Which word group is a complete sentence

The sentence is the most significant grammatical unit, which consists of words, phrases, and clauses. The grammar of any language is organized based on this largest structural unit. Though innumerable definitions of the sentence exist, there is no complete, perfect, or undisputable definition.

As we don’t have any perfect definition of the sentence, it is better to know its essential characteristics. I have identified 11 characteristics of a sentence. If any of the features I am about to mention is not found in a sentence, we cannot consider it a complete sentence.

1. A sentence must have a group of words.
2. A complete sentence makes complete sense.
3. Every sentence must contain a subject.
4. The verb is the mandatory element of a sentence.
5. A sentence has two parts—subject and predicate.
6. Every sentence contains at least one or more clauses.
7. A sentence must have a definite communicative function.
8. Every sentence begins with a capital letter.
9. All sentences end with a punctuation mark.
10. There are five functional categories of sentences.
11. Sentences are of four types based on their structure.

A Sentence Must Have a Group of Words

When children acquire any language, they go through different stages, starting from the babbling stage and gradually to the one-word, two-word, and finally, the telegraphic stage. In language learning, the ultimate goal of a learner is to make complete sentences. So, what is a sentence?

A sentence is the largest structural unit of a language that must have a group of words. This is the most significant characteristic of a complete sentence.

Example 1: Rashid is a very brilliant boy.

Example 2: He likes sweets.

The above sentences are ideal examples of complete sentences. The first one consists of six words, and the second one has three words. Both sentences have a group of words, and they fulfill the other conditions of being a complete sentence.

A Complete Sentence Makes Complete Sense

One of the essential characteristics of a complete sentence lies in its meaningfulness. If you put a group of words together, but they cannot make any sense as a whole, we cannot consider it a sentence. Thus, to qualify as a complete sentence, a sentence has to be completely meaningful.    

Incomplete sentence: Goes he every day gym to the. (Does not make any sense)

Complete sentence: He goes to the gym every day. (Makes complete sense)

The above examples show that just having a few words together may not make sense all the time. Therefore, to have a complete sentence, the words should be put in a sensible order to make total sense.  

Every Sentence Must Contain a Subject

The subject is a mandatory element of a sentence. A sentence is all about its subject because a sentence talks about the action of the subject or its being or existence. A subject is either a noun or a pronoun; it can be the name of a person, thing, place, or anything.

Example 1: Sadik plays football well. (Sadik—a person, is the subject of this sentence. The sentence is all about an action of Sadik that is “playing football.”)

Example 2:  Sadik is an intelligent boy. (Sadik—a person is the subject of this sentence. The sentence is all about the being or existence of Sadik)

Note: Some sentences may not have a visible subject but can be understood in the meaning. In most cases, they are imperative sentences.

Example 3: Please, call the police.

Example 3 is a request to someone. This kind of statement is used when we directly talk to someone. In such a situation, though we omit the word “you,” it can be understood that the subject is “you.”

Verb Is the Mandatory Element of a Sentence

The verb is an essential component of any English sentence. We can’t think of any clause or sentence without a verb. Though a sentence may have more than one verb and there can be different types and forms of verbs, a sentence must have a finite verb and a subject in the minimum.

Example 1: We like to play cricket. (“Play” is a finite/main verb in this sentence)

Example 2: He writes very well.  (“Write” is a finite/main verb in this sentence)

Example 3: My brother is a teacher. (“Is” is the finite/main verb in this sentence)

Note: Don’t get confused between finite/main or non-finite/auxiliary verbs. Am, is, are, was, were, etc., are usually considered auxiliary verbs. Still, in many cases, they can play the role of finite verbs, as we see in example 3.    

A Sentence Has Two Parts—Subject and Predicate

Subject and predicate are two different parts of a complete sentence. The subject tells us what or who the sentence is about, and the predicate tells us about the subject. The subject is always a noun or a pronoun. At the same time, the predicate is usually the rest of the sentence that must contain the verb and a modifier when necessary.

Example 1: Steve Jobs was a brilliant guy.

“Steve Jobs” is the subject here whom the sentence is talking about, and “was a brilliant guy” is the predicate that tells us about the subject—Steve Jobs.

Example 2: The children are playing football in front of the house.

“The children” is the subject here whom the sentence is talking about, and “are playing football in front of the house” is the predicate that tells us about the subject— The children.

