This document gives detail about very basics of the sentence. It tells about letter, alphabet, word and sentence. It gives a brief detail about the different types of sentence.

1. What is Sentence?
Letter
Letter is a symbol usually written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting
a unit of an alphabet.
It is the smallest sound of any language that cannot be further divided is called letter.
E.g. A, B, C, D etc.
Alphabet
Alphabet is a set of letters or other characters with which one or more languages are
written especially if arranged in a customary order. E.g.
Alphabet = {a,b,c,d,…………… y,z}
Word
Word is a group of letters that can give a proper meaning and can stand alone.
E.g. Apple, Bat, Chair, Salman, Hina, etc.
Sentence
The sentence is generally defined as a word or a group of words that expresses a thorough idea
by giving a statement/order, or asking a question, or exclaiming.
E.g. Ali plays cricket.
She went to bazar
Clause:
A clause is comprised of a group of words which includes a subject and a verb. A clause
contains only one subject and one verb. The subject of a clause can be mentioned or hidden, but
the verb must be apparent and distinguishable. For Example "he laughed"
A clause may stand as a simple sentence or may join another clause to make a sentence.
Therefore, a sentence consists of one, two or more clauses. E.g.
 I graduated last year. (One clause sentence)
 When I came here, I saw him. (Two clause sentence)
 When I came here, I saw him, and he greeted me. (Three clause sentence)
 He is sleeping. (One clause)

2.  The kids were laughing at the joker (One clause)
 The teacher asked a question, but no one answered. (Two clauses)
 I am happy because I won a prize. (Two clauses)
 I like Mathematics, but my brother Likes Biology, because he wants to become a
doctor.
Types of Clauses
There are two major types of clauses:
1. Main or Independent clause
2. Subordinate or Dependant clause.
Main or Independent Clause
"Main (or independent) clause is a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand
as a sentence. For Example
o I met the boy who had helped me.
o She is wearing a shirt which looks nice,
o The teacher asked a question but no one answered.
o He takes medicine because he suffers from fever.
o He became angry and smashed the vase into pieces.
In the above sentences each underlined part shows main clause. It expresses complete though
and can stand as a sentence that is why a main or an independent clause is normally referred as a
simple sentence.
Subordinate or dependent Clause
Subordinate (or independent) clause is a clause which does not express complete thought
and depends on another clause (main clause) to express complete thought. Subordinate clause
does not express complete idea and can't stand as a sentence.
A sentence having a subordinated clause must have a main clause. For Example
He likes Chinese rice which tastes good.
The clause "which tastes good" in above sentence is a subordinate clause because it does not
express complete thought and can't stand as a sentence. It depends on main clause (he likes
Chinese rise) to express complete thought. For Examples
o I met the boy who had helped me.
o I bought a table that costs $ 100.
o He takes medicine because he suffers from fever.

3. o The teacher asked a question but no one answered.
Phrase:
A phrase is a group or combination of two or more words. It is a unit of a
complete sentence. By itself, a phrase is not a complete sentence, as it does not relay a complete
thought. It does not contain the subject and the predicate both. E.g.
 He was wearing a black linen shirt.
 They lived in a small, tidy cottage
 Alex rode her old bicycle to their shiny new school
 The black car got towed.
Classification of Sentence:
Sentences can be classified in two ways:
1. Based on their function
2. Based on their structure
Types of Sentence Based on Function:
When you describe a sentence based on its function, you’re describing it based on what it
does.
Declarative Sentences:
A declarative sentence is a sentence that:
 Makes a statement (I want to be a good writer/Ali is smart/It is a nice day)
 Conveys one or more facts (Sun rises in east/River flows fast/God is one)
 Expresses an opinion (My friend is really a good writer/You looks cool in hat)
Note: It always ends with full stop.
Interrogative Sentences:
An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question, like:
 How many pet iguanas do you have?
 May I sit here?

