Sentence Structure Basic Structure n Subject Predicate one

Sentence Structure

Basic Structure n Subject + Predicate (one main verb) ¨ e. g. John eats an apple a day. John (subject) n eats an apple a day (Predicate) n ¨ e. g. An apple is eaten by John everyday. An apple (subject) n is eaten by John everyday. (Predicate) n

Identify the subject and the predicate Most students spend time playing online games. n Students can communicate with others more easily with ICQ, MSN etc. n The benefits of technology outweigh the drawbacks. n

Subjects Mr. John Wong is the vice-principal of STC. n He has taught in STC for more than 38 years. n Teaching English is his major duty. n To maintain the fame of STC is his dream. n Now that he is going to retire, he still has some loose ends to tidy up. n Whether his dream will come true depends on how willingly STC students want to speak English. n

Main verb (tense) n Simple present (truth, habits) ¨I n wake up at six. Continuous ¨ Students n are preparing for the final exam. Perfect / simple past ¨ J. K. Rowling has finished the Harry Potter series, seven books in all. ¨ J. K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005.

Modal Verbs I may/might give you a surprise. n You can/could climb a tree. n He shall/should hand in his assignment before noon. n They will/would go swimming tonight. n We must speak the truth. n

Conditionals (If + main) 1. Certainty ¨ 2. Possibility ¨ 3. If you revise hard, you will pass the final. Impossibility ¨ 4. If you heat the ice cubes, they melt. If Obama were the US president, pigs would fly. Did not happen ¨ John cancelled the flight to Sichuan. If he had boarded the aeroplane, he would have died in the May 12 earthquake.

If-clause + main-clause n An if-clause is incomplete: ¨ If you heat the ice cubes, … ¨ If you revise hard, … ¨ If Obama were the US president, … ¨ If John had boarded the aeroplane, … n They need the main-clause to complete the meaning. ¨ …, they melt. ¨ …, you will pass the final.

Conditional examples n n If students have self-control, they will not affect by these online games. If students have self-control, they will not affect be affected by these online games.

It- structures It is + adjective + for + noun + to-infinitive + complement n e. g. n ¨ It is important for us to prepare well for the final examination. ¨ It is understandable for parents to worry about their children who spend too much time online.

There- structures There be + noun (no more main verb) n e. g. n ¨ There is an exchange student in 4 L. [An exchange students is in 4 L. ] ¨ There are four students taking English Literature. [Four students are taking English Literature. ] ¨ There have been several thousand aftershocks after the major quake in Sichuan. ¨ There will be only one repeater place in S 4 next year. [Only one repeater place will be (available) in S 4 next year. ]

There are people think that … Redundant ‘there are’ n e. g. n ¨ There are many online games attract students. (Which is the main verb? be? attract? ) ¨ There are people think that technology brings bad effects to students. (Which is the main verb? be? think? bring? )