The way words are placed or arranged in a sentence is called word order. It is important to place these words correctly in order to express your thoughts and ideas. The word order also affects the meaning of a sentence.
In an English sentence, the basic word order is Subject + Verb + Object
Example:
Subject
Verb
Object
Maria
drinks
wine.
I
play
hockey.
When we want to tell more about the verb, we use adverbs. If more than one adverb is used, we have to follow the order of adverbs.
Structure: Subject + Verb + Object + Adverb Of Place + Adverb Of Time Place usually comes before Time.
Subject
Verb
Object
Place
Time
She
sees
Alberto
at the gym
every morning.
We
arrived
home
at 9 o’clock.
I
walk
to school
every morning.
The adverb of time can also be used at the beginning of a sentence.
Example:
Every Sunday, he goes to the park.
Today, I’m quitting my job.
Note: Time is placed at the beginning of the sentence but the rest of the sentence follows the word order (S+V+O).
Tips:
Place or Time should never be placed between the verb and the object.
A complex sentence is formed when an independent clause (simple sentence) is joined with one or more dependent clauses. This form of sentence is mainly used to provide more details to explain the main point. Usually, a comma is used to separate the clauses.
In most cases, subordinating conjunctions are used to link the independent clause to a dependent clause. They are placed at the beginning of a dependent clause or right after the independent clause.
Examples of subordinating conjunctions: although, like, because, even though, if, since, whenever.
The order of clauses is of no bearing when writing complex sentences. You can switch them as long as the sentence makes sense.
Structure:
Independent clause + dependent clause
Dependent clause (,) + independent clause
Examples of Complex Sentences with more than two clauses.
While they agreed to take part in the project, I don’t seem to see their enthusiasm, and whenever I brought up the topic, they try to downplay the issue. (4 clauses)
Since they started dating, everyone thinks they are a perfect couple, whereas they are actually just trying to maintain their public image. (3 clauses)
The home confinement measure was implemented in March 2020, and although it was supposed to last only until the end of June, it continued until the end of September. (3 clauses)
Tips:
The use of a comma depends on which clause the sentence begins with.
If the complex sentence starts with a dependent clause, place a comma between it and the independent clause. If the complex sentence starts with an independent clause, no comma is required.
Example:
Incorrect
Correct
Now that he’s wealthy and famous, people tend to put up with his eccentricity, something he was not granted with in the past.
Now that he’s wealthy and famous, people tend to put up with his eccentricity, something he was not granted with in the past.
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We can’t always have control over the conditions and events in our lives. However, we have the ability to choose how we think and feel about our circumstances, as well as how we respond to them. The activities we do always have an effect on our physical and mental health.
Read this article to learn about some creative activities that can make you happier.
What does “play a role” mean? “They may also play a role in morbidity and mortality, weight distribution, blood pressure, and other physical qualities.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
Define “safe outlet” in this context. “Activities such as singing and dancing are transformational because they enable us to process a variety of emotions either by providing a safe outlet for their expression or their release.” Make a sentence with this phrase in this context.
What does “partake in” mean? “Generally, any activity that you take the time to partake in outside of your daily routine can improve your mental and physical well-being.” Use this in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
What do you think of the activities mentioned in the article?
What are some examples of creative activities that you personally find bring you happiness?
Do you think there is a connection between creativity and personal happiness? Why or why not?
Are there any potential downsides or challenges associated with relying on creative activities for happiness?
How do you incorporate creative activities into your daily or weekly routine to enhance your own happiness?
Breastfeeding is a natural and essential way for mothers to nourish their newborns. Mothers produce a special kind of milk that provides all the necessary nutrients for a baby’s growth and development. It also promotes a strong bond between the mother and the baby, creating a sense of closeness and security.
In this lesson, a social experiment was conducted, where people tested how others react to breastfeeding in public.
What does “social experiment” mean? “People created a social experiment to see how others really react to breastfeeding in public spaces. Part of the experiment showed a situation on the tube in London.” Use it in a sentence.
What does “increasingly” mean? “The man became increasingly louder.” Use it in a sentence.
What does “step in” mean? “One of the passengers stepped in” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
What are your initial thoughts and feelings about the social experiment? Elaborate.
Should breastfeeding in public be considered a normal and acceptable practice? Why / Why not?
What are some ways society can promote and normalize breastfeeding in public spaces while respecting the comfort of all individuals involved?
Should there be designated breastfeeding areas in public spaces, or should mothers have the right to breastfeed anywhere they feel comfortable? Talk about it.
Having a pet dog is a joyful experience. They offer constant companionship, playfulness, and unconditional love, brightening our lives every day. The simple presence of a furry friend can bring immense happiness and warmth to our homes.
Let’s read the article below to learn more about a dog and his owner that gone viral.
What does “go viral” mean? “A video has gone viral of a dog named Sydney driving his owner around on a motorbike in Indonesia.” Use it in a sentence.
What does “glare” mean? “The dog wears a pair of thick sunglasses to protect his eyes from any glare on the road.” Use it in a sentence.
What does “lap upsomething” mean? “The duo is lapping up some limelight at the moment, all because it is something that we are not used to seeing, but the dog’s owner said that this is actually completely normal in Indonesia.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
What are your initial thoughts and feelings upon hearing about this viral video of a dog driving a motorbike? Why do you think it became so popular?
How important is trust in the relationship between humans and their pets?
How do you think the internet and social media platforms impact the spread of viral videos and stories like this one? What are the pros and cons of this phenomenon?
What are some personal stories or experiences related to pets or animals that have had a significant impact on your life or cultural perspectives?
