OBAC201: Functional English

BACHELOR OF ARTS
SEMESTER 2

OBAC201
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
Unit: 2 – Sentences 1
OBAC201: Functional English

Unit 2
Sentences
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SL Fig No / Table SAQ /
Topic Page No
No / Graph Activity
1 Overview - -
4
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Introduction - - 5
3 The Sentence - -
3.1 Parts of a Sentence - -
3.2 Subject and Predicate in Sentences - -
3.3 Objects and Complements in Sentences - -
3.4 Types of Objects - -
6-9
3.5 How to find Direct and Indirect objects - -
3.6 Complements - -
3.7 Subject Complements - -
3.8 Object Complements - -
3.9 Types of Object Complements - -
4 Types of Sentences - -
4.1 Declarative Sentences - -
4.2 Interrogative Sentences - - 10-11
4.3 Imperative sentences - -
4.4 Exclamatory Sentences - -
5 Structure of Sentences - -
5.1 Simple Sentence - -
12-14
5.2 Compound Sentence - -
5.3 Complex Sentence - 1
6 Parts of Speech 1 - 15-17
7 Active and Passive Voice - -
7.1 Rules for Conversion of Active and Passive - - 18-19
Voice
7.2 Active and Passive Voice in Tenses Form - -
8 Conclusion - 2 20
9 Summary - - 21-22

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10 Glossary - - 23
11 Terminal Questions - - 24
12 Answers - -
12.1 Self-Assessment Questions - - 25-27
12.2 Terminal Questions - -
13 References - - 28

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1. OVERVIEW
Effective language skills are built on grammar, among other components of language.
Therefore,understanding and grasping grammar is indispensable for communicating ideas and
concepts clearly and concisely . This Unit examines the basic components of sentences. The Unit
discusses the different parts of speech, types of sentences and sentence structures. It also
explains the subtle differences between grammatical elements like simple, complex and
compound sentences and the active and passive voice. At the end of the Unit, we shall have a
better understanding of sentences, which are among the most important grammatical units that
act as the foundation of a language.

1.1. Learning Objectives

In this Unit, you will –

Understand the key components of grammar for a clear and powerful spoken and written
expression
Examine the basic grammatical components of sentences
Identify the different parts of speech in English
Discuss sentence structures and their role in constructing grammatically correct sentences.
Analyse the differences in sentences - Simple, Compound and Complex sentences
Discuss the concept of voice – Active and Passive Voice in Grammar

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2. INTRODUCTION
Whether one is writing a captivating narrative or conversing casually, it is essential to understand
the key components of grammar for clear and powerful expression. The primary function of
grammar is to arrange words into sentences, and there are numerous approaches to this.
Therefore, putting together a sentence can be challenging. It is important to understand the
fundamentals of grammar beginning with the sentence, including its formation, structure and its
components.

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3. THE SENTENCES
A sentence is a collection of words that represents a whole idea.It can alternatively be defined as
a collection of words that describe a whole idea and have a finite verb and an explicit or implied
subject.

Look at the following sentences:

1. Birds sing
2. Children play
3. The sun rises in the East.
4. We enjoy going to the park.
5. They won the football match.

Each group of words above has a clear meaning and a complete sense.Such groups of words are
called ‘a sentence’.

Sometimes, groups of words are incomplete and therefore, make no sense. For example,
1. _____________________ likes to read books.
2. _____________________ is a beautiful city.
3. _____________________ is a good exercise.

These groups of words have some meaning but are not complete.Therefore, they are not
sentences.However, we can add words to it to make them into sentences.
1. Tom likes to read books.
2. Paris is a beautiful city.
3. Walking is a good exercise.

3.1. Parts of a Sentence

Usually, a sentence has two primary parts: the subject and the predicate.The subject, which
indicates who or what the phrase is about, is the primary focus of the sentence and contains a
noun or a noun equivalent.On the other hand, the predicate gives information on the action or
status of the subject and also contains the verb.While the subject is a naming word, the predicate
is a doing word.Usually, the subject comes first, and the predicate follows.

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3.2. Subject and Predicate in Sentences

The primary noun or pronoun that the sentence is about is called the subject.It represents the
object, idea, or person enacting the deed or subject of the description.Asking yourself, "Who or
what is the sentence talking about?" will help you determine the subject.

The predicate is the part of the sentence that gives information about the subject. The verb and
any additional terms or expressions that characterise the deed or condition are included. Asking
yourself, "What is happening or being stated about the subject?" will help you identify the predicate.

