Sentence Structure 1
The below sentences have been broken down into subject, verb, and modifiers. Since there are hardly any specific rules around objects, I’ve clubbed objects into modifiers to reduce complexity.
One common confusion students face is regarding prepositional phrases following a noun that comes after a verb (…verb noun PP). In such cases, many students almost always associate those prepositional phrases with the nouns preceding them. However, many a time, such prepositional phrases are modifying the verbs. One way to test that a prepositional phrase is modifying a verb is by putting that prepositional phrase immediately after the verb and then putting the noun. If the sentence still makes sense, the prepositional phrase is modifying the verb.
Please note that the abbreviation ‘PP’ has been used for a prepositional phrase in the below sentence structures.
Sentence 1
Limiting their studies to written documents, scholars have overlooked traditional, preliterate modes of communicating personal history.
- Limiting their studies (Verb-ing modifier modifying “scholars”)
- to written documents, (PP modifying “limiting”)
- scholars have overlooked (Main Clause – Subject: “scholars”; Verb: “have overlooked”)
- traditional, preliterate modes (Noun – modifying “have overlooked”)
- of communicating personal history. (PP – modifying “modes”)
- traditional, preliterate modes (Noun – modifying “have overlooked”)
Sentence 2
Vernon interviewed elderly African Americans who helped her discover the locations where until about 1920 their forebears had cultivated rice.
- Vernon interviewed (Main Clause)
- elderly African Americans (Noun – modifies “interviewed”)
- who helped her discover (DC modifying “African Americans” – Subject: “who”; Verb: “helped”)
- the locations (Noun – modifies “discover”)
- where (Start of DC that modifies “locations”)
- until about 1920 (PP modifying “had cultivated”)
- their forebears had cultivated rice. (Subject “forebears” and Verb “had cultivated” of the ‘where’ clause)
- where (Start of DC that modifies “locations”)
- the locations (Noun – modifies “discover”)
- who helped her discover (DC modifying “African Americans” – Subject: “who”; Verb: “helped”)
- elderly African Americans (Noun – modifies “interviewed”)
Sentence 3
At the heart of Vernon’s research is the question of why, in an economy dedicated to maximizing cotton production, African Americans grew rice.
- At the heart (PP modifying “is”)
- of Vernon’s research (PP modifying “heart”)
- is the question (Main clause – Subject: “the question”; Verb: “is”)
- of why, (PP modifying “question”. This PP consists of a noun clause “why AA grew rice”)
- in an economy (PP modifying “grew”)
- dedicated to maximizing cotton production, (Verb-ed modifier modifying “economy”)
- in an economy (PP modifying “grew”)
- African Americans grew rice. (Subject: “African Americans” and Verb: “grew” are part of the ‘why’ clause)
- of why, (PP modifying “question”. This PP consists of a noun clause “why AA grew rice”)
This sentence is an inverted sentence, in which the subject appears after the verb.
Sentence 4
During the period of slavery, plantation owners also ate rice and therefore tolerated or demanded its “after-hours” cultivation on patches of land not suited to cotton.
- During the period of slavery, (PP modifying the verbs “ate” and “tolerated”)
- plantation owners also ate rice (Main Clause – Subject: “owners”; Verb: “ate”)
- and therefore tolerated (Second verb: “tolerated”)
- its “after-hours” cultivation (Noun – modifies “tolerated”)
- on patches of land (PP modifying “cultivation”)
- not suited to cotton. (Verb-ed modifier modifying “patches of land”)
- on patches of land (PP modifying “cultivation”)
- its “after-hours” cultivation (Noun – modifies “tolerated”)
Sentence 5
Growing the rice gave the slaves some relief from a system of regimented labor under a field supervisor, in that they were left alone to work independently.
- Growing the rice gave (Main Clause – Subject: “growing”; Verb: “gave”)
- the slaves (Noun – modifies “gave”)
- some relief (Noun – modifies “gave”)
- from a system (PP modifies “gave”)
- of regimented labor (PP modifies “system”)
- under a field supervisor, (PP modifies “labor”)
- of regimented labor (PP modifies “system”)
- in that they were left alone (modifies “gave”)
- to work independently. (Infinitive modifies “left”)
Sentence 6
In furthering this investigation some historiographers have recently recognized the need to expand their definition of what a source is.
- In furthering (PP modifying the main verb “have recognized”)
- this investigation (Noun – modifies “furthering”)
- some historiographers have recently recognized (Main Clause – Subject: “historiographers”; Verb: “have recognized”)
- the need (Noun – modifies “recognized”)
- to expand their definition (Infinitive modifying “need”)
- of what a source is. (PP modifying “definition”)
- to expand their definition (Infinitive modifying “need”)
- the need (Noun – modifies “recognized”)
Sentence 7
The role of Chinese settlers in expanding agriculture throughout the Pacific Coast territory is integral to the history of the region.
- The role (Main subject)
- of Chinese settlers (PP modifying “role”)
- in expanding agriculture (PP modifying “role”)
- throughout the Pacific Coast territory (PP modifying “expanding”)
- is integral (Main verb “is”)
- to the history (PP modifying “is”)
- of the region. (PP modifying “history”)
- to the history (PP modifying “is”)
Sentence 8
In The Dynamics of Apocalypse, John Lowe attempts to solve the mystery of the collapse of the Classic Mayan civilization.
- In The Dynamics of Apocalypse, (PP modifying “attempts”)
- John Lowe attempts (Main Clause)
- to solve the mystery (Infinitive modifying “attempts”)
- of the collapse (PP modifying “mystery”)
- of the Classic Mayan civilization. (PP modifying “collapse”)
- of the collapse (PP modifying “mystery”)
- to solve the mystery (Infinitive modifying “attempts”)
Sentence 9
Lowe bases his study on a detailed examination of the known archaeological record.
- Lowe bases (Main Clause)
- his study (Noun – modifies “bases”)
- on a detailed examination (PP modifying “bases”)
- of the known archaeological record. (PP modifying “examination”)
Sentence 10
Having established this chronology, Lowe sets forth a plausible explanation of the collapse that accommodates the available archaeological evidence.
- Having established (Perfect Participle modifying “Lowe”)
- this chronology, (Noun – modifies “established”)
- Lowe sets forth (Main clause)
- a plausible explanation (Noun – modifies “sets forth”)
- of the collapse (PP modifying “explanation”)
- that accommodates (DC modifying “explanation”)
- the available archaeological evidence.( Noun – modifies “accomodates”)
- a plausible explanation (Noun – modifies “sets forth”)
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In the 10th example:
Can’t we say
that accommodates = Noun Dep Clause modifying “collapse”
& rest same as stated above
Do you mean the collapse accommodates the available evidence?