Examples of two word sentences

Sentence Patterns – The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What this handout is about

This handout gives an overview of English sentence patterns. It will help you identify subjects, verbs, and clause connectors so you can analyze your writing style and improve it by using a variety of sentence patterns.
Click here for a one page summary of the English sentence patterns discussed on this handout.

Subjects, Verbs, and Clauses

In its simplest form, an English sentence has two parts: a subject and a verb that express a complete thought when they are together.

• The subject shows who or what is doing the action. It is always some form of noun or pronoun.
• The verb shows the action or the state of being. It can be an action verb, like “run,” or a state verb, like “seem.”

Examples of simple two word sentences include:

Marvin slept.

Dogs bark.

Isotopes react.

Real sentences are rarely so short. We usually want to convey much more information, so we modify the main subject and verb with other words and phrases, as in the sentences below:

Unfortunately, Marvin slept fitfully.

Dogs bark louder after midnight.

Heavy isotopes react more slowly than light isotopes of the same element.

Despite the extra information, each of these sentences has one subject and one verb, so it’s still just one clause. What’s a clause?

A clause is the combination of a subject and a verb. When you have a subject and verb, you have a clause. Pretty easy, isn’t it? We’re going to concentrate on clauses in this handout, with emphasis on these two in particular:

1. Independent clause: a subject and verb that make a complete thought. Independent clauses are called independent because they can stand on their own and make sense.
2. Dependent clause: a subject and verb that don’t make a complete thought. Dependent clauses always need to be attached to an independent clause (they’re too weak to stand alone).

We’ll talk more about dependent clauses later on, but also see our handout on fragments for a more detailed description of these types of clauses.

Something tricky

Before we move on to the sentence types, you should know a little trick of subjects and verbs: they can double up in the same clause. These are called “compound” subjects or verbs because there are two or more of them in the same clause.

Compound subject (two subjects related to the same verb):

Javier and his colleagues collaborated on the research article.

Compound verb (two verbs related to the same subject):

Javier conducted the experiment and documented the results.

Compound subject with compound verb:

Javier, his colleagues, and their advisor drafted and revised the article several times.

Notice that they don’t overlap. You can tell that it’s only one clause because all of the subjects in one clause come before all of the verbs in the same clause.

Four Basic Patterns

Every sentence pattern below describes a different way to combine clauses. When you are drafting your own papers or when you’re revising them for sentence variety, try to determine how many of these patterns you use. If you favor one particular pattern, your writing might be kind of boring if every sentence has exactly the same pattern. If you find this is true, try to revise a few sentences using a different pattern.

NOTE: Because nouns can fill so many positions in a sentence, it’s easier to analyze sentence patterns if you find the verbs and find the connectors. The most common connectors are listed below with the sentence patterns that use them.

In the descriptions below, S=Subject and V=Verb, and options for arranging the clauses in each sentence pattern given in parentheses. Connecting words and the associated punctuation are highlighted in brown. Notice how the punctuation changes with each arrangement.

Pattern 1: Simple Sentence

One independent clause (SV. )

Mr. Potato Head eats monkeys.

I refuse.

Try this: Look for sentences in your own text that have only one clause. Mark them with a certain color so they stand out.

Pattern 2: Compound Sentence

Two or more independent clauses. They can be arranged in these ways: (SV, and SV.) or (SV; however, SV.)

Connectors with a comma, the FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (See our handout on commas for more info.)

Connectors with a semicolon and comma: however, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, therefore

Example compound sentences:

Mr. Potato Head eats them for breakfast every day, but I don’t see the attraction.

Eating them makes him happy; however, he can’t persuade me.

Try this:

• Scan your own text to find the compound connectors listed above. Circle them.
• Find the verb and the subject of the clauses on both sides of the connectors.
• Highlight your compound sentences with a color that’s different from the one you used to mark your simple sentences.

Pattern 3: Complex Sentence

One independent clause PLUS one or more dependent clauses. They can be arranged in these ways: (SV because SV.) or (Because SV, SV.) or (S, because SV, V.)

