Sentence Structure 3
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
Unless citizens’ groups were applying for broadcasting licenses, citizens did not have the standing necessary to voice their views at an FCC hearing.
- Unless citizens’ groups were applying (DC modifying the main verb)
- for broadcasting licenses, (PP modifying “were applying”)
- citizens did not have (Main clause)
- the standing necessary (Noun – modifies the main verb)
- to voice their views (Infinitive modifying “standing”)
- at an FCC hearing. (PP modifying “voice”)
- to voice their views (Infinitive modifying “standing”)
- the standing necessary (Noun – modifies the main verb)
Sentence 2
Volcanic rock that forms as fluid lava chills rapidly is called pillow lava.
- Volcanic rock (Main subject)
- that forms (DC modifying the main subject)
- as fluid lava chills rapidly (DC modifying the verb “forms” – Subject “fluid lava”; Verb: “chills” )
- that forms (DC modifying the main subject)
- is called pillow lava. (Main verb “is called”)
Sentence 3
The start of Covid vaccinations in the U.S. and Europe raised the prospect that people would start traveling again and sent shares in hotel owners and operators soaring.
- The start (Main subject)
- of Covid vaccinations (PP modifying the main subject)
- in the U.S. and Europe (PP modifying the main subject)
- raised the prospect (Main verb 1 “raised”)
- that people would start (DC modifying “the prospect”)
- traveling again (Verb-ing noun – modifying “start”)
- that people would start (DC modifying “the prospect”)
- and sent shares (Main verb 2 “sent”)
- in hotel owners and operators (PP modifying “shared”)
- soaring. (modifies “sent”)
Sentence 4
Millions of Americans who have been mostly confined to their homes for the better part of a year are itching to travel again.
- Millions of Americans (Main subject)
- who have been mostly confined (DC modifying the main subject)
- to their homes (PP modifying “confined”)
- for the better part (PP modifying “confined”)
- of a year (PP modifying “part”)
- who have been mostly confined (DC modifying the main subject)
- are itching (Main verb)
- to travel again. (Infinitive modifying the main verb)
Sentence 5
Crammed under the floorboards are blocks of pouch-style lithium-ion batteries, arrayed in either 68 or 88 kWh packs, for which LG Chem must charge a pretty penny.
- Crammed (Part of the main verb. “Are crammed” is the complete verb. This is an inverted sentence structure)
- under the floorboards (PP modifying “crammed”)
- are (Part of the main verb. “Are crammed” is the complete verb.)
- blocks (Main subject)
- of pouch-style lithium-ion batteries, (PP modifying “blocks”)
- arrayed in either 68 or 88 kWh packs, (Verb-ed modifier modifying “batteries”)
- for which LG Chem must charge a pretty penny. (DC modifying “batteries”)
- of pouch-style lithium-ion batteries, (PP modifying “blocks”)
Sentence 6
The International Cotton Advisory Committee last month trimmed its estimates for the global harvest by about 1%.
- The International Cotton Advisory Committee (Main subject)
- last month (Adverb – modifies the main verb)
- trimmed (Main verb)
- its estimates (Noun – modifies the main verb)
- for the global harvest (PP modifying “estimates”)
- by about 1%. (PP modifying “estimates”)
- its estimates (Noun – modifies the main verb)
Sentence 7
China has committed to buying 4.1 million bales of U.S. cotton during the current marketing year, which began in August.
- China has committed (Main clause)
- to buying 4.1 million bales (PP modifying “committed”)
- of U.S. cotton (PP modifying “bales”)
- during the current marketing year, (PP modifying “buying”)
- which began in August. (DC modifying “current marketing year”)
- to buying 4.1 million bales (PP modifying “committed”)
Sentence 8
Scholars of women’s history should be as cautious about accepting oral narratives at face value as they already are about written memories.
- Scholars (Main subject)
- of women’s history (PP modifying the main subject)
- should be (Main verb)
- as cautious (Adjective after linking verb. Also, the beginning of a comparison)
- about accepting oral narratives (PP modifying “cautious”)
- at face value (PP modifying “accepting”)
- about accepting oral narratives (PP modifying “cautious”)
- as they already are (Second part of the comparison. Subject “they”; Verb “are”)
- about written memories. (PP modifying “are cautious” – ‘cautious’ word has been skipped in the second part of the comparison. However, from the meaning standpoint, it’s understood to be there)
- as cautious (Adjective after linking verb. Also, the beginning of a comparison)
Sentence 9
The stories people tell to explain themselves are shaped by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural and historical factors.
- The stories (Main subject)
- people tell (DC modifying the main subject. ‘that’ has been skipped but is understood to be there. This should be understood as “that people tell”)
- to explain themselves (Infinitive modifying “tell”)
- people tell (DC modifying the main subject. ‘that’ has been skipped but is understood to be there. This should be understood as “that people tell”)
- are shaped (Main verb)
- by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, (PP modifying the main verb)
- as well as by other cultural and historical factors. (PP parallel to the first PP above)
Sentence 10
Health care costs can be managed effectively if companies intervene in the supply side of health care delivery just as they do with other key suppliers.
- Health care costs can be managed effectively (Main clause – Subject “costs”; Verb “can be managed”)
- if companies intervene (DC modifying the main verb)
- in the supply side (PP modifying “intervene”)
- of health care delivery (PP modifying “side”)
- just as they do (DC modifying “intervene”)
- with other key suppliers. (PP modifying “do”)
- in the supply side (PP modifying “intervene”)
- if companies intervene (DC modifying the main verb)
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