Classification of Sentences

Predicativity, predication, primary predication, secondary predication, declarative sentences, interrogative sentences, imperative sentences, exclamatory sentences, simple sentences, one-member sentences, complete sentences, incomplete (elliptical sentences), composite sentences, complex sentences, compound sentences, principle/secondary parts of the sentence

Sentence

Lecture 8

The system of cases in pronoun.

In pronouns there can be found a distinction between two cases: Nominative and Objective: I – me, we – us. There is a special group of possessive pronouns (my, his) which corresponds to the possessive case of nouns (John’s – his, mother’s – her etc.).However, this group of pronouns cannot be treated as the possessive case of personal pronouns since possessive pronouns have two forms (my – mine, our – ours). The difference between them is determined by their syntactic functioning.

You are to learn the following terms:

As is well-known, sentences may be classified on the basis of two main principles: communicative and structural. The sentence is a communicative unit, therefore the primary classification of sentences must be based on the communicative principle. This principle is formulated in traditional grammar as the ‘purpose of communication’. According to types of communication sentences are divided into declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory. Sentences belonging to the several types differ from each other in some grammatical points, too. Interrogative sentences are characterized by a special word order. The interrogative sentence expresses a question, i.e. a request for information wanted by the speaker from the listener.

The imperative sentence expresses inducement, either affirmative or negative. That is it urges the listener, in the form of request or command, to perform or not to perform a certain action.

Declarative sentences express a statement which gives the listener or the reader some information about various events, activities or attitudes, thoughts and feelings. Statements form the largest part of monological speech, and the greater part of conversation. A statement may be positive (affirmative) or negative. Grammatically, statements are characterized by the subject-predicate structure with the direct order of words.

The notion of exclamatory sentences and their relation to the three established types of declarative, interrogative, and imperative sentences presents some difficulty. Some authors say that they should not be included into this list. The thing is that every sentence, whether narrative, interrogative, or imperative, may be exclamatory at the same time, that is, it may convey the speaker’s feelings and be characterized by emphatic intonation and by an exclamation mark in writing.

E.g. But he can’t do anything to you! What can he possibly do to you! Scarlet, spare me!

On the other hand, a sentence may be purely exclamatory, that is, it may not belong to any of the three types classed above.

E.g. What a funny story she told us! How beautiful her voice is!

Long live the Army!

According to their structure sentences can be:

1. Simple or composite (compound and complex);

2. Complete or incomplete (elliptical);

3. Two-member or one-member.

Sentences with only one predication are called simple sentences. Those with more than one predication are called composite sentences.

E.g. She’s a very faithful creature and I trust her.

Composite sentences with coordinated clauses are compound sentences. Composite sentences containing subordinated clauses are complex sentences.

E.g. If I let this chance slip, I’m a fool. (complex)

You can join us at the station, or we can wait for you at home. (compound)

The domination type of sentence, with full predication, i.e. containing both the subject and the predicate, is called a two-member sentence. All other types are usually called one-member sentences. Here are some examples of one-member sentences:

English spring flowers! Living at the mercy of a woman! Thanks.

One-member sentences should be kept apart from two-member sentences with either the subject or the predicate omitted, i.e. from elliptical sentences. Ellipses here refer only to the structural elements of the sentence, not the informational ones. This means that those words can be omitted, because they have only grammatical, structural relevance, and do not carry any new relevant information.

E.g. Looks like rain. See what I mean? You sure?

The structural types of sentence can be presented by the following scheme:

Sentence

Simple Composite

One-member Two-member Complex Compound

Complete Incomplete

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