Connectors are always at the beginning of the dependent clause. They show how the dependent clause is related to the independent clause. This list shows different types of relationships along with the connectors that indicate those relationships:

• Cause/Effect: because, since, so that
• Comparison/Contrast: although, even though, though, whereas, while
• Place/Manner: where, wherever, how, however
• Possibility/Conditions: if, whether, unless
• Relation: that, which, who, whom
• Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until

Examples of complex sentences:

He recommends them highly because they taste like chicken when they are hot.

Although chicken always appeals to me, I still feel skeptical about monkey.

Mrs. Potato Head, because she loves us so much, has offered to make her special monkey souffle for us.

She can cook it however she wants.

Although I am curious, I am still skeptical.

Try this:

• Scan your own text to find the complex connectors listed above. Circle them.
• Find the verb and the subject of the clauses that goes with each connector, remembering that the dependent clause might be in between the subject and verb of the independent clause, as shown in the arrangement options above.
• Highlight your complex sentences with a color that’s different from the one you used to mark your simple sentences.

Pattern 4: Compound-Complex Sentence

Two or more independent clauses PLUS one or more dependent clauses. They can be arranged in these ways: (SV, and SV because SV.) or (Because SV, SV, but SV.)

Connectors: Connectors listed under Patterns 2 & 3 are used here. Find the connectors, then find the verbs and subjects that are part of each clause.

Mr. Potato Head said that he would share the secret recipe; however, if he does, Mrs. Potato Head will feed him to the piranhas, so we are both safer and happier if I don’t eat monkeys or steal recipes.

Try this: Use a fourth color to highlight the compound-complex sentences in your text (the ones with at least two independent and at least one dependent clauses).

Look at the balance of the four different colors. Do you see one color standing out? Do you notice one missing entirely? If so, examine your text carefully while you ask these questions:

• Could you separate some of the more complex sentences?
• Could you combine some of the shorter sentences?
• Can you use different arrangement options for each of the sentence patterns?
• Can you use different connectors if you change the order of the clauses?

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4. 0 License.
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Two-word sentences – English with Eric

Read Tommy Tomlinson’s description of a snowy day. Notice that he writes in the simple past tense and only uses two-word sentences (a subject and a verb).

Snow fell.

Flakes floated. Clumps stuck. Drifts formed. Mounds rose. Grass vanished. Trees sagged. Birds hid. Whiteness ruled.

Shut-ins watched. Slackers slept. Couples smooched. Singles wished. Natives compared. Newcomers scoffed. Babies dozed. Elders remembered.

Computers crackled. Pagers beeped. Newspapers thudded. TVs flickered. Radios blared. Callers chattered. Critics grumbled. Weathermen apologized.

Workers drove. Roads iced. Sidewalks crunched. Tires skidded. Cars crashed. Drivers cussed. Cops muttered. Survivors exhaled.

Snow fell.

Skies darkened. Sleet spattered. Rain froze. Fog swirled. Buildings dissolved. Landmarks retreated. Perspectives narrowed. Cities shrank.

Schools closed. Parents shrieked. Work halted. Employees departed. Interstates clogged. Buses crawled. Teachers high-fived. Kids rejoiced.

Hills beckoned. Slopes summoned. Sleds careened. Toboggans flipped. Snowmen towered. Snowballs soared. Bodies flattened. Angels appeared.

Tongues extended. Snowflakes landed. Hands molded. Feet stomped. Ears reddened. Fingers tingled. Mittens dampened. Noses ran.

Snow fell.

Wind whistled. Chimes tinkled. Limbs groaned. Dogs barked. Ground hardened. Ponds glazed. Snowdrifts crusted. Temperatures dropped.

Closeness mattered. Kinfolk called. Friends connected. Neighbors shared. Volunteers gave. Strangers helped. Clerks assisted. Cashiers smiled.

Wires popped. Transformers exploded. Power blinked. Clocks stopped. Fridges defrosted. Victims shuddered. Linemen mended. Candles burned.

