Sentence Types

本次课讲述了英语句子(clause)的所有类型, 和它们的常见组合。

adjective clause: 形容词性的句子, 即定语从句.

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什么是一个英语句子: What is a clause?

subject + verb， 主语+动词(谓语)

其中subject可以是单个，或者2个以上(compound subject), 也算作1个clause。

(subject and subject) + verb

Tom and Jerry went out.

verb也可以是单个，或者2个以上(compound verb), 也算作1个clause。

subject + (verb and verb)

They went home and slept.

甚至两个以上的subject + 2个以上verb，也算作1个clause。

(subject and subject) + (verb and verb)

Tom and Jerry went home and slept.

但是，这种类型不是1个clause.

**WRONG**: Sub1 verb1 + sub2 verb2

Tom went home and Jerry went to bed.

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单个的Clause只有两种类型

Independent Clause

可以独立成句。

The man said.
Giraffes are tall.

Dependent Clause

1. 不能独立成句

2. 包含：subordinating conjunction(辅助性的连词)或者relative pronoun(关系代词)

subordinating conjunction

After	Even though	Unless
Although	If	Until
As/As if	Now that	What
As long as	Once	When
As soon as	Since	Whenever
Because	So that	Wherever
Before	That	Whether
Even if	Though	While
(more…)

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多个Clauses的组合: Sentence的类型

Simple Sentence, 简单句

Only ONE Independent Clause + some Modifiers

My red cell phone broke the day before yesterday.

• subject: cell phone
• verb: broke
• modifiers: my, red, the day before yesterday

这种简单句的语气很Strong，尤其是连续几句都是简单句. 
如果通篇都是简单句，那它就好比通篇所有字母都大写一样！！

Complex Sentence, 复杂句

Only ONE Independent Clause + ONE(or more) Dependent clause + some Modifiers

Although he was late, the teacher was not angry.

• dependent clause: Although he was late
• independent clause: the teacher was not angry.

Complex sentence中, **independent clause**表达的意思比**dependent clause**的意思更重要。

Complex复杂句的逗号使用

My cell phone broke when I dropped it on the ground.

When I dropped it on the ground, my cell phone broke.

Compound Sentence, 复合句

TWO or More Independent Clauses + modifiers.

Compound句子里每个Independent clauses的权重是一样的。一共有**三种**Compound Sentences.

TYPE #1

Independent Clause, Coordinator + Independent Clause.

Coordinators: 也叫FANBOYS，连接两个”equal”的independent clauses.

Coordinating Conjunction

F - For

A - And

N - Nor

B - But

O - Or

Y - Yet

S - So

nor = neither?
I don’t know this, neither/nor does he.

yet = but?
——"yet" indicates "surprise".

Writing is challenging yet rewarding.

这是一个simple sentence, 而且是由一个subject+一个verb组成的最简单的clause(第一类)。

practice

Punctuate: “Will you come over or let me go to your office?”

My answer: “Will you come over, or let me go to your office?”

It is a question version of IC, coordinator IC sentence.

TYPE #2

Independent Clause; Conjunctive Adverb(连接副词) + Independent Clause.

My cell phone broke yesterday; therefore, I had to buy a new one.

Conjunctive Adverbs(连接副词)

Additionally/Also	Instead
Besides	Likewise
Consequently	Meanwhile
Conversely	Moreover
Furthermore	Nevertheless
However	Nonetheless
In addition	Similarly
In contrast	Therefore
(more…)

学会使用：
http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/
勾选：academic
look for pattern.

比如"however", 可以找到如下patterns:

XXX. However, XXX
XXX, however, XXXX
XXXXX, however.
XXXX; however, XXXX

I like sports cars. However, I cannot afford them.
I like sports cars. I, however, cannot afford them.
I like sports cars. I cannot, however, afford them.
I like sports cars; however, I cannot afford them.(更紧凑，其实比较少见）

网页中# means a new line.

TYPE #3

Independent Clause; Independent Clause.

My cell phone broke the day after I bought it; his cell phone had broken within the first week, as well.

分号;等价于 , and.

分号连接的这种复合句只有在两个clauses的意思非常相关的时候才行。

Compound-Complex Sentence

TWO and More Independent Clauses & ONE or More Dependent Clauses + some Modifiers

Although my cell phone broke the day before yesterday, I bought a new screen, and I was able to fix it.

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多样的句子类型为何重要

因为只用一种类型的sentence会很BORING.

• Too many simple sentences sound “choppy.”
• Too many compound sentences are boring when the conjunctions are all the same.
• Too many of the same type of complex sentences can make an annoying pattern!
• Too many long sentences makes it difficult to find the emphasis.

Language is Music…

This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
So write with a combination of short, medium, and long sentences. Create a sound that pleases the reader’s ear. Don’t just write words. Write music.