Sentence Types and Sentence Structures Revisited

By Gururaj B.S. and Prabhat N.R.

In the previous issue, we discussed when to use and when not to use commas in writing. Now let us look at the cornerstone of writing – Sentences. Before we discuss sentence types and structures, let us regard writing as a donut. When talking of sentence types, we will consider four building blocks of the donut.

Now let us look at each part of the donut carefully.

1. Indicative or declarative sentences make a statement of fact or possibility.

This is Grammar Dose.

We are technical communicators.

These sentences always end with a period.

2. Exclamatory sentences express a thought or an idea with some emotion.

What a nice column Grammar Dose has been!

How useful this column has been to me!

Exclamatory sentences end with exclamation marks.

3. Imperative sentences make a request or give a command.

Read this column, please.

Learn to obey orders.

Imperative sentences usually end with a period. However, they can end with an exclamation mark, depending on the criticality of the request or command.

4. Interrogative sentences ask a question.

What happened at the first-ever regional conference of STC?

Have you taken an STC membership yet?

Needless to say, interrogative sentences end with a question mark.

We have covered all the four building blocks of the donut. Now let’s move on. In this section, we will talk about sentence structures. There are seven basic sentence structures, which are possible combinations of different sentence elements (subject, verb, subject complement, objects, object complement, adverbial complement, and so on) in a complete sentence.

1. Subject-Verb

This structure comprises a noun, pronoun, or other nominal as the subject of the sentence and a verb or verb string as the predicate. The verb used in the sentence is an intransitive verb.

I can swim.

I, a personal pronoun, is the subject of the sentence. The sentence has can swim as the predicate. A verb phrase or string is usually a combination of an auxiliary verb and an action verb.

2. Subject-Verb-Adverbial Complement

In the structure, the verb is usually a linking verb (sometimes referred to as a copula or copulative verb), and the adverbial complement is a sentence element that serves the purpose of an adverb modifying the verb in the sentence.

He is inside the office.

In addition, sentences following this structure can have other verbs or verb strings instead of the linking verb.

3. Subject-Verb-Subject Complement

In this structure, the verb is a linking verb that links the subject of the sentence to its complement.

Excel is an application.

This column is informative.

In the first sentence, application is the subject complement that complements or modifies the subject Excel. Here the subject complement is a noun, and it is referred to as a predicate noun or predicate nominative.

In the second sentence, informative is the subject complement that complements the subject column. Here the subject complement is an adjective, and it is referred to as a predicate adjective.

4. Subject-Verb-Direct Object

In this structure, the verb is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. A direct object receives an action from the verb.

He reviewed the document.

This one is fairly simple, isn’t it?

5. Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object

In this structure, the verb is a transitive verb and takes a direct object and an indirect object.

He gave me a pen.

Pen, a direct object, receives an action from the verb gave. The action is being performed for me, an indirect object.

6. Subject-Verb-Direct Object-Adverbial Complement

In this structure, the verb is a transitive verb and takes a direct object and an adverbial complement.

He sent his comments in an email.

Here the prepositional phrase in an email serves the purpose of an adverb modifying the action sent in the sentence. The prepositional phrase is not an adverb, but it is a sentence element modifying the verb in the sentence.

7. Subject-Verb-Direct Object-Object Complement

In this structure, the verb in the sentence takes a direct object and an object complement (something that modifies or complements the direct object).

He named his daughter Rithu.

Here daughter is a direct object and takes Rithu as an object complement.

We hope you will remember these points when evaluating sentence structures. As always, please send your questions, suggestions, or comments to Gururaj B.S. and Prabhat N.R.