Statements

A statement is a sentence whose purpose is primarily to convey information. It usually has two criteria:

1) The clause contains a subject. 

2) The subject precedes the verb. 

These sentences are said to have a declarative structure. 

In conversation, the subject is often omitted from a declarative sentence:

Looks like snow. Told you so. Beg pardon. 

There are a very few cases where the subject follows a verb. This happens when the clause begins with words like 'hardly' and 'scarcely', which express a negative meaning. 

Hardly had he left, when the heavens opened.    

The Seven Basic Clause Types

Most sentences can be analysed into one of only seven basic clause types

Key - S: Subject, V: Verb, O: Object, C: Complement, A: Adverbial.

1) S + V - Jason sneezed.

2) S + V + O - Jason kicked a ball.

3) S + V + C - Jason is ready.

4) S + V + A - Jason walks to Manchester.

5) S + V + O + O - Jason took money from me.

6) S + V + O + C - Jason got a shoe wet.

7) S + V + O + A - Jason put his shoe in a box.

Sometimes the clause elements are used in a different sequence. This especially happens with questions, but can also happen with statements. 

Jonah Hex / his name / is! - C + S + V

The adverbial is different to the other elements as it can be used often in a clause. For example:

Jake / leaned / on the stick / again / happily - S + V + A + A + A

Clause Elements

All clauses are made up of elements. 

There are five types of clause element:

This sentence has all five - John / has called / me / a fool / twice 

Subject 

This usually identifies the theme or topic of the clause. (John)

Verb 

This has a wide range of meanings, such as actions, sensations, or states of being. (has called).

Object  

Who or what is directly affected by the action. (me)  

Complement  

These add information to another clause element. (a fool) - Which adds to the meaning of (me)

Adverbial 

These usually add information to a situation, such as the time or frequency of an action. (twice)


In 90% of clauses containing a subject, verb, and object, the subject precedes the verb, and the verb precedes the object.

A clause element doesn't mean it is only one word. Here are some examples:

I / planted / a flower - Subject / Verb / Object.
All the kids / have eaten / chocolate - Subject / Verb / Object.

Types of Sentence

There are two main types of sentences: regular and irregular. They can also be called: major and minor.

Major Sentences

These are sentences that can be broken down into a specific pattern of elements (clauses):

My son                       has dropped                        a vase                       on the floor

David                         painted                                his house                  today

I                                 threw                                   a ball                        at John

Simple Sentences

A one clause sentence is called a 'simple sentence'. For example:

John dropped a rock on his toe. 

Multiple Sentences

A sentence with more than one clause is called a 'multiple sentence'. For example.

John dropped a rock on his toe and Freddie dropped a rock on his toe.

Minor Sentences

Minor sentences are not constructed in a regular way. Unlike major sentences, they use abnormal patterns and cannot be organised into a series of clause elements. They often appear in every day conversation and when dialogue is written in fiction.

Examples

Formulae for stereotyped social situations:

Hello. How are you? Thanks. Cheers!


Emotional noises - Known as interjections:

Oi! Hey! Tut-tut. Shh! Ow!
                              

Proverbs or pithy sayings - Known as aphorisms:

Easy come, easy go. Like father, like son.


Abbreviated forms:

Wish you were here. Mix well. One lap more:


Words and phrases that are used as exclamations, questions, or commands:

Nice day! Oh for a gin! Taxi? All aboard!

Usage

Minor sentences, unlike major sentences, have to be remembered and used at they are. In a major sentence you can change the tense:

John drops a rock on his foot.

John dropped a rock on his foot.

Minor sentences however, don't work in this way:

Wish you were here.

Wish you are here.

Defining a Sentence

Defining a sentence can be a hard thing to do.

Sometimes people say it is 'A complete expression of a single thought', but this can be too vague.

There are sentences that express a single thought but are not complete:

- Nice one, Fred! 

- Horrible Night! 

- Taxi! 

Some sentences are complete and express more than one thought:

- Because it's Sunday, James wants to walk in the park, play on the swings, eat ice cream, and fish in the river.

The formal approach to english grammar looks at the way sentences are constructed - The pattern of the words they contain.

Three things apply to any English sentence:

- It is constructed according to a system of rules known by all the adult mother-tongue speakers of the language. A sentence formed in this way is said to be grammatical. 

- It can stand on its own without feeling incomplete.

- It is the largest construction to which the rules of grammar apply.   

When to Use a Dash

A dash is a mark of separation. It is stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than a parenthesis. 

When he looked at the drink-that was bubbling and churning-he wondered if he should drink it at all.

The parrot made a noise-a wheezing, choking, exasperated cough. 

The bald spot that caught the sun, the hunch in his shoulders, the limp in his walk-all the signs of old age catching up with him. 

Only use a dash when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate. 

Using Colons

A colon should be used after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation. 

A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause. It has more effect than the comma, less power to separate than the semicolon, and it is more formal than the dash. For example:

A keen footballer requires three props: boots, a ball, and his favourite team's shirt. 

If the second independent clause interprets or amplifies the first, then a colon should be used to join them.  

A colon can be used to introduce a quotation that supports or contributes to the preceding clause. For example:

When I dwell on the past, it helps me to think of Oasis singing: "Don't look back in anger."

A colon can also be used to:

1) Follow the salutation of a formal letter. Dear Mr. Robertson:

2) To separate the hours and minutes in time. 11:22

3) To separate the title of a work from the subtitle. Super Noodles: A guide to terrible meals.

4) To separate a bible chapter from the verse. Genesis 10:14