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Sentence (linguistics)
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In the field of linguistics, a sentence is an expression in natural language, often defined to
indicate a grammatical and lexical unit consisting of one or more words that represent
distinct concepts. A sentence can include words grouped meaningfully to express a
statement, question, exclamation, request or command.[1]
As with all language expressions, sentences contain both semantic and logical elements
(words, parts of speech), and also include action symbols that indicate sentence starts,
stops, pauses, etc. In addition, sentences also contain properties distinct to natural language,
such as characteristic intonation and timing patterns.
Sentences are generally characterized in most languages by the presence of a finite verb,
e.g. "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog".
Contents
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1 Components of a sentence
o 1.1 Clauses
o 1.2 Complete sentences
2 Classification
o 2.1 By structure
o 2.2 By purpose
o 2.3 Major and minor sentences
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
[edit] Components of a sentence
[edit] Clauses
A clause consists of a subject and a predicate. The subject is typically a noun phrase,
though other kinds of phrases (such as gerund phrases) work as well, and some languages
allow subjects to be omitted. The predicate is a finite verb phrase: a finite verb together
with zero or more objects, zero or more complements, and zero or more adverbials.
There are two types of clauses: independent and subordinate (dependent). An independent
clause demonstrates a complete thought; it is a complete sentence: for example, "I am sad."
A subordinate clause is not a complete sentence: for example, "because I had to move."
See also copula for the consequences of the verb to be on the theory of sentence structure.
[edit] Complete sentences
A simple complete sentence consists of a single clause (subject and predicate). Other
complete sentences consist of two or more clauses (see below).
[edit] Classification
[edit] By structure
One traditional scheme for classifying English sentences is by the number and types of
finite clauses:
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A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no dependent
clauses.
A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no dependent
clauses. These clauses are joined together using conjunctions, punctuation, or both.
A complex sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one dependent
clause.
A complex-compound sentence (or compound-complex sentence) consists of
multiple independent clauses, at least one of which has at least one dependent
clause.
[edit] By purpose
Sentences can also be classified based on their purpose:
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A declarative sentence or declaration, the most common type, commonly makes a
statement: I am going home.
An interrogative sentence or question is commonly used to request information —
When are you going to work? — but sometimes not; see rhetorical question.
An exclamatory sentence or exclamation is generally a more emphatic form of
statement expressing emotion: What a wonderful day this is!
An imperative sentence or command tells someone to do something: Go to work at
7:30 tomorrow morning.
[edit] Major and minor sentences
A major sentence is a regular sentence; it has a subject and a predicate. For example: I have
a ball. In this sentence one can change the persons: We have a ball. However, a minor
sentence is an irregular type of sentence. It does not contain a finite verb. For example,
"Mary!" "Yes." "Coffee." etc. Other examples of minor sentences are headings (e.g. the
heading of this entry), stereotyped expressions (Hello!), emotional expressions (Wow!),
proverbs, etc. This can also include nominal sentences like The more, the merrier. These do
not contain verbs in order to intensify the meaning around the nouns and are normally
found in poetry and catchphrases.[2]
Sentences that comprise a single word are called word sentences, and the words themselves
sentence words.[3]
[edit] See also
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Affirmation
Assertion
Clause
Grammatical polarity
Inflectional phrase
Periodic sentence
Phrase
Sentence arrangement
Sentence function
Statement
T-unit
[edit] References
1. ^ "'Sentence' - Definitions from Dictionary.com". Dictionary.com.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sentence. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
2. ^ Exploring Language: Sentences
3. ^ Jan Noordegraaf (2001). "J. M. Hoogvliet as a teacher and theoretician". in
Marcel Bax, C. Jan-Wouter Zwart, and A. J. van Essen. Reflections on Language
and Language Learning. John Benjamins B.V.. pp. 24. ISBN 9027225842.
[edit] External links
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Basic Sentence Structures
Sentence Variety: Sentence Types
The Sentence: A Group of Words Expressing a Meaning
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Philosophy of language
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