1. SENTENCES
A sentence is a grammatical unit that is composed of one or more clauses. Sentences are at the top of the hierarchy, so they are the largest unit which we will be considering (though some grammars do look beyond the sentence). A sentence is a grammatical self-contained speech unit that may express a multitude of things and it is shown in writing with a capital letter at the beginning and appropriate punctuation at the end.
a. Classification by structure
One traditional scheme for classifying English sentences is by the number and types of finite clauses:
- A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no dependent clauses.
- A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no dependent clauses. These clauses are joined together using conjunctions, punctuation, or both.
- A complex sentence consists of one independent clause with at least one dependent clause.
- A complex-compound sentence (or compound-complex sentence) consists of multiple independent clauses, at least one of which has at least one dependent clause.
b. Classification by purpose
Sentences can also be classified based on their purpose:
- A declarative sentence or declaration, the most common type, commonly makes a statement: I am going home.
- An interrogative sentence or question is commonly used to request information — When are you going to work? — but sometimes not; see rhetorical question.
- An exclamatory sentence or exclamation is generally a more emphatic form of statement: What a wonderful day this is!
- An imperative sentence or command is ordinarily used to make a demand or request: Go do your homework.
2. Major and minor sentences
A major sentence is a regular sentence; it has a subject and a predicate. For example: I have a ball. In this sentence one can change the persons: We have a ball.
However, a minor sentence is an irregular type of sentence. It does not contain a finite verb. For example, "mary!" "yes" "coffee" etc. Other examples of minor sentences are headings (e.g. the heading of this entry), stereotyped expressions (Hello!), emotional expressions (Wow!), proverbs, etc. This can also include sentences which do not contain verbs (e.g. The more, the merrier.
The meaning of the term sentence may be expanded to include elliptical material and nonproductive items.
Examples:
- After lunch. (in reply to When do you start?)
- Yes.
- Hello.
3. Phrase
A phrase is a syntactic structure that consists of more than one word but lacks the subject-predicate organization of a clause.
Phrase is a part of a sentence or clause that holds together as a meaningful unit on its own and contributes to the meaning of the whole sentence or clause. It is not just any sequence of words, but a unified sequence composed according to the rules of language.
4.Complexity
A complex sentence is a sentence which includes
- at least one main clause, and
- at least one subordinate clause
A complex phrase consists of several words, whereas a simple phrase consists of only one word.
