Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
- Explain and apply basic patterns of the sentence as they relate to technical writing.
- Explain and apply basic elements of the sentence as they relate to technical writing.
This section is a quick review of the fundamentals of the sentence. If you encounter unfamiliar terminology in this textbook or in your class, refer to this section for help. For more on grammar, see the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
Basic Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb
The simplest of sentence patterns is composed of a subject and verb without a direct object or subject complement. It uses an intransitive verb, that is, a verb requiring no direct object.
Control rods remain inside the fuel assembly of the reactor.
The development of wind power practically ceased until the early 1970s.
All amplitude-modulation (AM) receivers work in the same way.
The cross-member exposed to abnormal stress eventually broke.
Only two types of charge exist in nature.
Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement
Another simple pattern uses the linking verb, any form of the to be verb without an action verb.
The chain reaction is the basis of nuclear power.
The debate over nuclear power has often been bitter.
Folding and faulting of the earth's surface are important geologic processes.
Windspeed seems to be highest during the middle of the day.
The silicon solar cell can be difficult and expensive to manufacture.
Subject + Verb + Direct Object
Another common sentence pattern uses the direct object.
Silicon conducts electricity in an unusual way.
The anti-reflective coating on the the silicon cell reduces reflection from 32 to 22 percent.
Prestressing of the concrete increases the load-carrying capacity of the members.
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
The sentence pattern with the indirect object and direct object is similar to the preceding pattern.
The walls are usually painted black.
The plant shutdown left the entire area an economic disaster.
The committee declared the new design a breakthrough in energy efficiency.
The low cost of the new computer made competition much too difficult for some of the other companies.
Passive Voice Pattern
The passive voice is not ordinarily considered a "pattern," but it is an important and often controversial construction. It reverses the subject and object and, in some cases, deletes the subject. Compare these example active and passive voice sentences.
|
Passive voice |
Active voice |
|---|---|
|
Saccharin is now permitted as an additive in food. |
The FDA now permits saccharin as an additive in food. |
|
This report is divided into three main sections. |
I have divided this report into three main sections. |
|
Windmills are classified as either lift or drag types. |
Engineers classify windmills as either lift or drag types. |
|
The valves used in engine start are controlled by a computer. |
A computer usually controls the valves used in an engine start. |
|
The remains of Troy were destroyed by later builders on the site. |
Later builders on the site of Troy destroyed the remains of citadel. |
|
Some restaurant locations can be leased. |
You can lease some restaurant locations. |
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is one that contains subject and a verb and no other independent or dependent clause.
One of the tubes is attached to the manometer part of the instrument indicating the pressure of the air within the cuff.
To measure blood pressure, a device known as a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope are needed. (compound subject)
There are basically two types of stethoscopes. (inverted subject and verb)
The sphygmomanometer is usually covered with cloth and has two rubber tubes attached to it. (compound verb)
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, yet, for) and a comma; an adverbial conjunction and a semicolon; or a semicolon.
In sphygmomanometers, too narrow a cuff can result in erroneously high readings, and too wide a cuff can result in erroneously low readings.
Some cuffs hook together; others wrap or snap into place.
Compound Predicates
A predicate is everything in the verb part of the sentence after the subject (unless the sentence uses inverted word order). A compound predicate is two or more predicates joined by a coordinating conjunction. Traditionally, the conjunction in a sentence consisting of just two compound predicates is not punctuated.
Another library media specialist has been using Accelerated Reader for ten years and has seen great results.
This cell phone app lets users share pictures instantly with followers and categorize photos with hashtags.
