Sentences (Sentence Structures)

Lesson 1: Sentence Structures

By Mr. Seng Muny

In this lesson, you will learn:

What are sentences?

What is sentence structure? 

The four types of sentence structure

What are sentences?

Examples

We are studying English.

They live in small house. 

Their house is very well-organized.

Vibol and Piseth work for the same company.

When I was young, I used to pay kites with my sister and brothers. 

Definition

A sentence is a group of words which contains at least a subject and a verbs. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point, and expresses a complete thought. 

1. Subject + verb
2. Capital letter
3. ., ?, or !
4. Complete thought

Lesson 2: Sentences and Sentence Structures 

Sentences

1. We are studying English.
2. Vibol and Piseth work for the same company.
3. They live in small house. 
4. Their house is very well-organized.
5. They live in a small house, but their house is very well-organized. 
6. When I was young, I liked to pay kites with my sister and brothers. 

Structures

1. Sub + verb + obj
2. Sub + sub + verb + prep + obj
3. Sub + verb + prep + obj
4. Sub + verb + sub-complement 
5. Sub + verb … , conj + sub + verb + …
6. Conj + sub + verb + …, sub + verb + …

Lesson 3: The Four Types of Sentence Structures

1. Simple sentence: one subject-verb pair
2. Compound sentence: Two or more subject-verb pairs joint by a coordinating conjunction
3. Complex sentence: Two or more subject-verb pairs joint by a subordinating conjunction
4. Compound-complex sentence: Three or more subject-verb pairs joint by a coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction

Names                                     If to be translated (unofficial)

Simple sentence                     ទម្រង់ល្បះទោល

Compound sentence                            ទម្រង់ល្បះផ្សំ

Complex sentence                               ទម្រង់ល្បះក្រង

Compound-complex sentence             ទម្រង់ល្បះផ្សំ-ក្រង

Lesson 4: Simple Sentences

Simple sentences have only one subject-verb pair.

Examples 

1. Sokha likes apples.
2. Sokha and Mongkul like apples.
3. Sokha likes apples and eats an apple every day.
4. Sokha and Mongkul like apples and eat an apple every day.

‘Formula’

1. Subject + verb + … .
2. Subject + and + subject + verb + … .
3. Subject + verb + … + and + verb + … .
4. Subject + and + subject + verb+ … + and + verb + … .

Simple Sentence: have only a subject-verb pair.

Detailed ‘Formula’ 

1. Subject + verb + … .
2. Subject + and + subject + verb + … .
3. Subject + verb + … + and + verb + … .
4. Subject + and + subject + verb+ … + and + verb + … .

Shortened ‘Formula’

1. SV
2. SSV
3. SVV
4. SSVV

Lesson 5: Compound Sentences

Compound sentences have two or more subject-verb pairs joint by a coordinating conjunction.

Examples

1. I am short, but I don’t care about it.
2. She has good parents, so she must be happy.
3. Sokha is beautiful, and she is smart.
4. She can do it here, or she can take and do it at home. 

‘Formula’

Simple sentence + , + conj. + simple sentence

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (fan boys)

• sv + , + but + sv
• sv + ,  + so + sv
• sv + , + and + sv
• sv + , + or + svv 

Meaning of Coordinating Conjunctions

1. But: opposite idea
2. So: result or effect
3. And: similar idea
4. Or: choice or alternative 
5. For: reason
6. Yet: strongly opposite idea
7. Nor: a different negative idea

Lesson 6: Complex Sentences

Complex Sentences have two or more subject-verb pairs joint by a subordinating conjunction.

Examples

1. I am short because my mother is short.
2. When I was young, I liked to pay kites with my sister and brothers. 
3. I liked to pay kites with my sister and brothers when I was young. 
4. If you stay home, no one will fine you.
5. The police will fine you if you don’t stay home.

Structures

1. Simple sentence + conj + simple sentence
2. Conj + simple sentence, simple sentence

Note: Conj =  ≠fan boys

More subordinating conjunctions: although, even though, since, while, …

Lesson 7: Compound-complex Sentences 

Compound-complex sentences have three or more subject-verb pairs joint by a coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction.

Structure: 

Simple sentence + , + fan boys + simple sentence + ≠fan boys + simple sentence

Examples

1. Sokha is beautiful, and she is a smart student although she is from a poor family. 
2. Although Sokha is from a poor, she is beautiful, and she gets an A in all subjects.