Simple Sentence (Step-65)

The simple Sentence

Study the following sentences:

(i) Birds fly.

(ii) He is working in the field.

(iii) I have completed my work.

(iv) They have been playing in the play ground.

(v) Who came here?

(vi) Father gave me a book.

Each of these sentences has a subject and a fine verb in its predicate phrase. A finite verb is a verb that show ‘tense’, present or past. A sentence which consists of only one clause that can stand by itself is called a Simple Sentence.

EXERCISE-1

Underline the finite verbs and pick out the Simple Sentences form the following list of sentences. (Remember that a simple sentence has only one clause with one finite verb in the predicate phrase).

1. The weather was cold.
2. They elected him secretary of the club.
3. Rabi is playing but his borher is speeping.
4. My neighbour lent me his bicycle.
5. I have bought a watch which shows the date.
6. Have you written the essay.
7. We haven’t met after he went to college.
8. They have painted the house, which now looks nice.
9. The train had left before I arrived at the station.
10. They have been studying for two hours.

 Kinds of Simple Sentences:

Simple sentences may be of the following kinds:

(A) Declarative/Affirmative- You are clever.

(B) Interrogative – Are you busy?

(C). Negative – He is not a doctor.

(D) Interrogative and Negative- Is that movie not interesting?

(E) Imperative- Be careful.

(F) Exclamatory – How clever he is!

(A) Declarative/Affirmative:

1. My father is a teacher.
2. He went to Puri yesterday.
3. Ramesh will surely win the prize this year.
4. He looks tired.

Each of the above sentences is a statement. Sentences (i) and (ii) state facts and sentences (iii) and (iv) state opinions.

Look at the main patterns of the simple sentence sin English. Note the different parts of the sentences in each pattern.

1. Subject + Verb	Subject	Verb (Intransitive)
i.	The child	Laughed
ii.	She	Was shouting
iii.	The sun	Has set.

2.  Subject + Verb + Object	Subject	Verb (Transitive)	Object
i.	Somebody	Caught	The ball
ii.	The boy	Wrote	an essay
iii.	The postman	rang	the  bell
iv.	We	may buy	a computer.

3.  Subject + Verb + Object+ Object	Subject	Verb (Transitive)	Object(Direct)	Object(Indirect)
i.	The postman	gave	me	a letter.
ii.	His father	bought	him	a bicycle.
iii.	The teacher	asked	the boys	a question.
iv.

4.  Subject + Verb + Complement	Subject	Verb	Complement
i.	Mr Rath	Is	A doctor
ii.	This pen	Is	Cheap
iii.	She	Looks	Beautiful
iv.	Mary	Is	In the house
v.	He	Became	Tired
vi.	He	Appears	Innocent
vii.	He	Has	Confidence
viii.	I	Feel	Cold
Ix	This flower	Smells	sweet

(For details see Class IX Grammar book)

4.  Subject + Verb + Object +Complement	Subject	Verb(Transitive)	Object	Complement
i.	We	Have proved	Him	Wrong
ii.	They	Elected	Him	Chairman
iii.	The book	Has made	Him	Famous

Adjuncts  additional elements which can be added.

They are not essential parts, but may be necessary to make the sentences more meaningful.

Examples:

(i) SVA – The child laughed loudly. (Adjunct)

(ii) SVOA – The boy wrote an essay in the class. (Adjunct)

(B) Interrogative sentences:

Sentences which are used to ask question are called ‘Interrogative Sentences: An interrogative sentence may be a ‘Yes’/ ‘No’ question or a ‘Wh-“ question.

Did you go to Cuttack? (‘Yes/No’ question)

Who broke the window? (‘Wh-‘ question)

(C). Negative:

Sentences which are used to deny, to refuse , to disagree with someone or something is called negative sentence.

(D) Interrogative and Negative- Is that movie not interesting?

…..

(E) Imperative Sentences:

• Pass me the salt.
• Please have another cup of tea.
• Rise early in the morning.
• March ahead, soldiers.
• Have mercy upon us.
• Take this medicine after food.
• Beware of the dog.
• Have a good time.
• Let’s go for a walk.

In these sentences the subject ‘you’ is not mentioned. These sentences express an order(i), a request (ii) , advice (iii), command (iv), prayer (v), instruction (vi), warning (vii), good wishes (viii), suggestion (ix). In such sentences:

• The subject ‘you ‘ is usually not expressed.
• The verb is in the base form.
• The sentence can be made negative.
• It has no change in tense, aspect, voice and modality.

(F) Exclamatory Sentence:

Look at the following sentences:

• How beautifully she dances!
• What a clever boy he is!
• How fast time flies!
• What a fine singer he is!

Sentences such as these express ‘surprise’, ‘admiration’, ‘sorrow’ and other feelings in an emphatic way. They are known as ‘Exclamatory sentences’.

Exclamatory sentences usually begin with ‘How’ or ‘What’. Moreover, an exclamation mark (!) is put at the end of the exclamatory sentence.

EXERCISE-2

Turn the following sentences into exclamation with ‘How/What’:

Example: I am very unfortunate.

-How unfortunate I am!

He is a very stupid boy.

-What a stupid boy he is!

• it is a very interesting story.
• That was shocking news.
• He speaks very quickly.
• The weather is very pleasant today.
• You are very selfish.
• He is playing very badly today.
• He has got very sharp memory.

Exercise-3

How to make a bowl of boiled rice? Use the given verbs in the correct blank spaces to complete the instructions:

[pour, keep, cover, wash, take, put]

___________ a cup of rice, ___________ It properly in a bowl and ___________ it separately. _________ a pot on fire with three cups of water in it. When the water starts to boil, _________ in the washed rice. _________ the port with a lid and let the rice simmer for five minutes. Then the rice grains will be tender and it will be ready to serve.

                                                    AFFIRMATION & NEGATION

All the sentences given as examples of Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative and Exclamatiry sentences express something in a positive way. They affirm something. They are ‘Affirmative’ sentences.

Now look at the following sentences.

He is not a student.

She never goes to the cinema.

Isn’t he sincere?

Don’t come here.

We have used negative markers such as ‘not’ (or n’t) and ‘never’ in these sentences. Theses sentences are negative  in meaning and are called “Negative Sentences”.