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.    

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.