Every Sentence Contains One or More Clauses

A complete sentence must have at least one clause. Depending on the structure or number of clauses, we can have four kinds of sentences. No matter whether a sentence is assertive or imperative, simple or compound, it must have a clause or more than one clause.

Example 1: It may rain today. (One-clause sentence)

Example 2: Please wait right here until your brother comes. (Two-clause sentence)

Note: There are two kinds of clauses—independent and dependent. A sentence without and an independent clause is not a complete sentence at all. To have a clear understanding of the clause, you can check one of my other posts titled A Quick Guide on Clauses: Definition, Classification with Examples.

A Sentence Must Have a Definite Communicative Function

The purpose of uttering any sentence is to communicate. We communicate for so many reasons. Among them, let me mention four main reasons.

• To provide information about something or someone

Example: Rana is a bright student.

• To find or ask for information about someone or something from someone

Example: Is Rana a good student?

• To ask someone to do something

Example: Sit down, please.

• To express feelings or attitudes about someone or something

Example: How cute the baby is!

All the above example sentences serve the sole purpose which is communication. So, having a definite communicative function is one of the essential characteristics of a sentence. 

Every Sentence Begins with a Capital Letter

One of the common characteristics of a complete sentence is that it begins with a Capital letter. No matter what kind of sentence you write, you must start the sentence with a capital letter.  

Incorrect: this is my cousin. his name is John.

Correct: This is my cousin. His name is John.

All Sentences End with a Punctuation Mark

If a sentence does not end with any punctuation mark, that sentence is not considered a complete sentence. Sentences usually end in one of the three punctuation marks—full stop/period (.), question mark (?), and Exclamatory mark (!).

Example 1: Allah helps those who help them.

Example 2: Are you from India?

Example 3: What a beautiful moon this is!

Note: The function of the sentence determines the punctuations marks. The question mark is used for interrogative sentences, and the exclamatory sign is used for exclamatory sentences. The full stop/period is used for any other category of sentences.

There Are Five Functional Categories of Sentences

English sentences can be categorized based on their functions and structures. There are five types of sentences in English, considering their function or meaning. They are:

1. Assertive
2. Interrogative
3. Imperative
4. Optative
5. Exclamatory

To learn these five functional types of English sentences in detail with relevant examples, you can read one of my other posts titled Types of Sentences Based on Their Function.

Sentences Are of Four Types Based on Their Structure

English sentences can be categorized based on their structures and functions. There are four types of sentences in English, considering their structures or forms. They are:

1. Simple
2. Complex
3. Compound
4. Compound-complex

If you are interested to know about the above-mentioned categories of sentences, you can read one of my other posts titled Types of Sentences Based on Their Structure.

In Conclusion

Now we know the different essential characteristics of a sentence. Since having a complete definition of a sentence in just a few words is difficult, it is better to remember all the attributes of a complete sentence. Understanding these characteristics will help us to identify whether a sentence is grammatically correct or incorrect.

I hope the above discussion will provide you with a guide to learning how a complete sentence should be.

Thanks for reading.

Happy learning!

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought and contains a subject and a predicate. The most basic sentence structure consists of only one clause. However, many sentences have one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

The standard order of words in an English sentence is subject + verb + object. While this sounds simple, it may be difficult to identify the subject(s), verb(s), and object(s), depending on the structure and complexity of the sentence. There are four types of sentence structure: (1) simple, (2) compound, (3) complex, and (4) compound-complex.

Types of sentence structures

Sentence Structures in Academic Writing

Simple Sentence Structure

A simple sentence is the most basic sentence structure and consists of a single independent clause.

Types of clauses

An independent clause expresses a full thought. Only independent clauses can function as complete sentences.

In contrast, a dependent clause does not express a full thought and cannot function as a complete sentence.

A dependent clause starts with either a relative pronoun or subordinating conjunction.

Common subordinating conjunctions

because, since, once, although, if, until, unless, why, while, whether, than, that, in order to

Common relative pronouns

that, which, who, whom, whoever, whomever

Subject of a sentence

The subject is whatever is performing the action of the sentence. This is the first of the two basic components of a sentence.

Predicate of a sentence

The predicate contains the verb (the action) and can include further clarifying information.

Direct and Indirect Objects

The direct object is the person, thing, or idea that receives an action.

The indirect object is the person, thing, or idea for which an action is being done.

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

A transitive verb is the action the subject takes on a direct object.

Here, “we” is the subject, “fabricated” is the transitive verb, and “a composite” is the direct object.

