PART FOURTH.

STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS OF SENTENCES.

LESSON LVIII.

STRUCTURE OF THE SENTENCE.

A sentence is the expression of a complete thought in words. A sentence consists of two parts: the part of a sentence that shows what is spoken of is called the subject; the part that tells something about the thing spoken of is called the predicate.

The subject of a sentence consists of a noun (or of a word or words equivalent to a noun), alone or with additional words called adjuncts or modifiers. The subject noun without modifiers is called the grammatical or bare subject; as, Birds fly.

The grammatical subject with its modifiers is called the logical or complete subject; as,

The inhabitants of the little village are busy.

The predicate of a sentence is a verb, alone or with adjuncts. The predicate verb without adjuncts is called the grammatical or bare predicate; as, The sun rose.

Some verbs do not form a predicate alone. A verb that requires an additional word to complete the predicate is called a verb of incomplete predication.

1. When the predicate is completed by the object of the action, the verb is called transitive; as, War brings sorrow.

2. When the predicate is completed by an adjunct describing the subject, the verb is intransitive (or in the passive voice), and the completing adjunct is called a complement; as, The sky is blue; The boy was called John.

An intransitive verb of incomplete predication is sometimes called a copula, since it connects or couples the subject with a word describing the subject; as,

Washington was a patriot. She looks happy.

A transitive verb of incomplete predication is said to be factitive when it takes a complement which describes the direct object of the verb; as,

They made him captain. We set the prisoner free.

The grammatical predicate with its adjuncts is called the logical, or complete, predicate; as,

We are the prisoners of the night.

ELEMENTS OF A SENTENCE.

The elements of a sentence are words, phrases, or clauses. A phrase is a combination of words performing a distinct office in a sentence, but not having a subject and a predicate; as,

Birds in the thicket sing.

Phrases may be named according to their form:

1. A phrase introduced by a preposition is called a prepositional phrase; as,

The key to pleasure is honest work.

2. A phrase introduced by an infinitive is called an infinitive phrase; as,

The sun begins to gild the morning sky.

3. A phrase introduced by a participle is called a participial phrase; as,

The pillars supporting the roof are strong.

4. A phrase made up of an appositive noun and its modifiers is called an appositive phrase; as,

He comes, the herald of a noisy world.

Phrases may be named according to the office performed by each :

1. A phrase that performs the office of an adjective is called an adjective phrase; as,

We heard the roar of the ocean.

2. A phrase that performs the office of an adverb is called an adverbial phrase; as,

Once more he stept into the street.

3. A phrase that performs the office of a noun is called a substantive phrase; as,

To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first.

A clause is a combination of words performing a distinct office in a sentence, and having a subject and a predicate; as,

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

1. A clause that expresses the leading or principal thought of a sentence is called an independent or principal clause; as,

They trimmed the lamps as the sun went down.

2. A clause that depends upon some other part of the sentence for its full meaning is called a dependent or subordinate clause; as,

They trimmed the lamps as the sun went down.

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS.

The grammatical subject and the grammatical predicate are the principal elements of a sentence; as,

The shadows dance upon the wall.

SUBORDINATE ELEMENTS.

The modifiers of the principal elements in a sentence are called subordinate elements; as,

The light of smiles shall fill again

The lids that overflow with tears.

When the predicate verb is of incomplete predication, the object or the complement may be called a modifier of the grammatical predicate; as,

I. The sexton rang the bell.

2. My mirror is the mountain spring.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES.

Sentences may be simple, complex, or compound.

A sentence that expresses one thought is called a simple sentence; as,

The march of the human mind is slow.

A sentence consisting of one principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses is called a complex sentence; as,

Some murmur when their sky is clear.

A sentence made up of two or more independent members is called a compound sentence; as,

I listened, but I could not hear.