Elliptical Sentence

Ellipsis means leaving something out. Elliptical sentence is a shorter form of sentence which some words have been omitted, but it retains the same meaning. It is used so that we can avoid unnecessary repeated words.

It is noticeable that elliptical sentences are used quite common in some contexts as:

[1] In normal conversation

  •  A: Where are you going?  B: To school. (= I am going to school.)
  •  A: Ready? (= Are you ready?) B: Yes, I am. (= Yes, I am ready.)

[2] In comparison

  •  Phalla is taller than Phearom.
     (= Phalla is taller than Phearom is tall.)
  •  The ads attracted younger than older people.
     (= The ads attracted younger than  it attracted  older people.)

[3] In sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions

  •  I have washed and ironed my clothes.
     (= I have washed my clothes, and I have ironed my clothes.)
  •  Bora likes football, Phalla volleyball, and Sopheak basketball.
     (= Bora likes football, Phalla likes volleyball, and Sopheak likes basketball.)
  •  Kolab has five dollars, and Sopheak three.
     (= Kolab has five dollars, and Sopheak  has  three dollars.)

[4] In some dependent clauses

  •  If you clean the house today, i will tomorrow.
     (= If you clean the house today, i will clean the house tomorrow.)
  •  I will go to the party if you will.
     (= I will go to the party if you will go to the party.)

[5] In reduced clauses

  •  The song sung by Preap Sovath was so popular.
     (= The song which was sung by Preap Sovath was so popular. )
  •  The man selling the shoes is my friend.
     (= The man who is selling the shoes is my friend.)
  •  The police has found the car stolen yesterday.
     (= The police has found the car which was stolen yesterday.)
  •  When studying, he tried hard.
     (= When he was studying, he tried hard. )
  •  I visited the Bayon Temple after coming back from Battambang.
     (= I visited the Bayon Temple after I came back from Battambang. )
  •  Though a bit nervous, she presented the products to the doctor very well.
     (= Though she was a bit nervous, she presented the products to the doctor very well. )

[6] When used with "SO, TOO, EITHER, NEITHER"

  •  My sister is tall, and so do my brothers.
     (= My sister is tall, and my brothers are tall, too.)
  •  A : I was very sleepy last night.  B : So am I.
     (= A : I was very sleepy last night.  B : I am hungry, too.)
  •  My mom likes mangoes and my brother does too.
     (= My mom likes mangoes, and my brother likes mangoes, too.)
  •  He didn't say anything, and I didn't either.
     (= He didn't say anything, and I didn't say anything, too.)
  •  Her father likes to travel, and she does either.
     (= Her father likes to travel, and she likes to travel, too.)
  •  He didn't study hard, and neither did I.
     (= He didn't study hard, and I didn't study hard, too.)
  •  She doesn't review the lessons, and neither her friend.
     (= She doesn't review the lessons, and her friend didn't review the lessons, too.)

Compound-complex Sentence

Sam An Teng


A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

For examples,

• You'd better ask your teacher if you don't understand the research questions, or you will misinterpret the objectives of the research.
• He is a capable manager who I have met; however, he doesn't get much support after he has been involved with collusion scandal.  

The ways independent clause and dependent clauses are joined together may form different patterns and require different punctuation. Look at some patterns below:
 
IC, FANBOYS-IC-DC [ Independent clause + Comma + Coordinative conjunction + Independent clause + Dependent clause ]
 
For examples,

• The product design is OK, and the price is acceptable for customers who have low and medium income.  
•  Mara tried her best to help him, but he was a hopeless boy who usually sees things in negative ways.

IC DC, FANBOYS IC  [ Independent clause + Dependent clause + Comma + Coordinative conjunction + Independent clause ]
 
For examples,

• We got a report which highlighted stronger competition in the market, so we decided to hold a management meeting as soon as possible.
• The meeting was successful because we decided to streamline few existing products, and our shareholders showed their confidence on next year's plan.
• I complemented him when he finished the project, and he seemed not so happy.

DC IC, FANBOYS IC  [ Dependent clause + comma + Independent clause + comma + FANBOYS + Independent clause ]
 
For examples,

• Because he was strict with the rules and compliance, he won support from the management, yet he he lost several close friends.
• When he decided to work for the company, he intended to be an excellent staff, so there is no doubt that he has been successful. 

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause. 
For examples,

• When students work hard, they succeed. 
• The rat ate the cheese because he was hungry.

The ways independent clause and dependent clauses are joined together may require different punctuation, i.e. 

IC+DC [ Independent clause + Dependent clause. ]

For examples,  

• I missed my favorite talk show if I left an hour later than normal. 
• We left for lunch when our group finished its report. 
• She confused her words whenever Rita tried to explain herself.

DC, IC [ Dependent clause + Comma + Independent clause. ]

For examples,

• If I left an hour later than normal, I missed my favorite talk show. 
• When our group finished its report, we left for lunch. 
• Whenever Rita tried to explain herself, she confused her words.

NOTE:
A subordinate clause or dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (see DEPENDENT CLAUSE in previous lesson). Here is a list of some of the words that can be used as subordinating conjunctions: after, if, though, where, although, once, unless, wherever, as, since, until, while, because, than, when, before, that, who, whom, whenever...

