All terms

What is a Sentence?

A grammatical unit consisting of one or more words that express an independent statement, question, command, exclamation, or request.

The Building Blocks of Writing: Understanding Sentences

At the heart of every piece of writing lies the sentence. As the foundational unit of communication, it acts as a building block for ideas and concepts that we express through words.

Sentences are made up of one or more words that convey a complete thought. They may stand alone as independent expressions of statements, questions, or exclamations, or they may connect with other sentences using conjunctions, punctuation, or subordinating conjunctions to create more complex ideas and meaning.

A sentence comprises two essential components: a subject and a predicate. The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about, while the predicate consists of the verb and any other words that modify or describe the action or state of being of the subject.

Mastering the art of putting sentences together takes time and practice, but it is essential in being able to communicate effectively. Understanding grammar rules, syntax, and arrangement of words within a sentence can help a writer to construct sentences that convey the intended meaning, and thereby create a powerful impact on the reader.

Sentences in Literature: Powerful Units of Expression

The sentence is a fundamental building block of creative writing, and skilled writers use them with great intention.

Opening Sentence of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.'

Last Lines of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.'