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EnglishClub : Learn English : Grammar : Sentence-level : What is a Sentence?
What is a Sentence?
In simple terms, a sentence is a set of words that contain:
1. a subject (what the sentence is about, the topic of the sentence), and
2. a predicate (what is said about the subject)
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Look at this simple example:
QUIZZES 🤔 » sentence
GRAMMAR QUIZZES subject predicate
VOCABULARY QUIZZES
verb
PRONUNCIATION QUIZZES
You speak English.
READING QUIZZES
WRITING QUIZZES
The above example sentence is very short. Of course, a sentence can be
longer and more complicated, but basically there is always a subject and a
predicate. Look at this longer example:
GAMES 🎯 »
sentence
GRAMMAR GAMES
VOCABULARY GAMES subject predicate
PRONUNCIATION GAMES
verb
SPELLING GAMES
Ram and Tara speak English when they are working.
Divided Kingdom movie. Have your say!
Note that the predicate always contains a verb. Sometimes, in fact, the
"EnglishClub made our classes so predicate is only a verb:
fun and informative" - Heloise,
Maria Eduarda and Luciano, Brazil sentence
subject predicate
verb
Smoke rises.
So we can say that a sentence must contain at least a subject and verb.
There is one apparent exception to this – the imperative. When someone
gives a command (the imperative), they usually do not use a subject. They
don't say the subject because it is obvious - the subject is YOU! Look at these
examples of the imperative, with and without a subject:
sentence
subject predicate
verb
Stop!
Wait a minute!
You look!
Everybody look!
Note that a sentence expresses a complete thought. Here are some
examples of complete and incomplete thoughts:
complete
thought?
sentence He opened the door. YES
Come in, please.
Do you like coffee?
not a people who work hard NO
sentence
a fast-moving animal with big
ears
Note also that a sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full
stop (AmE period) or a question mark or an exclamation mark (AmE
exclamation point). Look at these examples:
People need food.
How are you?
Look out!
EnglishClub Tip
Actually, it is not easy to define a sentence. Grammarians do not all
agree on what is or is not a sentence. For the purposes of introduction,
this page describes rather simple sentences. Of course, sentences can
be much longer and more complex, and these are covered on our
sentence pages.
Recommended Links
Cambridge Dictionary
Daily Writing Tips
Sentence (linguistics) - Wikipedia
Contributor: Josef Essberger, founder of EnglishClub.com.
Originally from London, England, Josef is the author of
several books for learners of English including English
Prepositions List and Learn English in 7.
07/2019
What is a Sentence? Quiz
Related Topics
Phrases
Sentence Structure
Linking, Intransitive and Transitive Verbs
Direct Object
Indirect Object
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