Which sentence is written correctly?
Writing in English — the language where pretty much every word could mean something different only depending on a job it has to do in this sentence. Sentence structure is important to effective communication; it ensures your message comes across as intended. In this article, we are going to discuss the essential elements of proper sentence structure and some common errors that can occur between subject-verb agreement or pronoun rules. Reach out for help with your academic writing!
Sentence structure is foundational成 语 魔方 to just about everything we learn in any new language.
In short, a sentence communicates an idea in words. In this regard, a sentence should contain:
A subject (The person, place or thing DOING something)
Verb: An action or state of being.
Yes, your last paragraph yes: This one sentence should be self-explanatory.
This makes “The cat sleeps” a perfectly good sentence, because it contains the necessary elements to be considered one (a subject — The cat – and a verb — Sleeps- that conveys thought).
Types of Sentences
Grammar: It all comes down to sentence structure which is the foundation of good writing. There are four main types:
A declarative sentence: Makes a statement.
E.g.: “She likes reading books.”
Axe Throwing Interrogative sentences: These are questions.
For example: You love coffee?
Imperative sentences: This type of sentence issues a command or request.
E.g. — Please shut the door
More Exclamatory sentences: These are full of emotion.
E.g. “What a lovely day!”
Being able to use the different types of sentence for this purpose can improve your writing.
Sentence Structure Mistakes
Sentence construction is a challenging place where even profuse writers end up in faultiness. That segues nicely into some mistakes you can avoid making.
1. Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a phrase that you had written down, but it does not have a subject and verb (in other words the thought was incomplete) EDIT: Obviously, this happens because writers think that a sentence is complete when it actually isn’t.
Wrong: Because he was tired
He was tired, so he went bed early.
Pro Tip: Make sure your sentence reads like a complete thought
2. Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence is joining two independent clauses without punctuation or conjunctions.
Incorrect: “She loves to paint she does it every weekend.”
Right: “She enjoys painting and paints every weekend.”
By now, you should be very much aware that a comma + conjunction or semicolon needs to separate independent clauses.
3. Subject-Verb Agreement
A sentence must have its subject and verb in the same number, that is singular or plural. Simply put, this means the verb cannot contradict in singular and plural form -If subject is singular, then Verb will also be SingularIF Subject plular Then Verb Plural
Wrong: The list of items are on the table.
RIP: The list of “The table” part
Tip: Find the real subject and an agreement with a verb is reached.
4. Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier is a word or phrase that describes something else in the sentence. A misplaced modifier means that a shade of meaning is not what the author wanted, perhaps more, or less due to misplacement.
Wrong: “Almost Every Day She Would Drive Her Kids to School”
Right: ‘She drove her children to school virtually daily.
Tip: Put the modifier near to which it is supposed to modify.
5. Comma Splices
A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are linked with a comma, and not one of the coordinating conjunction.
Wrong: “It was raining, I took an umbrella.”
Right: ‘It rained, and thus I took an umbrella’.
Tip: Conjunction/ Semicolon or comma and but so (or a similar combination of two) [] are used to fix grammatically faulty run-on sentences.
Craft Your Sentence Writing
In order to compose proper, as well as effective and clear sentences you may stick closely to the following techniques:
1. Vary Your Sentence Length
A combination of short, medium and long sentences creates rhythm in your writing.
Example:
This sente nce is: she laughed.
Okay Sen tence: “She laughed at the joke.
Long Sen tence: “The joke made her laugh, which brought to mind a hysterical story from when she was little.”
2. Use Active Voice
A direct and vigorous sntences can be formed by the active voice. In the active voice, the subject does something.
Example:
The children ate the cake. Or more properly in infantile form: Cake was eaten by the children
Subject verb object or active voice: The children ate the cake.
Tip: Use active voice for more readable and engaging writing.
3. Be Concise
Avoid fillers that do not add any value to your sentenes.
We canceled the picnic because it was raining.
Awkward: “We canceled the picnic BECAUSE it was raining.”
Tip: Keep it simple and brief
4. Use Transition Words
They are the words that help readers to link different ideas together and facilitate your writing flow.
Examples: However, Therefore That is On the other hand
Technique: Use transitions to make your paragraphs flowTraits that Have No Direction
The Importance of Context
What it all boils down to is context — because context matters. A sentnce in another context may be false due to the evolution of meanings and relevance. When you are rewriting, remember to keep the big picture of what your text is trying to say in mind so that each sentnce makes sense.
Example:
Dry bones, can these bones live again? With an out of context answer: Well they were dry and it was broken.
Original: “It broke the toy she loved for so long”.
Tips: give enough context so there is no other way to misunderstand.
Proofreading and Revising
Even if you think that your writing turn out to be great, always proofread and rewrite once more for clarity of presentation.
1. Read Aloud
When you read your sentnces out loud, it will be easier to catch mistakes that might slip through if you are reading silently.
2. Take a Break
After writing, have a break before proofreading it. It can be much easier for you to catch your errors from another -more fresh- perspective.
3. Use Tools Wisely
Grammar checkers can assist, but are not a foolproof mechanism. This is in no way replacing your good attention to detail but I would use them as a word of caution.
4. Get Feedback
If time / energy permits, get someone else to read/respond your work. Would also serve as a corrective pair of eyes to pick up any mistakes you might overlook;-
Conclusion
Writing is one of the most basic element from which all other elements take off, At its core level it transcends across all forms of communication. Equipping yourself with a foundation of how sentnces work, and identifying when an error has been made will greatly lessen their occurrance over time as you write more often; leading to clear(er), accurate, and powerful sentnce writing. And again — take note that the best way to improve your ability to make sentnces is through practice and detail. By implementing these devices, soon enough you will realize that writing properly is just another autopilot function in not only your paper paragraphs, but also life!
If you follow these tips, then your writing is going to be better — which means that not only will the grammarless sen tence-eating metaphor-scripting sentience in charge of punctuation high-five itself out of sheer joy at never having been hired by me (or worse yet: condemned for all eternity as one who ordered The Food Where It Must NOT Belong).
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