RULES OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE

 

RULES OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Rule	Example
1. Every sentence must have a subject and a verb.	She runs.
2. A complete thought makes a complete sentence.	The sun is shining.
3. A sentence begins with a capital letter.	They are playing outside.
4. A sentence ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation mark.	Are you ready?
5. Use a subject before the predicate.	The boy is sleeping.
6. The subject and verb must agree in number.	The dog barks. / The dogs bark.
7. Use a main clause to form a simple sentence.	I like pizza.
8. Combine two independent clauses with "and," "but," or "or."	I was tired, but I finished my work.
9. Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions.	She sings, and he dances.
10. Place adjectives before the noun they describe.	She wore a red dress.
11. Adverbs can appear before or after the verb.	She quickly finished. / She finished quickly.
12. Don't forget the object if the verb is transitive.	He kicked the ball.
13. Use correct word order: Subject + Verb + Object.	He reads books.
14. In questions, invert subject and verb.	Is he coming?
15. Use auxiliary verbs to form questions.	Do you like tea?
16. A negative sentence needs"not? or another negative word.	She is not happy.
17. Don't double negatives in standard English.	X I don't know nothing. I don't know anything.
18. Use articles (a, an, the) correctly.	She bought an apple.
19. Use prepositions to show relationships.	The cat is on the table.
20. Place modifiers close to the words they describe.	I saw a man with a telescope.
21. Avoid sentence fragments.	X Running fast. He is running fast.
22. Avoid run-on sentences.	X I went home I slept. u I went home, and I slept.
23. A compound sentence joins two equal ideas.	I like coffee, and I like tea.
24. A complex sentence has a main clause and a dependent clause.	I stayed home because it was raining.
25. Use "because" to show reason.	-l left early because I was sick.
26. Use "although" to show contrast.	Although it rained, we played.
27. Use "if" for conditions.	If it rains, we'll stay inside.
28. Use "when" for time.	Call me when you arrive.
29. Put commas after introductory words.	Yes, I understand.
30. Use parallel structure for balance.	She likes reading, writing, and painting.
31. Place time expressions correctly.	I will meet you tomorrow at 5.
32. Don't separate subject and verb unnecessarily.	X The boy, with many toys, plays. Zl The boy with many toys plays.
33. Use relative pronouns for clauses.	The book that I read was good.
34. Use "who" for people, not "which."	She is the one who called.
35. Use "which" for things.	The pen which I lost was blue.
36. Use "that" for essential clauses.	The car that I drive is old.
37. Use "which" with commas for extra info.	My car, which is old, still runs.
38. Place commas around nonessential clauses.	My brother, who lives in London, is visiting.
39. Don't use a comma between subject and verb.	xThe teacher, is strict.
	The teacher is strict.
40. Use "there is/are" for existence.	There are many books on the shelf.
41. Don't confuse "its"	It's raining. The dog wagged its tail.
(possessive) with "it's" (it is).
42. Use consistent verb tense in a sentence.	She came home, ate dinner, and went to bed.
43. Shift tense only when the time changes.	She was happy until she heard the news.
44. Use "shall/will" for future tense.	I will call you.
45. Use "be + -ing" for continuous tense.	She is reading a book.
46. Use "have + past participle" for perfect tense.	She has finished her work.
47. Don't confuse "say" and	She said she was tired. /
"tell."	She told me she was tired.
48. Use correct pronouns for clarity.	John saw Mary. He waved at her.
49. Pronouns must agree with their antecedents.	Every student must bring his or her book.
50. Avoid vague pronouns.	xThey say it's dangerous. a Experts say it's dangerous.
51. Use "wh-words" to form information questions.	Where are you going?
52. Put question marks only at the end of questions.	Are you ready?
53. Use exclamation marks for strong feelings.	What a beautiful day!
54. Use imperative sentences for commands.	Sit down.
55. Imperatives often omit the subject "you."	Close the door.
56. Use infinitives correctly.	I want to eat.
57. Use gerunds (-ing) as subjects.	Swimming is fun.
58. Don't split infinitives unnecessarily.	X To quickly run. u To run quickly.
59. Use conjunctions to join ideas.	She is tired but happy.
60. Avoid starting too many sentences with "and" or "but."	But it rained. + It rained, but we played.
61. Place adverbs of frequency before main verbs.	She often sings.
62. Place adverbs of frequency after "to be."	She is always happy.
63. Keep consistent perspective (first/second/third person).	I like pizza. She likes pizza.
64. Avoid mixing formal and informal styles in one sentence.	X Kindly send me the stuff. Kindly send me the documents.
65. Use direct speech with quotation marks.	She said, "I'm coming."
66. Use a comma before quotation marks in American English.	He asked, "Are you
67. Place punctuation inside quotation marks in American English.	"I'm tired," she said.
68. Indirect speech doesn't need quotation marks.	She said she was tired.
69. Change tenses in reported speech when needed.	Direct: "l am happy." Indirect: She said she was happy.
70. Use inversion for emphasis.	Rarely have I seen such beauty.
71. Avoid dangling modifiers.	X Walking down the street, the trees looked lovely.
	Walking down the street, I saw the trees.
72. Keep subjects and verbs close together.	The teacher with many students is kind.
73. Use commas in lists.	I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
74. Use the Oxford comma for clarity.	I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Superman.
75. Avoid comma splices,	X I love pizza, it is tasty. I love pizza because it is tasty.
76. Use semicolons to join related clauses.	I like tea; she likes coffee.
77. Use colons to introduce lists or explanations.	Bring the following: pens, pencils, and paper.
78. Use dashes for emphasis.	He was late � again!
79. Use parentheses for extra info.	He finally arrived (after two hours).
80. Keep sentences concise.	X Due to the fact that... Because...
81. Avoid unnecessary repetition.	X He returned back. He returned.
82. Use strong verbs instead of weak ones.	X She made a decision.a she decided.
83. Use variety in sentence length.	She runs. She loves running in the park when it's sunny.
84. Use transition words for flow.	However, therefore, moreover.
85. Place "only" correctly.	Only she loves him. / She only loves hilli
86. Avoid misplaced modifiers.	*Shealmost drove her kids to school every day. She drove her kids to school almost every day.
87. Use double negatives only in informal speech.	I can't get no satisfaction. (informal)
88. Use "so" for results.	It was cold, so we stayed inside.
89. Use "such...that" for emphasis.	It was such a good movie that I watched it twice.
90. Use "too...to" for impossibility.	He is too weak to lift it.
91. Use "enough" after adjectives.	She is tall enough to reach it.
92. Don't overuse passive voice.	Passive: The cake was eaten. Active: He ate the cake.
93. Use passive voice when the doer is unknown.	The window was broken.
94. Use cleft sentences for emphasis.	It was John who broke the vase.
95. Keep pronouns consistent in person.	X If one studies hard, you succeed. If one studies hard, one succeeds.
96. Don't use "and etc."	Just se etc.
97. Avoid slang in formal sentences.	X He's gonna win. He is going to win.
98. Use contractions in informal writing.	I'm, don't, can't.
99. Avoid contractions in formal writing.	Do not, cannot, will not.
100. Don't start formal sentences with "because."	X Because I was tired, I slept. e I slept because I was tired.
101. Always check clarity: if a reader can't understand, rewrite.	X It was there when she did it. e She was there when it happened.

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