For example, in “The dog barks”, “The dog” is the subject because it’s what we’re talking about.
“Barks” is the predicate because it tells what the dog is doing.

Look at these sentences with the highlighted words or words in bold indicating the subject and
predicate of the sentence.

1. The rose is a beautiful flower. (Subject is highlighted)

2. The students studied hard for the exam. (Predicate is highlighted)
3. They went to the park together. (Subject is highlighted)

In an imperative sentence (used to express a command, instruction, request or advice), the subject
is understood or implied. For example,
1. Get up early. (Here, the subject ‘you’ is understood)
2. Thank You (This means I or We thank you)

3.3. Objects and Complements in Sentences

The person who gets the action of the verb that the subject of a sentence performs is called the
object. This indicates that the verb, which is the action, is done by the subject, but the verb is also
the one that is performed upon and gets the action. The verb, which is a lexical verb, comes
before the object.

Look at these sentences with the highlighted words indicating the object of the sentence.
1. She writes beautiful poems.
2. We are studying English Grammar.
3. He is painting a picture.

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3.4. Types of Objects

Direct objects and indirect objects are the two categories of objects. If more than one object
appears in a sentence, the indirect object is the one that gains from the verb's action and appears
first. The verb's action causes suffering for the "sufferer", which is the direct object.

Look at these sentences with the highlighted words indicating the object of the sentence.
1. The children ate chocolates.
2. We gave Mary a gift on her birthday.
3. I have a beautiful garden.
4. Students work hard for the exam.
5. John wrote an Email.

3.5. How to Find Direct and Indirect Objects

To find the direct object, ask “what” or “whom” after the verb. For example, in the sentence,

Tom ate an apple, asking, “What did he eat” identifies the apple as the direct object.

To find the indirect object, ask “to whom” or “for whom” or “for what” or “to what “after the verb.
For example, in the sentence,

John gifted Anne a watch asking, “To whom did John give the watch?” identifies Mary as the
indirect object.
1. Mike sent Jane an Email. (Indirect Object)
2. Sally will help you with your housework. (Direct Object)
3. She bought him a present. (Indirect Object)
4. He gave them a bag full of money. (Indirect Object)
5. Where did you put the keys? (Indirect Object)

3.6. Complements
A word or word group that completes the predicate in a sentence is called a complement.
Complements help to complete the meaning of a sentence or a part of a sentence. It adds
something to the subject and object in the form of a Noun, Pronoun or Adjective.

There are two common types of complements: subject complements (which follow the verb ‘be’
and other linking verbs) and object complements (which follow a direct object).

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3.6. Subject Complements

Subject complements rename or describe the subject of sentences. In other words, they
complement the subjects.

Look at these examples:

1. She is the winner.
2. Mary is the Principal of this School.
3. My classmates are friendly.

In the first sentence, the subject complement ‘winner’ explains the subject ‘she’. It tells what she
is.

In the second sentence, the subject complement ‘Principal’ explains the subject ‘Mary’. It tells what
Mary is.

In the third sentence, the subject complement ‘friendly’ modifies the subject ‘classmates. It tells
what the classmates are.

3.8. Object Complements

An object complement always follows the direct object and either renames or describes the direct
object.

E.g. She encouraged her son to speak.

In this sentence, the verb is ‘encouraged’. To find the subject, ask, 'Who or what named?' The
answer is ‘she’; therefore ‘she’ is the subject. Now ask, 'Whom or what did she encourage?' She
encouraged ‘her son’, so the son is the direct object. Any word following the direct object that
renames or describes the direct object is an object complement. She encouraged her son ‘to
speak’, so ‘to speak’ is the object complement.

3.9. Types of Object Complements

The four main types of object complements are as follows:
• Nouns/Noun Phrases as Object Complements – E.g., I can make him a better person.
• Adjectives as Object Complements – E.g., She made me happy.
• Adverbs of place as Object Complements – E.g., I couldn’t find him anywhere.
• Prepositional phrases as Object Complements – E.g. The new park is under construction.

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4. TYPES OF SENTENCES
Sentences can be classified into four broad types based on their function and purpose. They are
Declarative or Assertive Sentences, Interrogative Sentences, Imperative Sentences and
Exclamatory Sentences.

