Sentence Structure

 

Simple sentences:
A simple sentence has only one clause:

The children were laughing.

John wanted a new bicycle.
All the girls are learning English.

Compound sentences:

A compound sentence has two or more clauses:

(We stayed behind) and (finished the job)
(We stayed behind) and (finished the job), then (we went home)

The clauses in a compound sentence are joined by co-ordinating conjunctions:

John shouted and everybody waved.
We looked everywhere but we couldn’t find him.
They are coming by car so they should be here soon.

The common coordinating conjunctions are:

and – but – or – nor – so – then – yet

Complex sentences:

A complex sentence has a main clause and one or more adverbial clauses. Adverbial clauses usually come after the main clause:

Her father died when she was very young
>>>
Her father died (main clause)
when (subordinating conjunction)
she was very young (adverbial clause)

She had a difficult childhood because her father died when she was very young.
>>>
She had a difficult childhood (main clause)
because (subordinating conjunction)
her father died (adverbial clause)
when (subordinating conjunction)
she was very young (adverbial clause).

Some subordinate clauses can come in front of the main clause:

Although a few snakes are dangerous most of them are quite harmless
>>>
Although (subordinating conjunction)
some snakes are dangerous (adverbial clause)
most of them are harmless (main clause).

A sentence can contain both subordinate and coordinate clauses:

Although she has always lived in France, she speaks fluent English because her mother was American and her father was Nigerian
>>>
Although (subordinating conjunction)
she has always lived in France (adverbial clause),
she speaks fluent English (main clause)
because (subordinating conjunction)
her mother was American (adverbial clause)
and (coordinating conjunction)
her father was Nigerian (adverbial clause).

There are seven types of adverbial clauses:

	Common conjunctions
Contrast clauses	although; though; even though; while;
Reason clauses	because; since; as
Place clauses	where; wherever; everywhere
Purpose clauses	so that; so; because + want
Result clauses	so that; so … that; such … that
Time clauses	when; before; after; since; while; as; as soon as; by the time; until
Conditional clauses	if; unless; provided (that); as long as

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Concessive Clauses

A concessive clause is a clause which begins with "although" or "even though" and which expresses an idea that suggests the opposite of the main part of the sentence.

The sentence "Although he's quiet, he's not shy" begins with a concessive clause- "Although he's quiet " which has an opposite meaning of - "he's not shy" which is the main part of the sentence.

NOTE: " In spite of" , " despite" have similar meaning to "although" or "even though". BUT they don't introduce clauses. They have different syntax. They are followed by nouns or gerunds (verb+ing.) They don't introduce a clause (subject + verb.)

Although, even though:

Study these examples:

"He had enough money."
" He refused to buy a new car."

The above two statements can be combined as follows :

Although Even though

he had enough money,

he refused to buy a new car

OR

He refused to buy a new car

although even though

he had enough money.

Structure:

"Although", and "even though" introduce concessive clauses.

Although /even though

subject

verb

Examples:

Although it was raining, he walked to the station.
Even though she is very old, she runs fast.        

Despite / in spite of:

Despite and in spite of do not introduce a concessive clause. They are rather followed by a noun or a verb+ing form.

Study this example:

"He had enough money."
"He refused to buy a new car."

The above two statements can be combined as follows :

Despite In spite of	all his money,	he refused to buy a new car.
	having enough money,

OR

He refused to buy a new car	despite in spite of	all his money.
		having enough money.

Structure

Despite / in spite of	+ a noun,
	+ verb + ing.

Examples:

Despite /in spite of the rain, he walked to the station.
Despite /in spite of being tired, he walked to the station.

Remember:

1. Although, even though + subject + verb (Concessive clause)

3. In spite of, despite + noun or verb+ing (Not a concessive clause)

2. There are structural similarities between:

• "in spite of", "despite" and "although", "even though"
• "because of", "due to", "owing to", "thanks to" and "because", "since ,"as", "for". (Expressing cause and effect)

In spite of Despite	+ noun
Because of Due to owing to Thanks to
Although Even though	+ verb
Because Since For As

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Moving abroad

What should you know about the country you are going to move to?

What do you think the people there are like?

Take a look at these videos about moving to London and about people in the UK - then take some notes of what they have to say and prepare to discuss them in class next lesson.

Click on the links below to watch the video clips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhnzdCjceQM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E0wUGdJCEg