Operators dispatched. Trucks towed. Mechanics tinkered. Engines cranked. EMTs rescued. Firefighters hosed. Officers probed. Doctors healed.

Snow fell.

Heaps collected. Piles enlarged. Masses expanded. Clearings faded. Angles rounded. Edges smoothed. Shapes blended. Colors disappeared.

Shovelers heaved. Runners puffed. Skiers schussed. Skaters searched. Hunters crouched. Fishermen shivered. Flasks opened. Bellies warmed.

Poets scribbled. Artists sketched. Photographers focused. Singers hummed. Inventors dreamed. Grifters schemed. Counselors soothed. Preachers prayed.

Coffee perked. Tea steeped. Cocoa foamed. Bourbon swirled. Soup simmered. Casseroles baked. Marshmallows roasted. Popcorn popped.

Snow fell.

Clouds parted. Precipitation ended. Sunshine emerged. Icicles melted. Water puddled. Eaves dripped. Snowbanks sank. Plenty remained.

Dark came. Slush solidified. Ice blackened. Highways slickened. Students hoped. Travelers worried. Storms poised. Forecasts wavered.

Midnight ticked. Peace settled. Sounds quieted. Movement stilled. Light reflected. Darkness shined. Thoughts overflowed.

Weather changed. Challenges abounded. Humanity won. Kindness prevailed. Hearts lightened. Memories accumulated.

People learned.

Nature taught.

Snow fell.

Describe a situation  with your own two-word sentences.

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Compound sentence in Russian - types, types, examples

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Today we will analyze a topic that is relevant for many 9th grade students. Namely: what sentences in Russian are called complex, what groups they are divided into and how to find them in the text.

What is a compound sentence

An example of a complex sentence:

According to the connection between the parts, complex sentences are divided into two types - allied (compound and complex) and non-union. In the first case, the parts are connected by unions and allied words, in the second - by meaning.

In total, there are 3 types of complex sentences. Let's look at them in a table.

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Take the test at the introductory lesson and find out what topics separate you from the "five" in Russian.

Compound sentence

Parts of such complex sentences are connected by conjunctions and allied words: connecting (and, yes, also, etc.) , adversative (a, but, but, etc.) , divisive (or, then ... then, not that ... not that, etc. ) or combinations thereof.

Examples:

• I wanted a pie, and the apples are already ripe.

• I wanted a pie, but the apples weren't ripe yet.

• Either mother will bake pies, or grandmother will come with buns.

Sometimes parts of compound sentences are connected without a coordinating union and a union word - in meaning. Such proposals are called non-union.

Example:

• Summer ended famously: it got colder outside, the leaves began to turn red and wither.

Punctuation marks in compound sentences

In sentences with conjunctions and, yes, however, or etc. it is customary to put a comma. Except when:

Exception

If the parts of a complex sentence have a common minor member or subordinate clause, but they are connected by a repeating conjunction, a comma must be used.

Example:

• There were puppet shows in the town fair, cotton candy vendors, and touts shouting for rides.

In non-union compound sentences, parts are divided not only by commas, but also by dashes, colons and semicolons. We discussed this topic in detail in the article on compound sentences.

Compound sentence

Example of a complex sentence:

• It was hard for me to understand how she managed to get used to the new city so quickly.

Types of connection in a complex sentence

Usually, parts of NGN in Russian are connected with each other by subordinating conjunctions, for example:

• I had just finished the picture when the sun was about to go out.

There are complex sentences in which the subordinate clause and the main are connected only in meaning and separated by a punctuation mark, but a subordinating conjunction can still be inserted between them. Such proposals are called non-union.

Example:

Values ​​of subordinate clauses in NGN

Compound clauses are divided into groups, and then into subgroups according to the meaning and type of connection with the main one.

You can read more about the differences between clauses in a complex sentence with examples in this article.

Types of subordination in a complex sentence

Sometimes in a complex sentence there are not one, but two or more subordinate clauses. This type of complex sentences is called polynomial. They have different types of submission.

