Sentences

Lesson 2: Sentences.||
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A sentence is a clause (group of words) that expresses a complete or an independent thought. that is why we sometimes call a sentence and independent clause.

The sentence is the main unit of communication in our written language. If we don't communicate in sentences, we expose ourselves as grammatically unskilled at best and illiterate at worst.

A sentence is created with two categories of components: compulsory and optional. Here are the COMPULSORY COMPONENTS required for a legitimate sentence:

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1. ACTION (VERB):|
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There must be an action (or state of being) which is expressed by a verb.

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2. DOER OF ACTION (SUBJECT):|
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There must be a doer of the action which we call a subject (person, place, concept, or thing).

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3. COMPLETE OR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT:|
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Example: When everything is coming our way.
This statement has the previous two requirements of a sentence, a verb and a subject, but it, doesn't have the third, a complete thought. it is called a dependent (or subordinate) clause and is not a sentence.

FIX: When everything is coming our way, you're probably in the wrong lane.
This is a complete sentence now (independent clause).




OPTIONAL COMPONENTS:

Required for appropriate embellishment of a sentence.

1. Direct object or complement (a sentence cannot have both).
A direct object is the receiver of the action (person or thing). A direct object completes the verbs that have action. A complement completes verbs that don't have action but express feeling, appearing, being, or seeming.

Example: Never lick a steak-knife.(direct object)
TIP: A direct object always answers "who" or "what" to the verb.

Example: Walt Disney was afraid of mice.(Complement)
TIP: A complement must be a noun, pronoun, or adjective.