English Grammar and Composition chapter 6: Sentences

UNIT 06 Sentences

Lesson 1: Types of Sentences

Read the following examples.

Liza has lost her pen. She is looking for it. She says: I have lost my ball point pen. I cannot find it anywhere. Have you seen my pen? Oh, how absentminded I am! I kept it in my drawer. If anyone gets it, please give it back.

Each of these examples has a number of words arranged in a proper order and the words are arranged in a sequence that makes a complete sense.

Activity 1

Now read the following text and fill in the gaps to define what a sentence is.

A sentence is a group of ____________ with at least a ____________ and a ____________ . A sentence has a complete ____________.

Types of sentences

Now read the following dialogue between a son and a mother.

Son : Hi Mom! Mom : Hi dear! Son : Mom, I have to go to Minhaz's house now. Mom : No, it is almost dusk. You cannot go out now. Son : Please, mom. His father is sick. We have to take him to a hospital. Mom : Oh, I see. Did Minhaz ring you? Son : Yes, Mom. Mom : Okay. Go then but don't be late. Son : So nice of you, mom! Mom : Go. Hurry up and take care. Son : Bye, Mom. Mom : Bye, dear.

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Find examples of sentences in the dialogue.

Read the following chart which shows some of the sentence types with one example of each type.

Figure

Labels: Sentences; I have to go to Minhaz's house.; You cannot go out now.; Did Minhaz ring you?; Do't be late.; So nice of you, Mom!; Affirmative sentence; Negative sentence; Interrogative sentence; Imperative sentence; Exclamatory sentence Description: A tree chart with "Sentences" at the top, branching into five boxes. Each top box holds an example sentence and links down to its type: "I have to go to Minhaz's house." — Affirmative sentence; "You cannot go out now." — Negative sentence; "Did Minhaz ring you?" — Interrogative sentence; "Do't be late." — Imperative sentence; "So nice of you, Mom!" — Exclamatory sentence.

Activity 2

Follow the examples of sentence types and write a couple of sentences for each type.

Affirmative : ____________________________________________________ : ____________________________________________________

Negative : ____________________________________________________ : ____________________________________________________

Interrogative : ____________________________________________________ : ____________________________________________________

Imperative : ____________________________________________________ : ____________________________________________________

Exclamatory : ____________________________________________________

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Lesson 2: Affirmative Sentences

Tonusree is Alfaz's classmate. She is a good dancer. She also sings well. This year she is going to take part in Khulna district level dance competition. She wants to be the champion there.

The above sentences are positive statements. These types of sentences tell about a person or a thing. These are called affirmative sentences. An affirmative sentence needs-

A subject + linking verb + complement

Tonusree is Alfaz's classmate She is a good dancer.

Subject + intransitive verb

She also sings well

Subject + transitive verb + object

She wants to be the champion there.

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Activity 3

Read the text below and underline the subject and verbs. Make a list of the verb types used here.

Boby's best friend is Talha. Talha is not the first boy in the class. Yet Boby likes him. Talha's language is very good. He speaks in perfect Bangla. He draws good cartoons. He is also a genius in computer games. Talha is a cricket player too. He likes fielding. Everyday Talha and Boby share tiffin. They like to sit together but often their teachers ask them to sit apart. Only the science teacher allows them to sit together. They both like her a lot.

Now write five affirmative sentences about your parents.

Lesson 3: Negative Sentences

Read the text below and notice the sentences in bold:

Alfaz is a student of Tarar Mela School. He lives in a small town and doesn't like big cities. He thinks that big cities do not allow people to grow properly. Alfaz likes open fields, rivers, and nature. He is not allured by the big buildings and colourful lights of the cities. He likes the fresh foods and the known faces in his town. I have been Alfaz's friend from my childhood. We have many things in common. I also do not like city life that much. We have another interesting similarity. We are not cricket fans. We like football.

The text above has examples of negative sentences written in bold words. Negative sentences are used to express-

• dislikes : He lives in a small town and doesn't like big cities.
• disapproval : Big cities do not allow people to grow properly.
• disagreement : Alam is a very naughty boy. : Sorry, he is not a naughty boy. I found him very sober and gentle.
• Inability : Are you okay now? : Not exactly. I can't walk any more.

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How to make negative sentences?

Subject + auxiliary or supporting verb+ not + action verb +…. (He doesn't like big cities.)

Subject + be verb+ not + …. (He is not a naughty boy.)

Subject + modal +not + … (I can't walk anymore.)

Activity 1

Write 2 sentences describing your own dislikes.

Now write another two sentences describing your father/mother's disliking.

Activity 2

Read the text below and fill in the gaps in it with an appropriate word from the box.

Akash is my best friend. He __________ come to school for last few days. I came to know that he is sick. I __________ go to see him as my house is far away from his. I phoned his brother but he __________ respond. He was busy. Akash __________ okay. My friend Taposh lives near Akash's house . I will give Taposh some story books for Akash. I __________ feeling good in absence of my best friend. If he __________ come round soon, I __________ go to the school picnic. I need to tell Akash that we have a new teacher in our school. I'm sure Akash __________see her before.

Note: Both affirmative sentences and negative sentences fit to the category of assertive sentence. An assertive sentence makes a statement about some person, thing or event. It may be both positive and negative statement.

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Lesson 4: Interrogative Sentences

Read the conversation between the son and the mom after he returns from hospital and look at the queries she makes.

Mom : Hi dear. How is Mr. Abed now? Son : Oh, he is much better.

Mom : What happened to him? Son : He was feeling restless. He had suffocation as well.

Son : When did the doctor see him? Son : Immediately after he was taken to the hospital.

Mom : Is he still at the hospital? Son : Yes, he is and will be there for next 24 hours.

Mom : Does he have any pain in the chest? Mom : Yes, a little.

The bold sentences are asking for some information. These are called interrogative sentences. A note of interrogation (?) is used at the end of an interrogative sentence. These sentences have the following attributes:

a) The be verb (in case of state verbs) or auxiliary verb (in case of action verbs) comes before the subject.

e.g. Is he still at the hospital? (Be verb before the subject )

Does he have any pain in the chest? **(**Auxiliary verb before the subject)

b) The sentence starts with either the auxiliary verb or 'wh' words ( who, which what, when, whom, how, whose and why)

e.g. When did the doctor see him?

Note: when a question begins with a be verb or an auxiliary verb, that is a yes/no question. When a question begins with a wh-word, that is an information question or wh-question.

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Activity 1

Read the following interview. Make questions for each statement.

1. _______________________________________________________?

2. I'm Monica. Monica Gonzalej.

3. _______________________________________________________?

4. I'm from Meherpur.

5. _______________________________________________________?

6. Oh, I'm from Amjhupi.

7. _______________________________________________________?

8. Only a week ago.

9. _______________________________________________________?

10. My family has moved to this city due to my father's transfer.

11. _______________________________________________________?

12. Yap, many times. I have some relatives here.

13. _______________________________________________________?

14. No, you are my first friend.

Activity 2

Suppose you are going to interview one of your friends regarding his family members. Make five wh-questions and another 5 yes/no questions for him/her.

1. _______________________________________________________?

2. _______________________________________________________?

3. _______________________________________________________?

4. _______________________________________________________?

5. _______________________________________________________?

6. _______________________________________________________?

7. _______________________________________________________?

8. _______________________________________________________?

9. _______________________________________________________?

10. _______________________________________________________?

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