Sentence Structure & Linking Words: The Basics

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Sentence Structure & Linking Words

The Basics

- Word order

- Different linking words

Types of words

Do you remember these terms?

Noun

1. Zelfstandig Naamwoord
2. Bijwoord
3. Voorzetsel
4. Bijvoeglijk Naamwoord

Pronoun

1. Bijvoeglijk Naamwoord
2. Bijwoord
3. Voorzetsel
4. Voornaamwoord

Adjective

1. Bijwoord
2. Bijvoeglijk Naamwoord
3. Voorzetsel
4. Werkwoord

Verb

1. Bijwoord
2. Voorzetsel
3. Werkwoord
4. Lidwoord

Adverb

1. Bijwoord
2. Werkwoord
3. Voorzetsel
4. Zelfstandig Naamwoord

Article

1. Werkwoord
2. Lidwoord
3. Bijwoord
4. Voornaamwoord

Word Order

Sentence Structure

Do you remember these terms?

Onderwerp

Werkwoordelijk Gezegde

Lijdend Voorwerp

Subject

Verb

Object

Sentence Structure

1. The subject (pronoun or noun) comes at the start:

The cat is 11 years old.

He walks to school.

2. The verb(s) comes after the subject:

She works every day. 

John likes Mary. 

What is the subject?
'Mary likes playing games.'

1. likes
2. playing
3. games
4. Mary

Sentence Structure

3. The object = who or what the subject does something to.

The object comes after the verb(s).

He walks to school.

John likes Mary.

I work at a school. 

What is the object?
'John married Daisy last year.'

1. John
2. Daisy
3. Year
4. Last year

Sentence Structure

4. Time goes at the beginning or end of a sentence.

I start working around 8 o'clock.

Around 8 o'clock, I start working. 

5. Place goes at the end of the sentence, but BEFORE time. 

I start working at school around 8 o'clock.

Around 8 o'clock, I start working at school. 

Is this sentence correct?
At school, I start working at 9AM.

1. Yes
2. No

Sentence Structure: Adverbs

Adverbs can be placed in three places in a sentence:

1. At the front of a sentence.

Yesterday, the teacher taught the students. 

2. At the end of a sentence, after the object. 

The students will take the test tomorrow.

3. In the middle of a sentence, before or after the verb. 

She often studies before class. 

The student works quietly at her desk. 

The teacher will quickly teach the students.

Sentence Structure: Adverbs

There are different types of adverbs:

Manner - How is the action done?

Place - Where?

Frequency - How often?

Time - When?

Purpose/Reason - Why?

Degree - How much?

Practice

Word order Exercise 1*

Word order (with time & place) Exercise 1*

Word order Exercise 2**

Word order Exercise 3**

Word order (with adverbs) Exercise 1**

Linking Words

And, But, Or.

The basics

Linking Words

With linking words you can connect different sentences for different reasons.

Emphasis

Addition

Contrast

cause/reason

however

in contrast

above all

furthermore

nevertheless

most importantly

on the other hand

certainly

besides

moreover

what is more

although

in fact

because 

due to 

Which linking word is the odd one out?

1. in addition
2. additionally
3. however
4. moreover

Which linking word is the odd one out?

1. despite
2. whereas
3. unlike
4. like

Which linking word is the odd one out?

1. in case
2. provided
3. unless
4. therefore

Which linking word is the odd one out?

1. in case
2. if
3. unless
4. therefore

Which linking word is the odd one out?

1. initially
2. namely
3. like
4. such as

Which linking word is the odd one out?

1. before
2. earlier
3. later
4. initially

Fill in the correct linking word:
We don't take global warming seriously enough ________ rising ocean levels and floods.

1. though
2. as a result of
3. because of
4. in spite of

Fill in the correct linking word.
... he was a teacher, he used to be a soldier.

1. before
2. after
3. because
4. if

Fill in the correct linking word:
I don't like "Lord of the Rings"_____ there is too much violence in it.

1. so
2. therefore
3. although
4. since

Fill in the correct linking word:
He could read and write
______ being blind.

1. despite
2. as a result of
3. although
4. besides

Fill in the correct linking word:
My favourite book had sold out.....I bought a new magazine

1. so
2. but
3. since
4. although

Fill in the correct linking word:
Climates are changing ______ global warming.

1. in spite of
2. as a result of
3. in order to
4. although

Fill in the correct linking word:
They lost the match ______ poor physical preparation.

1. despite
2. after
3. because of
4. even though

Linking Words

Practice Exercise 1*

Practice Exercise 2*

Practice Exercise 3*

Bonus

Do you know what the names of all these bits of punctuation are?

Try it now!