4.  Aren’t there enough umbrellas to go around?
Note: Interrogative sentences end with question mark.
Imperative Sentences:
An imperative sentence is a sentence that gives the reader
 Advice (Obey your parents/ Go to the doctor/Deposit you cheque so you can pay
the rent/ Watch your step before taking it.)
 A command (Open the door/You wash your hand first and then eat/ Bring me a glass
of water.
 Makes a request. (Please grant me a loan/May I go to drink water)
An imperative sentence can end in either a period or an exclamation point, depending on the
urgency of the sentiment being expressed. Imperative sentences include:
 Get off my lawn!
 After the timer dings, take the cookies out of the oven.
 Always pack an extra pair of socks.
Note: With an imperative sentence, the subject is generally omitted because the reader understands
they’re the one being addressed.
Exclamatory sentences:
An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that expresses great emotion such as excitement,
surprise, happiness and anger, and ends with an exclamation point.
Hurray! My parents gave me a lot of gifts/ We are going to England
Alas! She is injured.

5. Ouch! I am hurt.
ExclamatorySentences ThatExpress Strong Emotion:
 Happy birthday, Amy!
 Thank you, Sheldon!
 I hate you!
 Ice cream sundaes are my favorite!
Exclamatory sentences are so powerful they can stand alone. For example:
 Wow, I really love you!
 Fantastic, let's go!
In these instances, you don't have to divide the sentiment into two separate sentences.
Instead, insert a comma where the speaker would naturally pause and then finish off with that
indicator of excitement, the exclamation mark.
ExclamatorySentences ThatBeginwith "What:"
 What a lovely bouquet of flowers!
 What a cute puppy!
 What an ugly bug!
 What a happy ending!
ExclamatorySentences ThatBeginwith "How:"
 How bright they've grown in the sunlight!
 How well he listens!
 How slow they crawl!
 How fast you ran!
ExclamatorySentences Containing "So:"
 That birthday cake was so good!
 Sheldon's gift was so amazing!
 Eugh, that bug is so ugly!
 I’m so mad right now!
ExclamatorySentences Containing "Such:"
He's such a kind soul!
That's such a gorgeous ring!
Your puppy is such a cutie!
You’re such a liar!

6. Types of sentence basedonstructure
The other way to categorize sentences is to classify them based on their structure. Each of
the types of sentences discussed above also fits into the categories discussed below.
Simple Sentences:
A simple sentence is the most basic type of sentence. This kind of sentence consists of
just one independent clause, which means it communicates a complete thought and contains a
subject and a verb.
A few examples of simple sentences include:
 How are you?
 She built a garden.
 We found some sea glass.
Complex Sentences:
In contrast to a simple sentence, a complex sentence contains one independent clause
and at least one dependent clause. While an independent clause can be its own sentence, a
dependent clause can’t. Dependent clauses rely on the independent clauses in their sentences to
provide context.
Dependent clauses appear after a conjunction or marker word or before a comma. Marker words
are words like whenever, although, since, while, and before. These words illustrate relationships
between clauses.
The following are complex sentences:

7.  Before you enter my house, take off your shoes.
 Ali plays six different instruments, yet never performs in public.
Compound Sentences:
Compound sentences are sentences that contain two or more independent clauses. In a
compound sentence, the clauses are generally separated by either a comma paired with a coordinating
conjunction or a semicolon. In some cases, they can be separated by a colon.
Examples of compound sentences include:
 I was thirsty, so I drank water.
 She searched through her entire closet; she could not find her denim jacket.
Compound-Complex Sentences:
When a sentence has two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, that
sentence is a compound-complex sentence. These are long sentences that communicate a significant
amount of information. The clauses don’t need to be in any specific order; as long as you’ve got at
least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, you’ve got a compound-complex
sentence.
Here are a few examples of compound-complex sentences:
 I needed a new computer, so I got a laptop because they’re portable.
 The students were excited; they could go home early because of the power outage.