The four main types of sentences can be distinguished by their function and purpose:
• A declarative sentence makes a statement: We must learn English Grammar.
• An interrogative sentence poses a question: Why should we learn English Grammar?
• An imperative sentence gives instructions or expresses a request or demand: Please learn
English Grammar.
• An exclamatory sentence expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation: Wow!
English Grammar is interesting.

4.1. Declarative Sentences

They express a statement or opinion. The usual word order for the declarative sentence is subject
+ verb.

Example:
1. Tony goes to school every day.
2. All that glitters is not gold.
3. We watched TV last night.
4. Walter is always late to work.
5. This is not a big town.

4.2. Interrogative Sentences

It is a question that seeks information. The question mark is put at the end of the sentence. The
usual word order for the interrogative sentence is (wh-word +) auxiliary + subject + verb.
1. Who won the cricket match?
2. Do you like coffee or tea?
3. What time is it?
4. Does he know French?
5. They are not coming today, are they?

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4.3. Imperative sentences

They express a command or a request. Imperative sentences end with a full stop/period (.) or
exclamation mark/point (!). The usual word order for the imperative sentence is the base verb.
There is usually no subject—because the subject is YOU and it is implied.
1. Please pass the salt.
2. Leave the room immediately.
3. Help me, please.
4. Show me your ticket.
5. Please switch off your phones.

4.4. Exclamatory Sentences

They express strong emotions such as surprise, pain, joy, fear, anger, disgust and they always
end with an exclamation mark/point (!).

The usual word order for the exclamative sentence is -What (+ adjective) + noun + subject + verb

How (+ adjective/adverb) + subject + verb

1. What a beautiful sunset!

2. Hurray! We have won.
3. What a lair he is!
4. That’s a brilliant idea!
5. What a cold day it is!

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5. STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES
Based on the sentence structures, sentences can be divided into three types: Simple, Compound
and Complex.

5.1. Simple Sentence

A Simple Sentence is a sentence that has only one subject and one predicate. A Simple Sentence
contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and modifiers. However, it contains
only one independent clause. A main (independent) clause usually contains a subject and a
predicate and can stand alone
1. Joe waited for the train.
2. The train was late
3. Alice is doing her homework.
4. A large crowd gathered in the hall to greet the Minister.
5. There is no place like home.

A Simple Sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a
completed thought. A Simple Sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is
referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of a compound or complex sentence,
it can also stand by itself as a complete sentence.

5.2. Compound Sentence

A compound sentence consists of two or more main or independent clauses with or without a
subordinate. Compound sentences are formed by cojoining or coordinating in three ways:

a. A coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Jack plays cricket, but Jim plays football.
b. A conjunctive adverb (e.g., however, therefore)
Jack plays cricket; however, Jim plays football.
c. A semicolon alone.
Jack plays cricket; Jim plays football.

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Look at some more examples:

1. I tried hard and I succeeded.
2. War is a tragedy and causes great loss.
3. It was dark, nevertheless, we went out.
4. We reached the station but the train had already left.
5. Jomy was busy, therefore he could not attend the party.

5.3. Complex Sentence

A Complex Sentence is made up of an independent clause or a main clause and one or more
dependent clauses connected with a subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions are
extremely useful for indicating connections between ideas. Subordinate conjunction is an
incomplete sentence and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Below are some of the most common subordinating conjunctions:

After even though When
although if whenever
as since whereas
because though wherever
before unless while
until

A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses. The
dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as in the
following:
1. She wore a warm jacket because it was cold outside.
2. While he waited at the train station, Kiran realized that the train was late.
3. If you run fast, you will be tired soon.
4. The movie that I saw last night was quite funny.
5. Although it was late, Asha stayed up to finish her assignment.

Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex
sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main parts of the sentence.
The word "before," for instance, tells the readers that one thing occurs before another. A word
such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a word such as "and" conveys.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

I. Identify and underline the following in the sentences below:

1. Subject and Predicate
The book has an interesting plot.
2. Complement
Kathy was a very talented artist.
II. Choose the right answer
3. We enjoyed the movie but we did not like the end.
(a) Simple
(b) Compound
(c) Complex
4. Even if our team wins this match, we may not make it to the final.
(a) Simple
(b) Complex
(c) Compound

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6. PARTS OF SPEECH
Words are divided into different classes according to their functions in a sentence. Parts of speech
indicate how the word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the sentence. An
individual word can function as more than one part of speech when used in different circumstances.
There are eight parts of speech (see Fig 1) in the English language: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective,
adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

Fig 1. https://www.aatoonsstudy.com/parts-of-speech/

Noun - is the name of a person, place or thing. ‘Things’ refer to anything we can think of. For
example, house, teacher, city, shop.