Punctuating a sentence correctly may sometimes seem difficult and discretionary. But with informed choices, you can get rid of assumptions in proper punctuation of sentence.
Here are the eight punctuation patterns.
Pattern 1: Simple Sentence
Use a period to punctuate one independent clause that is consist of a subject and a verb.
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts.
Pattern 2: Compound Sentence
Use a comma after the first independent clause that is before a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so ) and then followed by another independent clause.
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts; they have not implemented new measures to resolve it.
Note: The two clauses must have a logical relation and be grammatically stand-alone sentences.
Pattern 4: Compound Sentence
Use semicolon and independent marker/conjunctive adverb with the compound sentence. Examples of independent markers:therefore, finally, consequently, moreover, thus, likewise, consequently, however, also.
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts;however, they have not implemented new measures to resolve it.
Note: Place a comma after the transition word/independent marker. When clauses are too wordy and complex, semicolons are used to separate two balanced main clauses joined together by a coordinating conjunction. This makes it easier for the reader to understand the sentence.
Pattern 5: Complex Sentence
Start the complex sentence with a dependent marker. Examples of dependent markers: because, before, since, while, even though, although, if, unless, until, when, after, as, as if
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts because it has never been a major issue.
Note: No comma is required in this pattern.
Pattern 7:
This uses an additional, non-essential clause or phrase after the independent clause. Removing the non-essential clause should not alter the context of the sentence.
These embedded phrases are used to enhance the clause but are not required to make the clause to stand alone.
First part of an independent clause [ , ] non-essential clause or phrase, rest of the independent clause [ . ]
Example:
Educators, from public and private sectors, are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts.
Note: Place a comma before and after the non-essential clause.
Pattern 8:
This uses an additional, essential clause or phrase after the first independent clause. Removing the non-essential clause can alter the context of the sentence.
First part of an independent clause essential clause or phrase rest of the independent clause [ . ]
Example:
Educators who are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts have convened a committee to address the issue.
A prefix is one or more letters added before a base word to change its meaning. Prefixes have different functions. They may make the word negative (-un, in), by showing repetition (-re), or by showing support (-pro).
Prefixes are mostly used to shorten phrases. For example, if you want to say that someone is “eating too much“, you can simply say that they are “overeating“.
Here is a list of prefixes from a-z and their meaning and examples.
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ab
away, from
abstract, abort, abrupt
a
not or without, a state of being
atypical, amoral, anew
ad
to, toward, near
adjust, adapt, adverb
ambi
both
ambivalent, ambilateral
ante-
before
anteroom, antechoir
anti-
against, opposing
antibiotic, antibacterial
arch
chief, most important
archenemy, archbishop
a
at, in, on, to
awake
at
to, toward
attend
auto
self
automatic, autobiography
be
cause to be
bespoke, belittle
bene
good
benefactor, benediction
bi
two, twice
bicycle, billingual
circum-
around
circumference, circuit
co
with, together
collude, coalition
con
jointly
connect, consensus
contra
against
contraindicate, contraceptive
counter
opposite
counteract, counterbalance
co-
with
co-author, co-parent
deca
ten
decagon, decagram
demi
half
demibillionaire, demivoice
de-
off, down, away from
descend, deactivate, declog
dia
through, across
diagonal, diagram
dis-
opposite of, not
disadvantage, discredit
di
two
dilemma
dys
bad, abnormal
dyslexia
em-
cause to
embitter, empower
em-, en-
cause to, put into
enlighten, embody
en-
to cause, provide
ensure
endo
internal
endoscopy
epi-
upon, close to, after
epidemic, epilogue
equi
equal
equilibrium
ethno
race, nation
ethnocentric
ex-
former, out of
ex-wife, exclude
extra-
outside, beyond
extramarital, extracurricular
fore-
before
forefather, foresee
homo-
same
homonym, homosexual
hyper-
beyond, more than, more than normal
hypersensitive, hyperbole
im-,-in
in
improper, influence
il-, im-, in-, ir-
not
illogical, impossible, inappropriate, irrational
infra-
beneath, below
infrastructure, infrahuman
im-, in-
into
inject, imbibe
inter-, intra-
between
interact, intravenous
macro-
large
macrolanguage, macrohistory
micro-
small
microchip, microorganism
mid-
middle
midterm, midpoint
mis-
wrongly
misuse, mismanage
mono-
one, singular
monologue, monopoly
non-
not, without
nonfiction, nonpayment
omni-
all, every
omnipresent, omniscience
over-
over
overrule, overkill
para-
beside, closely related
paragraph, paradigm
post-
after
postgame, postseason
pre-
before
prenatal, prenuptial
re-
again
restart, relive
semi-
half
semicircle, semiformal
sub-
under
submarine, subordinate, subtitle
therm-
heat
thermal, thermonuclear
trans-
across, beyond
translucent, transparent
tri-
three
tristate, triathlon, tricolor
under-
under
underpay, undergo
un-
not
unable, uncommon, unhappy
uni-
one
unicameral, unison
Tips:
When to use hyphens with prefixes:
a. Prefix with a proper nounexcept for the word “transatlantic“, the only word that does not follow this rule on proper nouns.
pro-China protesters
trans-American flights
b. If the word with the prefix already exists, use a hyphen.
resign = voluntarily leave a job or other position
re-sign = sign (a document) again
c.all-, ex– (former), and self–
all-knowing
ex-husband
self-care
The prefix ex- has two different meanings (“out from,” and “in the past”). Only use a hyphen when the meaning of ex- is “former” or “in the past.”
Note:
The prefix “extra” does not need a hyphen if it means “outside of“.
