement conveys a command to another person. This type of sentence is often seen in dialogue.
Structures
The basic patterns of sentences are enhanced through the addition of words, phrases, and clauses that expand and refine the content to make the sentences more interesting or informative. This creates four structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
• A simple sentence has a single subject and a single predicate. It can, however, have lots of modifying words and phrases. Simple does not necessarily mean short.
• A compound sentence consists of two subjects and two predicates that are joined together by conjunctions. Conjunctions may be coordinate conjunctions (or, nor, and, but, yet, for, so), correlative conjunctions (not only/but also, both/and, neither/nor, either/or), or conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, indeed, consequently).
• A complex sentence has one independent clause (one that can stand alone) and at least one dependent clause. A dependent clause is joined to an independent clause by a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun.
A subordinate conjunction, such as when, while, if, since, because, and although, leads off an independent clause, transforming it into a dependent clause because it can no longer stand alone. A relative pronoun, such as who, whom, that, which, and whose, relates to the noun or pronoun it is describing or modifying.
• A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. All of the other information for the compound and the complex sentences described above applies to this structure as well.
Although it is important to utilize the functions and structures of sentences properly, it is just as important not to get so caught up in the technique that your writing loses its heart. Don’t swing to the other end of the pendulum’s arc either. Not all writing can be filled with creative imaginings. Sometimes conveying information will require a more classical approach.
Regardless of what you are writing, use your common sense. If you are not creating a clear image for your reader, it won’t matter how many clauses and phrases you tack onto your subject and predicate. So if you have any doubts, simplify.
©2010 Dannye Williamsen
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