E.g., 1. Paris is a beautiful city.

2. Judy is going to London next month.

Pronoun - is a word used instead of a noun in a sentence. A pronoun is a word that replaces the
name of a person, place or thing in a sentence. E.g., I, she, he, they, it, ours.

1. Charlie ran to school because he was late.

2. The children are in the garden. They are playing games.

In the above sentences, ‘he’ and ‘they’ are pronouns because they are used in the sentences in
place of the nouns Charlie and children, respectively.

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Verb – is a word used to express an action or a state. It describes or performs an action. For
example, run, walk, push, go, read, and eat.

1. John and Bobby walk to school every day.

2. Gold is a precious metal.

The words ‘walk’ and ‘is’ express an action in the sentences. So, these words are known as verbs.

Adverb - is a word used to add something to the meaning of the verb, an adjective or another
adverb. It tells us how often, how, where or when.

1. She sings sweetly.

2. Sam is very busy at work.

The words ‘sweetly’ and ‘very’ are adverbs as they modify the verb sings and the adjective busy.

Adjective - is a word used to qualify or describe a noun or a pronoun. For example, brave, tall,
beautiful, red, young, etc.

1. He is a brave soldier.
2. Rose is a beautiful flower.

The words ‘brave’ and ‘beautiful’ tell us more about the noun or pronoun. So, these words are
known as adjectives.

Preposition – is a word used with a noun or a pronoun to show how the person or thing denoted
by the noun or pronoun stands in relation to something else. It describes the place, time or
directions. E.g., above, under, in, on, during, etc.

1. There are many stars in the sky.

2. The books are on the table.

The words in and on show the position in relation to another object. Here, it shows the position of
the stars and the sky while on shows the position of the books in relation to the table. So, these
words are known as prepositions.

Conjunction – is a word used to join words or sentences. E.g., for, and, yet, nor, because, but,
or, so, etc.

1. Jack and Jill went up the hill.

2. Meena liked the dress, but it was expensive.

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The words ‘and’ and ‘but’ help to join the words and phrases in the sentences to give meaning.
So, these words are conjunctions.

Interjection – is a word that expresses sudden emotions or feelings like feelings of joy, sorrow,
surprise, etc. Interjections are often followed by exclamation marks.

1. Wow! The view is amazing.

2. Oh! We are late for the movie.

The words ‘wow’ and ‘oh’ are interjections as they express happiness and sadness, respectively.

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7. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Active Voice and Passive Voice denote the quality of the verb. They indicate when a subject is the
doer or the receiver of a particular action. In the Active Voice, the subject is the doer of the action,
while in the Passive Voice, the subject is the receiver (sufferer) of the action.

E.g.1. The lion killed the deer.

2. The deer was killed by the lion.

We can see that these two sentences express the same meaning.

However, in Sentence 1, the form of the Verb shows that the person denoted by the subject did
something.

The lion (denoted by the subject) did something (killed the deer).

In Sentence 2, the verb form shows that something was done to the person denoted by the
Object.

Something (killed) was done to the deer (denoted by the object) by the Subject (the lion).

When Active Voice is changed into the Passive Voice, the subject becomes the object and the
object becomes the subject. The Active Voice is used when the doer is important, while the
Passive voice is used when the action is important.

Look at these sentences in the Active and Passive Voice

Active Voice Passive Voice
I wrote a letter. A letter was written by me
The farmer gathers the harvest. The harvest was gathered by the farmer.
Mr. Martin teaches us English. English is taught to us by Mr. Martin.

7.1. Rules for Conversion of Active and Passive Voice

The rule for conversion from active voice to passive voice is as follows:

Rule 1: Identify the subject, verb, and object (S+ V+O) in the sentence to convert to passive voice.

Rule 2: Now interchange the object and subject with each other; that is, the object of the active
sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

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Rule 3: Change the base verb in the active sentence into the past participle (third form of the verb)
in a passive sentence.

Rule 4: Use the word ‘by’ before the subject in the passive voice. In certain cases, ‘by’ can be
avoided because it is implied.

Rule 5: The pronoun in the sentence should also be changed accordingly.

Rule 6: While converting, use suitable auxiliary verbs (helping verbs such as will, shall, could).

