Unit 1 Clause and sentence structure

Main points

• Simple sentences have one clause.
• Clauses usually consist of a noun group as the subject, and a verb group.
• Clauses can also have another noun group as the object or complement.
• Clauses can have an adverbial, also called an adjunct.
• Changing the order of the words in a clause can change its meaning.
• Compound sentences consist of two or more main clauses. Complex sentences always include a subordinate clause, as well as one or more main clauses.

1 A simple sentence has one clause, beginning with a noun group called the subject. The subject is the person or thing that the sentence is about. This is followed by a verb group, which tells you what the subject is doing, or describes the subject's situation.

• I waited.
• The girl screamed.

2 The verb group may be followed by another noun group, which is called the object. The object is the person or thing affected by the action or situation.

• He opened the car door.
• She married a young engineer.

After link verbs like `be', `become', `feel', and `seem', the verb group may be followed by a noun group or an adjective, called a complement. The complement tells you more about the subject.

• She was a doctor.
• He was angry.

3 The verb group, the object, or the complement can be followed by an adverb or a prepositional phrase, called an adverbial. The adverbial tells you more about the action or situation, for example how, when, or where it happens. Adverbials are also called adjuncts.

• They shouted loudly.
• She won the competition last week.
• He was a policeman in Birmingham.

4 The word order of a clause is different when the clause is a statement, a question, or a command.

• He speaks English very well. (statement)
• Did she win at the Olympics? (question)
• Stop her. (command)

Note that the subject is omitted in commands, so the verb comes first.
5 A compound sentence has two or more main clauses: that is, clauses which are equally important. You join them with `and', `but', or `or'.

• He met Jane at the station and went shopping.
• I wanted to go but I felt too ill.
• You can come now or you can meet us there later.

Note that the order of the two clauses can change the meaning of the sentence.

• He went shopping and met Jane at the station.

If the subject of both clauses is the same, you usually omit the subject in the second clause.

• I wanted to go but felt too ill.

6 A complex sentence contains a subordinate clause and at least one main clause. A subordinate clause gives information about a main clause, and is introduced by a conjunction such as `because', `if', `that', or a `wh'-word. Subordinate clauses can come before, after, or inside the main clause.

• When he stopped, no one said anything.
• If you want, I'll teach you.
• They were going by car because it was more comfortable.
• I told him that nothing was going to happen to me.
• The car that I drove was a Ford.
• The man who came into the room was small.