Sentence Structure

What is Sentence Structure?

Sentence structure is a grammatical element that dictates the precise placement of each component within a sentence to create cohesion and meaning. The Collins Dictionary defines sentence structure as “the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences.” In essence, sentence structure determines how a sentence appears and sounds.

Basic Parts of a Sentence

Before delving into the mechanics of sentence structure, it’s essential to understand the fundamental composition of a sentence and its constituent elements.

Parts of a Sentence:

In the English language, a sentence comprises at least a subject and a predicate. Put simply, a sentence necessitates both a subject and a verb.

1)     Subject:

The subject, which can be a noun or pronoun, performs the action in a sentence. It answers the question ‘who’ and typically occupies the initial position in declarative or assertive sentences.

For example:

• The cat is sleeping.
• Alice completed her assignment.
• Children are playing in the park.

2)     Predicate:

The verb denotes the action undertaken by the subject in the sentence.

For example:

• He plays the guitar every weekend.
• The chef prepared a delicious meal.
• The river flows gently through the valley.