Sentence construction is fundamental to clear and effective writing. Here are the salient points to consider:
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
- Ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural). For example, "She writes" (singular) vs. "They write" (plural).
2. Sentence Structure
- Simple Sentence: Contains one independent clause (e.g., "The cat sleeps.").
- Compound Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction (e.g., "The cat sleeps, and the dog barks.").
- Complex Sentence: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause (e.g., "The cat sleeps because it is tired.").
- Compound-Complex Sentence: Contains at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses (e.g., "The cat sleeps, and the dog barks because they are tired.").
3. Clarity and Conciseness
- Use clear and concise language. Avoid unnecessary words or complex constructions that could confuse the reader. For example, "The man who was running quickly" can be simplified to "The man ran quickly."
4. Punctuation
- Use proper punctuation to clarify meaning and separate ideas within sentences. For example:
- Commas to separate items in a list or clauses in a sentence.
- Periods to end declarative sentences.
- Colons and Semicolons to connect related ideas or introduce lists.
- Quotation Marks for direct speech or quotations.
5. Modifiers
- Place modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, phrases) close to the words they modify to avoid confusion. For example, "She almost found all the eggs" (incorrect) vs. "She found almost all the eggs" (correct).
6. Parallelism
- Maintain parallel structure when using lists or paired ideas to ensure consistency and clarity. For example, "She likes hiking, biking, and swimming" (parallel) vs. "She likes hiking, to bike, and swimming" (not parallel).
7. Variety in Sentence Length and Structure
- Varying sentence length and structure can make writing more engaging. Mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences helps to maintain reader interest.
8. Avoiding Fragments and Run-Ons
- Fragments: Incomplete sentences lacking a subject or verb (e.g., "Because he was late." needs more to be complete).
- Run-Ons: Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation (e.g., "She ran to the store she bought milk." should be "She ran to the store, and she bought milk.").
9. Active vs. Passive Voice
- Active Voice: The subject performs the action (e.g., "The cat chased the mouse.").
- Passive Voice: The subject receives the action (e.g., "The mouse was chased by the cat."). While both are correct, active voice is generally clearer and more direct.
10. Consistency in Tense
- Ensure that verbs maintain the same tense throughout a sentence or paragraph, unless a shift in time is necessary (e.g., "She walked to the store and bought milk" vs. "She walks to the store and buys milk").
11. Use of Transitional Words
- Transitional words and phrases (e.g., "however," "therefore," "in addition") help to connect ideas smoothly and guide the reader through the text.
12. Subject Placement
- Typically, the subject precedes the verb in English sentences. However, placing the subject after the verb can be effective for emphasis or stylistic reasons (e.g., "Under the table sat the cat.").
These points serve as the foundation for constructing well-formed, clear, and effective sentences in writing.
