The Simple Sentence. Structural Types

Two - member sentences

The basic pattern of a simple sentence is one subject-predicate unit. There are several variations of this basic pattern, depending on the kind of verb (transitive/intransitive) occupying the predicate position:

a) unextended patterns ( those with no secondary parts ):

The child laughed.

Mary is a nurse.

Mary is kind.

b) patterns extended by obligatory elements:

The child caught the ball.

John lives in London.

We proved him wrong.

If one of these extending elements is omitted the sentence is incomplete.

c) patterns extended by optional elements:

The child laughed merrily.

My friend Mary is a very kind nurse.

One - member sentences

A one-member sentence contains only one principal part which is neither the subject nor the predicate. There are nominal and verbal one-member sentences:

a) Nominal sentences are those in which the principal part is expressed by a noun. They state the existence of things. They are typical of descriptions:

Silence. Summer. Midnight (unextended).

English spring flowers! (extended)

b) V erbal one-member sentences are those in which the principal part is expressed by a non-finite form of the verb, either an infinitive or a gerund. These sentences are mostly used to describe different emotional perceptions of reality:

To think of that!

Living at the mercy of a woman!

A one-member sentence is complete. No other element of it is implied or felt as missing or necessary.

Elliptical (incomplete) sentences

An elliptical two-member sentence is a sentence in which one or more word-forms in the subject and the predicate positions are omitted. These words can be omitted because they have only grammatical, structural relevance, they do not carry any new important information and they can be easily restored to complete the meaning of the sentence:

“Where are you going?” ― “To the library”.

“Who lives in that house?” ― “John and Mary”.

Some kinds of ellipsis are likely to be found only in casual speech:

Looks like rain.

See what I mean?

You sure?

Other kinds are typical of certain restricted uses of writing, for example notices and headlines:

Children not admitted.

No smoking here.

Many kinds of ellipsis, however, are common in both speech and writing as a means of reducing repetition or sharpening contrast.