7.2. Active and Passive Voice in Tenses Form

TENSE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
Simple Present She writes a letter. A letter is written by her.
Present Continuous Tense She is writing a letter. A letter is being written by her.
Present Perfect Tense She has written a letter. A letter has been written by her.
Simple Past Tense She wrote a letter. A letter was written by her.
Past Continuous Tense She was writing a letter. A letter was being written by
her.
Past Perfect Tense She had written a letter. A letter had been written by her.
Simple Future Tense She will write a letter. A letter will be written by her.
Infinitive She has to write a letter. A letter has to be written by her.
Modal She must write a letter A letter must be written by her.
Going to She is going to write a A letter is going to be written by
letter. her.

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8. CONCLUSION
This Unit has discussed the foundation of English grammar – the sentence. It has explored the
fundamental elements of sentences, the various Parts of Speech and the nuances of Active and
Passive Voice. To conclude, a solid grasp of sentence structures is important for constructing
grammatically correct sentences.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

III. Identify and underline the following in the sentences below:

5. The rain came down heavily.
6. She is fond of gardening.
IV. Change the following sentences from Active to Passive Voice.
7. Elephants can carry heavy loads.
8. One of my friends gave me a gift.

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9. SUMMARY

• Whether one is writing a captivating narrative or conversing casually, it is essential to

understand the key components of grammar for clear and powerful expression.
• It is important to understand the fundamentals of grammar beginning with the sentence,
including its formation, structure and its components.
• A sentence is a collection of words that represents a whole idea.
• Usually, a sentence has two primary parts: the subject and the predicate.
• The subject, which indicates who or what the phrase is about, is the primary focus of the
sentence and contains a noun or a noun equivalent.
• On the other hand, the predicate gives information on the action or status of the subject and
also contains the verb.
• The person who gets the action of the verb that the subject of a sentence performs is called
the object.
• Direct objects and indirect objects are the two categories of objects.
• If more than one object appears in a sentence, the indirect object is the one that gains from
the verb's action and appears first.
• The verb's action causes suffering for the "sufferer", which is the direct object.
• Sentences can be classified into four broad types based on their function and purpose.
• They are Declarative or Assertive Sentences, Interrogative Sentence, Imperative Sentence
and Exclamatory Sentence.
• Based on the sentence structures, sentences can be divided into three types: Simple,
Compound and Complex.
• A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb,
and a completed thought.
• A simple Sentence is a sentence that has only one subject and one predicate.
• A Compound sentence consists of two or more main or independent clauses with or without
a subordinate.
• A Complex sentence is made up of an independent clause or a main clause and one or more
dependent clauses connected to each other with a subordinating conjunction.

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• Parts of speech indicate how the word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within
the sentence.
• An individual word can function as more than one part of speech when used in different
circumstances.
• There are eight parts of speech in the English language: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective,
adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.
• Active Voice and Passive Voice denote the quality of the verb.
• They indicate when a subject is the doer or the receiver of a particular action.
• In the Active Voice, the subject is the doer of the action, while in the Passive Voice, the
subject is the receiver (sufferer) of the action.
• A solid grasp of sentence structures is important for constructing grammatically correct
sentences.

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10. GLOSSARY

a verb such as be, do and have used with main verbs to express
Auxiliary Verbs -
tense, mood or voice.

Complement - an added word or expression by which a predicate is made complete

Conjunction - words that link other words, phrases or clauses together

Coordinating
- used in a sentence to combine two words, phrases or clauses
Conjunction

Imperative used to issue a command or instruction, make a request, or offer

-
Sentence advice

a word or phrase used to express a feeling or to request or demand

Interjection -
something

the grammatical term for the words in a sentence or clause that

Predicate -
describe the action but not the subject

Subordinating
- a word that links a subordinate clause to a main clause
Conjunction

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11. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

Short-Answer Type Questions
1. Mention the types of sentences with examples.
2. Explain the parts of a sentence.
3. Describe the components of a sentence - subject and predicate, direct and indirect objects
and Complements.
4. Compare and contrast the simple, complex and compound sentences.
5. Discuss the rules of using Active and Passive Voice with examples.

Long-Answer Type Questions

1. “A solid grasp of sentence structures is important for constructing grammatically correct
sentences”. Comment.
2. Compare and contrast the use of Active and Passive Voice.
3. “Parts of Speech indicate how the word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within
the sentence”. Explain with examples for each of the eight parts of speech.
4. Examine the functions of the different types of sentences with examples and their use in
different grammatical contexts.
5. Evaluate the role of the Sentence as a key component of English Grammar.

