Sentence Structure 2
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
He theorizes that Classic Mayan civilization was brought down by the interaction of several factors, set in motion by population growth.
- He theorizes (Main clause)
- that Classic Mayan civilization was brought down (DC modifying “theorizes” – Subject “civilization”; Verb “was brought down”)
- by the interaction (PP modifying “was brought down”)
- of several factors, (PP modifying “interaction”)
- set in motion (Verb-ed modifier modifying “factors”)
- by population growth. (PP modifying “set in motion”)
- set in motion (Verb-ed modifier modifying “factors”)
- of several factors, (PP modifying “interaction”)
- by the interaction (PP modifying “was brought down”)
- that Classic Mayan civilization was brought down (DC modifying “theorizes” – Subject “civilization”; Verb “was brought down”)
Sentence 2
Immigrants’ adoption of English as their primary language is one measure of assimilation into the larger United States society.
- Immigrants’ adoption (Main subject)
- of English (PP modifying “adoption”)
- as their primary language (PP modifying “adoption”)
- is one measure (Main verb “is”)
- of assimilation ((PP modifying “measure”)
- into the larger United States society. (PP modifying “assimilation”)
- of assimilation ((PP modifying “measure”)
Sentence 3
Movements to declare English the official language do not truly advance the cohesion of a multicultural nation.
- Movements (Main subject)
- to declare (Infinitive modifying “movements”)
- English (Noun – modifies “declare”)
- the official language (Noun – modifies “declare”)
- to declare (Infinitive modifying “movements”)
- do not truly advance (Main verb)
- the cohesion (Noun – modifies “advance”)
- of a multicultural nation. (PP modifying “cohesion”)
- the cohesion (Noun – modifies “advance”)
Sentence 4
Many educators in Canada and the United States advocate multicultural education as a means of achieving multicultural understanding.
- Many educators (Main subject)
- in Canada and the United States (PP modifying “educators”)
- advocate (Main verb)
- multicultural education (Noun – modifies “advocate”)
- as a means (PP modifying “advocate”)
- of achieving multicultural understanding.(PP modifying “means”)
Sentence 5
The Western scientific heritage is founded upon an epistemological system that prizes the objective over the subjective.
- The Western scientific heritage is founded (Main clause – Subject “heritage”; Verb “is founded”)
- upon an epistemological system (PP modifying “is founded”)
- that prizes (DC modifying “system”)
- the objective (Noun – modifies “prizes”)
- over the subjective.(PP modifying “prizes”)
- that prizes (DC modifying “system”)
- upon an epistemological system (PP modifying “is founded”)
Sentence 6
In 1948, Marshall litigated Shelley v. Kraemer, in which he convinced the court to outlaw housing discrimination practiced by private parties.
- In 1948, (PP modifying the main verb)
- Marshall litigated (Main Clause)
- Shelley v. Kraemer, (Noun – modifies “litigated” – presents the name of the court case)
- in which he convinced (DC modifying “Shelley v. Kraemer”)
- the court (Noun – modifies “convinced”)
- to outlaw housing discrimination (Infinitive modifying “convinced”)
- practiced by private parties. (Verb-ed modifier modifying “discrimination”)
- in which he convinced (DC modifying “Shelley v. Kraemer”)
- Shelley v. Kraemer, (Noun – modifies “litigated” – presents the name of the court case)
Sentence 7
The current state of our scholarly knowledge relating to law and the medieval Englishwoman is still fragmentary at best, though the situation is slowly improving.
- The current state (Main subject)
- of our scholarly knowledge (PP modifying “state”)
- relating to law and the medieval Englishwoman (Verb-ing modifier modifying “knowledge”)
- of our scholarly knowledge (PP modifying “state”)
- is still fragmentary at best, (Main verb “is”)
- though the situation is slowly improving. (DC presenting a contrast to the main clause – Subject “situation”; Verb “is improving”)
Sentence 8
One early scholar, B. Snell, argues that Aeschylus develops in his tragedies a concept of the autonomy of the individual.
- One early scholar (Main Subject)
- , B. Snell, (Modifies the main subject)
- argues (Main verb)
- that Aeschylus develops (DC modifying “argue”)
- in his tragedies (PP modifying “develops”)
- a concept (Noun modifying “develops”)
- of the autonomy (PP modifying “concept”)
- of the individual. (PP modifying “autonomy”)
- of the autonomy (PP modifying “concept”)
- that Aeschylus develops (DC modifying “argue”)
Sentence 9
In these dramas, the protagonists invariably confront a situation that paralyzes them, so that their prior notions about how to behave or think are dissolved.
- In these dramas, (PP modifying “confront”)
- the protagonists invariably confront (Main Clause)
- a situation (Noun – modifies “confront”)
- that paralyzes them, (DC modifying “situation”)
- so that their prior notions (DC modifies “confront” – Subject “notions”)
- about how to behave or think (PP modifying “notions”)
- are dissolved. (Verb for the subject “notions”)
- so that their prior notions (DC modifies “confront” – Subject “notions”)
- that paralyzes them, (DC modifying “situation”)
- a situation (Noun – modifies “confront”)
Sentence 10
The rights of viewers and listeners were not recognized by the FCC, which regarded them merely as members of the public.
- The rights (Main subject)
- of viewers and listeners (PP modifying the main subject)
- were not recognized (Main verb)
- by the FCC, (PP modifying the main verb)
- which regarded them (DC modifying “FCC”)
- merely as members (PP modifying “regarded”)
- of the public. (PP modifying “members”)
- merely as members (PP modifying “regarded”)
- which regarded them (DC modifying “FCC”)
- by the FCC, (PP modifying the main verb)
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