Sometimes, a subordinating conjunction is a phrase rather than a single word: as if, as though, as long as, as soon as, even though, in order to, so that …

Compound Sentence

Sam An Teng

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses, which are joined by a semi-colon, a coordinative conjunction (preceded by a comma), or a conjunctive adverb (preceded by a semi-colon and followed by a comma). 

For examples,

• She was sick, so she didn’t come to work.
• Students work hard; they succeed.
• The job was difficult; however, we could finish successfully.

Note:

- There are two independent clauses in compound sentences.
- There is no dependent clause in compound sentences.


There are 3 patterns in which simple sentences are joined.
 

1. IC , cc-IC [ Independent clause + comma + coordinative conjunction + Independent clause. ]

For examples,  

• Sopheak didn’t come to class, for he was sick. 
•  I tried to speak Japanese, and my friend tried to speak English.  
• He doesn’t work hard, nor he is clever. 
• I know him, but he doesn’t recognize me.
• You can write on paper, or you can use a computer.
• The dog barked, yet it doesn’t bite. 
• Sopheak was sick, so he didn’t come to class.

2. IC ; IC [ Independent clause + semi-colon + independent clause. ] 

For examples,  

• Sopheak didn’t come to class; he was sick.  
• I tried to speak Japanese; my friend tried to speak English.  
• He doesn’t work hard; he is clever.  
• I know him; he doesn’t recognize me.  
• You can write on paper; you can use a computer.  
• The dog barked; it doesn’t bite.  
• Sopheak was sick; he didn’t come to class.

3. IC ; ca, IC [ Independent clause + semi-colon + conjunctive adverb + comma + Independent clause.]  

For examples,  

• I know him; however, he doesn’t recognize me.  
• Sopheak was sick; therefore, he didn’t come to class.

Simple Sentence

Sam An Teng

A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. 

Remember: 

A sentence or simple sentence begins with capital letter, finishes with an ending punctuations (full-stop, question mark, or exclamation mark), and expresses a complete thought. 

There are 6 main patterns of simple sentences. 

1. SV [ Subject + Verb ] 

For examples,

• Bona laughs.  
• Mary and Mara sings.  

2. SVO [ Subject + Verb + Object ]
 

For examples, 

• I don't like dogs.  
• Some students like to study.  
• She enjoys swimming.  

3. SVC [ Subject – Linking Verb – Complement ]
 

For examples, 

• John is a teacher.
• He is happy.  

4. SV-IO-DO [ Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object ]

For examples, 

• My dad bought me a new bike.  
• She has written him a letter.

5. SV-DO -OC [ Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement ]
 

For examples, 

• Her boss appoints her his personal assistant.  
• You can call me what you like.

6. SVA  [ Subject + Verb + Adverbial ]
 

For examples,

• Lina works efficiently.
• She works in a bank.

Sentences

Sam An Teng


Sentence is a group of words that consists of at least one subject and one verb, and expresses a complete thought. 

A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with an ending punctuations (full-stop, question mark, or exclamation mark).

For examples,

• I go to school very day.
• He likes apple.
• Open the book! [the hidden subject is "You"]

However, the examples below are not sentences.

• Last month, took a flight to Korea. [No subject.]
• She interested in book. [Lack of verb.]
• Who is rich. [It is just a clause which doesn't have complete thought.]
• On the table. [It is just a phrase; no subject and verb.]

Sentence elements

A sentence has five important elements. 

Subject 

Subject performs the action or tells what the sentence is about; for examples,

• Bopha studies English.
• Bopha and Bunna choose the same major at school.

Verb

Verb shows either action or state of the subject. A short sentence contains only a subject and a verb. For examples,

• She cries.
• They learn and practice everyday.

Object

object can be direct object, indirect object, and object of preposition (which will be discussed in adverbial). 

Direct object -- direct object receives the action of the verb; for examples,

• He reads a book.
• I support what he has said.

Indirect object -- indirect object receives the direct object; for examples,

• His boss assigns him new roles.
• The woman brought him a cup of tea.

Complement

There are two kinds of complements: subject complement and object complement.

Subject complement -- complete the meaning of subject. Subject complement can be adjective (which is called predicate adjective) or noun (which is called predicate noun or predicate nominative). For examples,

• He looks unhappy.
• They are accountants.

Object complement -- complete the meaning of the object; for examples,

• I painted my room red.
• They appointed him representative.

Adverbial

adverbial is simple adverb, adverb phrase, or a group of words function as adverb. For examples,

• He thinks optimistically.
• They were at at hospital.

Types of sentences

There are four types of sentences; i.e.,

declarative 

declarative sentences are either positive or negative sentence. It is also called statement. For examples,

• The phone need further software development.
• The customers are not satisfied with some features of its software.

interrogative

Interrogative sentences are question. For examples,

• Are you a student?
• Where are you staying now?

imperative

Imperative sentences are orders or commands. The subject of imperative sentence is "You". For examples,

Open the book.

Don't park your car over there.

Finish your homework.

exclamatory

exclamatory sentences are statement showing surprise or exclamation; for examples,

• What a lovely day!
• Hurry up! 
• That sounds fantastic!
• I can't believe you said that!