We have already discussed this topic in more detail in the article on complex sentences.

Punctuation marks in complex sentences

It is customary to put a comma between the main and subordinate parts of a complex sentence. If one part is in the middle of the other, it must be separated with a comma on both sides:

• When we returned to the city, all the sorrows were left behind.

• Now that we have returned to the city, all the sorrows are left behind.

If sentences with the words only, only, still and, above all, precisely, obviously, are probably connected by a compound union, it is divided. Then, before the word that you need to put a comma:

• He agreed only because I asked well.

If we highlight indicative or conditional clauses with intonation and put them before the main clause, a dash is placed between them:

If it is clear from the main clause that the clause will explain it, you need to put a colon. The same rule applies to non-union complex sentences:

Test yourself

Determine which type of compound sentence these examples refer to: complex or compound?

1. Mother had already cooked for the morning and went to bed when I returned from the theater.

2. I knew it couldn't go on too long.

3. Snowflakes lay lightly on the palm of your hand, and the world around froze in snow-white splendor.

4. I went to the edge of the forest an hour later, but the travelers were gone.

5. I quickly found the place where the cuckoos were nesting.

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Completed sentence (SSP)

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Supplement

Get a plan for speech development and writing in a free introductory lesson

in an introductory lesson with a methodologist

1. We will identify the proxies in knowledge and give the Soviets for education

2. Let's tell you how the classes are going

3. Choose a course

7 sentences with direct speech

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Answers3

What is direct speech

Direct speech is a part of the text that quotes words or statements belonging to the characters of the story. Direct speech conveys all the uniqueness of statements: the vocabulary of characters, grammar, style. It is used with the words of the author, thanks to which it becomes known to whom the statements belong.

Direct speech can be used in the form of a dialogue. Dialogue is the alternating utterances of two or more people. The words of the author in the dialogue are often absent, and the statements are called replicas.

Direct speech rules

• Direct speech begins with a capital letter.
• Direct speech will be marked with quotation marks on both sides.
• The author's words used before direct speech end with a colon.
• If direct speech is before the words of the author, then a comma and a dash are placed after it. Direct speech with an exclamation or question ends with an exclamation or question mark and a dash.
• If direct speech breaks at the place where there should be a comma, colon, dash or there should be no sign, then the words of the author are separated from both sides by commas and a dash.
• If direct speech breaks at the place where a period should be, then a comma and a dash should be used before the words of the author, and after them a period and a dash.
• If the direct speech of the author's words is separated at the place where there should be an exclamation or question mark, then the author's words will be preceded by the corresponding sign and a dash, and after them put a period and a dash.
• All replies in the dialogue are placed on a new line, each is preceded by a dash, quotes are not used.

Examples of sentences with direct speech

1. My parents always told me: "Time for business, hour for fun."
2. "No, I didn't see anyone here," said Sanka.
3. "Seryozha, have you done all your homework yet?" Mom asked sternly.
4. "Do you remember," the Hedgehog began sadly, "how much fun it was with the Little Bear?"
5. "No, I didn't," Seryozha answered. "Mathematics doesn't work, and I haven't even started reading. "
6. "Congratulations! - exclaimed Winnie the Pooh. - I wish you happiness in your personal life!"
7. - Well, I figured out what a grief cucumbers have?

- Bitter, grandma, bitter!

1. Mom said: "Son, you have to get up early tomorrow, go sleep better"

2. The son asked: '' Dad, were you at war? ''

3. A friend said: ''After school we go for a walk''

4. The teacher warned: ''You won't pass your exams if you don't study! ''

5. After the lessons, I said with relief: ''Now you can rest''

6. The sister reminded me: ''Today you have training at 7! ''

7. ''Be good! '' - said the father

Direct speech is put in quotation marks and capitalized. The words of the author are written with a small letter, except when they begin a sentence.

1. “I don't have his phone number,” Bogdan was upset.
2. Sasha asked: "How old is your sister?"
3.

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