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12. ANSWERS

12.1. Self-Assessment Questions

I. Identify and underline the following in the sentences below:
1. Subject and Predicate
The book (subject) has an interesting plot (predicate).

2. Complement
Kathy was a very talented artist. (complement)

II. Choose the right answer

3. We enjoyed the movie, but we did not like the ending.
(a) Simple
(b) Compound
(c) Complex
4. Even if our team wins this match, we may not make it to the final.
(a) Simple
(b) Complex
(c) Compound
III. Identify the parts of speech from the underlined words in the sentences below.
5. The rain came down heavily. (Adverb)
6. She is fond of gardening. (Preposition)
IV. Change the following sentences from Active to Passive Voice.

7. Heavy loads can be carried by elephants.

8. A gift given to me by one of my friends. OR

I was given a gift by one of my friends.

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12.2. Terminal Questions

Short-Answer Type Questions
Answer 1: Sentences can be classified into four broad types based on their function and purpose.
They are Declarative or Assertive Sentences, Interrogative Sentences, Imperative Sentences and
Exclamatory Sentences.

Answer 2: Usually, a sentence has two primary parts: the subject and the predicate. The subject,
which indicates who or what the phrase is about, is the primary focus of the sentence and contains
a noun or a noun equivalent. On the other hand, the predicate gives information on the action or
status of the subject and also contains the verb.

Answer 3: The primary noun or pronoun that the sentence is about is called the subject. It
represents the object, idea, or person enacting the deed or subject of the description. The
predicate is the part of the sentence that gives information about the subject. The person who gets
the action of the verb that the subject of a sentence performs is called the object. This indicates
that the verb, which is the action, is done by the subject, but the verb is also the one that is
performed upon and gets the action. A word or word group that completes the predicate in a
sentence is called a complement.

Answer 4: Based on the sentence structures, sentences can be divided into three types: Simple,
Compound and Complex. A simple Sentence is a sentence that has only one subject and one
predicate. A compound sentence consists of two or more main or independent clauses with or
without a subordinate. A Complex sentence is made up of an independent clause or a main clause
and one or more dependent clauses connected to each other with a subordinating conjunction.

Answer 5: Active Voice and Passive Voice denote the quality of the verb. They indicate when a
subject is the doer or the receiver of a particular action. In the Active Voice, the subject is the doer
of the action, while in the Passive Voice, the subject is the receiver (sufferer) of the action.

Long-Answer Type Questions

Answer 1: Based on the sentence structures, sentences can be divided into three types: Simple,
Compound and Complex.

Answer 2: Active Voice and Passive Voice denote the quality of the verb. They indicate when a
subject is the doer or the receiver of a particular action. In the Active Voice, the subject is the doer

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of the action, while in the Passive Voice, the subject is the receiver (sufferer) of the action. Refer
to section 1.8.

Answer 3: Words are divided into different classes according to their functions in a sentence.
Parts of speech indicate how the word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the
sentence. An individual word can function as more than one part of speech when used in different
circumstances. There are eight parts of speech in the English language: noun, pronoun, verb,
adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

Answer 4: Sentences can be classified into four broad types based on their function and purpose.
They are Declarative or Assertive Sentences, Interrogative Sentences, Imperative Sentences and
Exclamatory Sentences.

Answer 5: A sentence is a collection of words that represents a whole idea. It can alternatively
be defined as a collection of words that describe a whole idea and have a finite verb and an explicit
or implied subject.

Unit: 2 – Sentences 27
OBAC201: Functional English

13. REFERENCES

• “English for Adults.” BBC Skillswise (2023) www.bbc.co.uk/teach/skillswise/english/zjg4scw

• Grammarly. “The 8 Parts of Speech: Examples and Rules.” (2023)
www.grammarly.com/blog/parts-of-speech
• Martin, Wren &. 2017.High School English Grammar and Composition. S. Chand Publishing.
• Sentence Structure Introduction -Purdue University
(2023).https://owl.purdue.edu/owl_exercises/sentence_structure
• Thomson, Audrey J., and A. V. Martinet. (1986). A Practical English Grammar. Oxford
University Press.
• Walker, Phil. (2007). The Complete Grammar Handbook. Scholastic Inc.
• Wood, Frederick T. (1966). A Remedial English Grammar for Foreign Students. Macmillan.

Unit: 2 – Sentences 28