What Is a Sentence? Easy Explanation with Examples
Original EnglishLamp lesson with a visual learning surface.
VISUAL EXPLAINER · SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Build the sentence around its core.
A sentence is more than a row of words. Find the subject and predicate first, then notice the objects, complements and modifiers that complete or expand the meaning.
01 · COMPLETE THOUGHT
A sentence communicates a complete idea.
In writing, a complete sentence normally has a clause structure that can stand on its own. A fragment may leave the reader waiting for the missing idea.
EXAMPLEBecause the learner arrived early … (unfinished) · The learner arrived early. (complete)
02 · SUBJECT
Identify the subject of the clause.
The subject often tells who or what the clause is about. It is not always the first noun you see, so check the verb and the whole clause.
EXAMPLEThe learner reads a book.
03 · PREDICATE
Find the verb and what completes its meaning.
The predicate includes the verb and the other elements associated with it. Depending on the verb, a clause may have an object, a complement, or neither.
EXAMPLEThe learner reads a book.
04 · ADD DETAIL
Modifiers expand the meaning.
Adjectives, adverbs and phrases can add useful detail about a person, action, time, place or manner without changing the core event.
EXAMPLEThe focused learner reads a book quietly after class.
05 · CHECK THE PATTERN
Use the pattern that the verb needs.
Subject–verb–object is a common pattern, not the only one. Some clauses use a subject and linking verb with a complement; others do not need an object.
EXAMPLEThe learner reads. · The learner is curious.
Continue below for the full EnglishLamp lesson, its original examples and reference material.
Original EnglishLamp lesson•Reference learning mode
A Group of Words
Sentence is a group of words that we use to convey our thoughts properly. It may be of one word or more than ten words. There are small as well as long sentences. We get complete sense from sentence.
We shall take some examples-
Stop!
Get down.
I saw him.
Take it with you.
Which is the sentence in following examples?
Here are some examples of group of words. As it is a group of words let’s see if these are sentences or not.
Too much work!
Vegetables, fruits and grains.
She watched a movie last night.
All three examples have group of words but what is the difference in third one? As above two examples do not have a verb, we can’t get it properly. It is OK in informal speaking. We can get it according to the situation at the time of speaking. Such type of group is not acceptable in writing.
In above three examples only last one is a sentence because it has main verb. It gives proper sense so anyone can understand.
Rules of the sentence
Here are the rules.
In writing, we should follow some rules.
In sentence-
It should be complete in sense.
Starting letter should be capital.
It must contain a subject and predicate.
Without verb we don’t get complete sense, so it must contain verb.
We should put down full stop, question mark or exclamatory mark at the end.
Some sentences are short and some are long. Some are simple, complex or compound. As we have seen rules above, we should use verb because without verb we will not get proper meaning of the sentence.
Examples
Sentence with only verb
Here are one or two words with only verb and without subject. In these examples to whom we speak is understood because we say something to them who are with us at the time of speaking.
Let’s have a look-
Listen!
Pay attention.
Carry on.
Go ahead.
We shall take some examples with more than two words. In these sentences there is subject, verb and another words.
India is the most populated country.
She knew about it.
There are some long sentences. We shall see some long sentences here.
I had gone to check the work whether it is done properly or not.
Though she is her daughter, she didn’t take care of her.
She and her students decided to go for a picnic next Sunday.
