How to Write Correct Sentences
Mr. Truong Van Anh

Verbs
Tense
Finite verb

Form
Non-finite verb

He wants to read a book.
“wants“ is a finite verb. It is in present simple.
“to read“ is a non-finite verb. It is an infinitive.
There are twelve basic tenses and many supplement
tenses (38) in English.
There are 4 forms of non-finite verbs in English: V; TO V;
V-ING; V-ED.
In a sentence there is only ONE finite verb, but there
may be several non-finite verbs all over the sentence.

Learning English, he feels happy.
Punished by the teacher, the boy cried bitterly.
She reads a book, lying in a hammock.
She reads a book lying on the table.
There are a lot of people living in the slums.
They should have let the boys play in the orchard.
They saw some crabs tied in the sink.
The door locked by the boss was yellow.
The car traveling forward carried the president.
To learn English, he has collected a lot materials.

+ Conjunction + V-ING/V-ED
When he left the meeting, he felt hungry.
When leaving the meeting, he felt hungry.
Leaving the meeting, he felt hungry.
When he was punished by the teacher, he cried.
When punished by the teacher, he cried.
Punished by the teacher, he cried.
Being punished by the teacher, he cried.
Finite clause (full) >< Non-finite clause (incomplete)

+ Preposition + V-ING/ BEING + V-ED
When he left the meeting, he felt hungry.
On leaving the meeting, he felt hungry.
Leaving the meeting, he felt hungry.

PHRASES
- Forms:
+ Infinitive phrases = To V
+ Gerund phrases = V-ING
+ Prepositional phrases = Prep. + …:
+ Present participle phrases = V-ING:
+ Past participle phrases = P.P. (V-ED):
+ Absolute phrases = present participle or past
participle:
+ Verbless phrase:
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- Functions:
+ Noun phrases: They play the roles of S, O, C.
+ Adjective phrases: They modify nouns.
+ Adverb phrases: They modify verbs,
adjectives, other adverbs, phrases, clauses or
whole sentences.

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9 SENTENCE PATTERNS (Simple sentences)
•Main elements: Subject, Verb, Complement, Object
(Direct Object, Indirect Object)
•Subordinate (minor) elements: Attribute, Adverb
Pattern 1: S + Be + C (Adj /Prep. Phr.)
Pattern 2: S + Be + C (Adv)
Pattern 3: S + Be + C (N)
Pattern 4: S + Vl + C (Adj)
Pattern 5: S + Vl + C (N)
Pattern 6: S + Vi [intransitive]
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Pattern 7: S + Vt + DO [monotransitive]
Pattern 8: S + Vt + IO + DO [ditransitive]
Pattern 9: S + Vt + DO + a. C (N)
b. C (Pro)
c. C (Adj)
d. C (Prep Phrase)
e. C (Adv)
f. C (Past Part.)
g. C (Pre. Part.)
h. C (Inf. Phrase)
i. C (bare infinitive phr)

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Compound sentences

Two simple sentences that are combined with a coordinating
(coordinate) conjunction will become a compound
sentence. The two simple sentences are called independent
clauses.
Coordinate conjunctions are classified into four groups:
- AND group (addition): and, both…and, not only … but also, in
addition, moreover, what is more, etc.
Ex: He reads a report, and he drinks coffee. (Full)
He reads a report and drinks coffee. (normal)
- BUT group (contrast): but, yet, however, whereas,
nevertheless, while, etc.
Ex: She is beautiful, but she learns badly.
Ly Thong was wicked, while Thach Sanh was kind.
(independent clause)
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He was reading a book while she was weaving silk. (Adv. Cl.)

- OR group (choice): or, otherwise, or else,
whether … or, etc.
Ex: You must learn hard, or you will be jobless.
- SO group (consequence): so, therefore, hence,
consequently, accordingly, etc.
Ex: He learns hard, so he gets good marks.
Hoa learns well; therefore, her parents
are pleased.

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Complex sentences

Two simple sentences that are combined
with a subordinating (subordinate)
conjunction will become a complex
sentence. One simple sentence is called a
main clause, the other is called
subordinating/subordinate clause).
There are three kinds of subordinate
clauses.

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If a clause plays the role of the subject,
the object or the complement in the
sentence, it will be called a noun clause.
If a clause plays the role of the attribute
(modifying a noun) in the sentence, it
will be called an adjective clause.
If a clause modifies a verb, an adjective, an
adverb, a phrase, a clause or a sentence
in the sentence, it will be called an
adverb clause.
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Noun clauses

1. Subject:
Ex: Who he is is a secret.
S
2. Object:
Ex: He said that he had bought a second-hand car.
O
3. Complement:
Ex: The question is why she was absent from her class.
C
4. Object of a preposition
Ex: We are surprised at what he has just confessed.
O
5. Appositive to a noun:
Ex: The news that the Hau Giang bridge is going to be built excites
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people in the Mekong delta.

6. Real subject:
Ex: It is sure that English will be learned by more
and more people.
IT + BE + ADJ + THAT CLAUSE
7. Complement of predicative adjective Ex: We
are very happy that some of you win national
prizes.
S + BE + Adj + THAT Clause
8. Object complement:
Ex: My teacher makes me what I am today.
They elect him what he is now in the company.
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Adjective clauses
1. WHO
2. WHOM
3. WHICH
4. WHOSE
5. OF WHICH
6. THAT
7. ø: No Relative pronoun
8. WHICH: It stands for the whole preceding
clause.
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9. WHERE:
10. WHEN:
11. WHY:
12. AS: After SAME and SUCH
13. BUT: After NOTHING, NOBODY, ETC.

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Adverb clauses

1. Adverb clause of place:
2. Adverb clause of time:
3. Adverb clause of manner:
4. Adverb clause of cause:
5. Adverb clause of purpose:
6. Adverb clause of concession:
7. Adverb clause of comparison:
8. Adverb clause of result:
9. Adverb clause of condition:
10. Adverb clause of reservation: Except that, for the fact that
Ex: It is a good teaching period except that a lot of students
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are absent.

• The same clause can play three roles:
I don 't know where he lives.
N. CL (Object)
She will go where he lives.
ADV. CL (modifying a verb)
She knows the house where he lives.
ADJ. CL (modifying an Adj.)

Notes: For more information, read Sentence Elements by
the same author)
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Good luck!