Improve your Sentence Structure

Improve your sentence structure

In O-level English Language paper, students must be aware of some common errors in sentence structure formation especially while using punctuation marks. Lack of this awareness results in sentence fragmentation and run-together errors. Here are some important guidelines to help you improve your sentence structure through accurate use of punctuations, transitional expressions and conjunctions which will make your sentence more meaningful and powerful.

Improve your sentence structure.

•  Never write two complete sentences with two complete thoughts as one sentence.

If there are two complete sentences or two main clauses present in a sentence then they should be separated by a full stop.

For example:

I bought a used table this winters from a friend at school it needed several repairs.

Here ‘I’ is the subject 1 and ‘bought’ is a verb 1 and ‘from a friend at school’ gives us the complete information of the first subject. Similarly, ‘it’ is a subject 2 and ‘needed’ is a verb 2 and ‘several repairs’ tells us something about the second subject in that sentence. Both are complete sentences/clauses with complete thoughts and thus have to be separated by a full stop. In a sentence if there are two complete thoughts or two main clauses, divide them with a full stop. Do not write them as one sentence.

I bought a used table this winters from a friend at school. It needed several repairs.

•  Separate two complete thoughts with a semi colon when the second clause is introduced with a transitional expression or conjunctive adverbs (A conjunctive adverb creates a relationship between ideas in the sentence).

Instead of a full stop, use a semi colon in a sentence to separate two main clauses. Here the two clauses should be closely related. Semi colons are often used to separate two complete sentences or clauses when the second main clause begins with a transitional word or expression (also, besides, furthermore, however, meanwhile, nevertheless, still, then, therefore, so on).

For example:

Years have passed since I came here now the house speaks of the lost past.

‘Years’ is the subject 1 and verb 1 is ‘have passed’, ‘the house’ is subject 2 and ‘covered’ is verb 2. See that both the clauses are closely related both can stand alone as a sentence. As the thoughts are connected the both clauses can be separated with a semicolon just before the transitional word ‘now’

Years have passed since I came here; now the house speaks of the lost past.

• Use a comma instead a semi colon to separate a main clause with a dependent/subordinate clause introduced with a subordinate conjunction (A subordinating conjunction only connects clauses and in doing so creates a subordinate clause).

Such sentences have two clauses. The first clause is an independent clause. The second clause is closely related to the first in explaining about the subject of the main clause. By adding a subordinate conjunction a relationship between the two clauses is made even clearer. A comma is written before a subordinate conjunction.

The bus was late Maheen missed her train connection.

‘bus’ is subject one and ‘late’ is first There is a run-together sentence here. To correct a comma, full stop or a semicolon should be added at the end of first clause followed by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so on).

This is correct but weak

The bus was late, and Maheen missed her train connection.

However, the relationship would be even clearer if a subordinating conjunction is introduced.

This is correct.

Maheen missed her train connection since her bus was late.

This is correct and improved

Because her bus was late, Maheen missed her train connection.

Some common subordinate conjunctions

To make the time of an event clear use the following subordinate conjunctions in the subordinate clause.
After	As though	since	When
Although		Though	Whenever
As	Before	Unless	While
As of	If	until
To show the cause of something use because or since in the dependent or subordinate clause

Note: If the dependent clause comes in the beginning of the sentence then add a comma after it. If it comes after the main clause, no comma is required.