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not have to be followed by an object. Intransitive verbs can function as predicates all on their own.

“We” and “I” are the subjects; “arrived” and “eat” are intransitive verbs.

Subject Complement

A subject complement complements the subject by renaming or describing it. Subject complements always follow a linking verb, which is often a form of the verb “to be.”

“Gold composite” renames the subject “the material.”

“Pretty” describes the subject “Charlotte.”

Compound Sentence Structure

A compound sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon. Note that US English conventions dictate that coordinating conjunctions must be used with a comma when joining independent clauses.

Structure of a Compound Sentence: Independent clause + coordinating conjunction (or semicolon) + independent clause
List of coordinating conjunctions: and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so

Complex Sentence Structure

A complex sentence is composed of an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Structure of a Complex Sentence: Independent clause + subordinating conjunction (or relative pronoun) + dependent clause

Compound-Complex Sentence Structure

A compound-complex sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Structure of a Compound-Complex Sentence: Independent clause + subordinating conjunction + dependent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause

In this article, we will discuss what is sentence in English?, Parts of sentence, and Types of sentences: Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamatory sentences.

A sentence is a group of words that helps a person to express himself.

In every communication, there is a need of a group of words to communicate. Such a group of words, which can communicate a complete message is called a sentence.

For Example:

• I am going to school.
• James is a doctor.
• What is your name?
• My name is Tony.

In any language,

• Letters help in making words.
• Words help in making Sentences.
• Sentences help in making Paragraphs.

Actually, a sentence is a collection of meaningful words that helps to share our thoughts or ideas with other persons.

To write or speak any language, you need words. These meaningful word helps to create a sentence which helps a person to express himself.

A sentence can be one word or more than one word, means if a single word is sufficient to express himself than that word is also a sentence.

For example,

• Mother: Do you want to go to school?
• Son: No.
• Mother: Why?
• Son: I am not feeling well today.

In the above example, all are the sentences, because all these single words are sufficient to express himself. If you convey a message in a single word, so that is also called a sentence.

A group of words doesn’t mean it makes a sentence, those words which make complete sense (you can understand), is called a Sentence.

Actually, Sentences are arranged in a systematic way that gives us complete sense.

Example 1:

• Rahul is reading a book. ✔
• book rahul a reading is. ✘

Example 2:

• John is a Good Boy.   ✔
• Boy is good John.     ✘

Parts of Sentence

Every sentence consists of two parts:

Subject + Predicate

Subject:

A subject is what we are talking about. It can be a noun or pronoun that performs some action.

What is being told about that sentence is the subject of that sentence.

The subject is a noun or pronoun, which has been being talked about or that which is doing that work.

Predicate:

Predicate shows some details about the subject. It contains a verb that explains about the subject or what subject is doing and also contains objects that are affected by the subject’s actions.

For Example,

• I love you.
• You are beautiful
• He opened the door.
• Rohit pushed sunny.

Types of Sentence

• Assertive or Declarative sentence (statement: fact, opinion or an idea)
• Interrogative sentence (question)
• Imperative sentence (command: order, advice, or request)
• Exclamatory sentence (exclamation)

Assertive or Declarative sentence

Those sentences make statements or assertions. These sentences can be a fact, opinion, or idea.

For example,

• John is a good boy.
• Snow is white.
• I love chocolates.
• Gold is Yellow.
• The sun rises in the east.

Interrogative sentence

Such sentences are used to ask questions. If someone asks you a question than it is an interrogative sentence.

These types of sentences are asked to take information and always end with a question (?) mark.

For example,

• What is your name?
• Are you playing?
• Did he come here?
• Do you speak the truth?

Imperative sentence

Such sentences are used to permit command or request.

When someone gives you order, advice, or request, then those are imperative sentences.

For example,

• Open the door.
• Be quiet.
• Never tell a lie.
• Come to the park.
• Always respect elders.
• Never speak to me like that again.
• Everybody look!
• Relax, everybody.
• Nobody move!
• You keep out of this!

Exclamatory sentence

Such sentences are used to express strong emotions.

These are sudden and strong emotions, there has been an expression of a sudden feeling in the mind.

These types of sentences end with an exclamation mark (!).

For example,

• What a shame!
• Wow, he just won a gold medal!
• What a liar he is!
• My god!
• Wow!
• How lovely to see you!

you can read this article: What is noun? and Types of Noun

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