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sentence
[ sen-tns ]
/ ËsÉn tns /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
Grammar. a grammatical unit of one or more words that expresses an independent statement, question, request, command, exclamation, etc., and that typically has a subject as well as a predicate, as in John is here. or Is John here? In print or writing, a sentence typically begins with a capital letter and ends with appropriate punctuation; in speech it displays recognizable, communicative intonation patterns and is often marked by preceding and following pauses.
Law.
- an authoritative decision; a judicial judgment or decree, especially the judicial determination of the punishment to be inflicted on a convicted criminal: Knowledgeable sources say that the judge will announce the sentence early next week.
- the punishment itself; term: a three-year sentence.
Music. a complete idea, usually consisting of eight to sixteen measures; period (def. 18). See also phrase (def. 4).
Archaic. a saying, apothegm, or maxim.
Obsolete. an opinion given on a particular question.
verb (used with object), sen·tenced, sen·tenc·ing.
to pronounce sentence upon; condemn to punishment: The judge sentenced her to six months in jail.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I canât figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of sentence
First recorded in 1175â1225; (noun) Middle English, from Old French, frpm Latin sententia âopinion, decision,â equivalent to sent- (base of sentÄ«re âto feelâ) + -entia -ence; (verb) Middle English: âto pass judgment, decide judicially,â from Old French sentencier, derivative of sentence
grammar notes for sentence
A sentence is the largest grammatical unit in language. It communicates a complete thoughtâan assertion, question, command, or exclamation. In general, assertions and questionsâthe overwhelming majority of sentencesârequire a subject and a verb, put together in a way that can stand alone, resulting in what is called an independent clause ( see main clause ): He kicked the ball is a sentence. After he kicked the ball is not a sentence; instead it is a dependent clause ( see subordinate clause ). Even though it has a subject and a verb, it needs to be connected to something in order to complete the assertion: After he kicked the ball, he fell down; or He fell down after he kicked the ball. In the case of commands, the subject need not be written because âyouâ is understood: Go home! means You go home! And exclamations clearly express excitement, alarm, anger, or the like with no need for either a subject or a verb: Wow! Gadzooks! Ouch!
In everyday speech we routinely use phrases or clauses that would not make a complete sentenceâso-called sentence fragments âbecause the conversation or the circumstances make the meaning clear. For example, we might answer a question like âWhere did you go?â with âTo the store,â or âWhy canât I stay out till midnight?â with âBecause I say so,â or âWhat are you doing?â with âTrying to fix this toaster,â instead of âI went to the store,â âYou can't stay out that late because I say so,â or âI am trying to fix this toaster.â In written dialogue sentence fragments are perfectly acceptable. They would generally be regarded as sentences simply because they begin with a capital letter and end with a suitable punctuation mark. But they are not sentences in a strict grammatical sense. And as a rule, sentence fragments are frowned upon in formal or expository writing. They can be usefulâindeed, powerfulâbut in such writing they are effective only if used sparingly, in order to achieve a deliberate special effect: We will not give up fighting for this cause. Not now. Not ever.
In everyday speech we routinely use phrases or clauses that would not make a complete sentenceâso-called sentence fragments âbecause the conversation or the circumstances make the meaning clear. For example, we might answer a question like âWhere did you go?â with âTo the store,â or âWhy canât I stay out till midnight?â with âBecause I say so,â or âWhat are you doing?â with âTrying to fix this toaster,â instead of âI went to the store,â âYou can't stay out that late because I say so,â or âI am trying to fix this toaster.â In written dialogue sentence fragments are perfectly acceptable. They would generally be regarded as sentences simply because they begin with a capital letter and end with a suitable punctuation mark. But they are not sentences in a strict grammatical sense. And as a rule, sentence fragments are frowned upon in formal or expository writing. They can be usefulâindeed, powerfulâbut in such writing they are effective only if used sparingly, in order to achieve a deliberate special effect: We will not give up fighting for this cause. Not now. Not ever.
OTHER WORDS FROM sentence
sen·tenc·er, nounpre·sen·tence, verb (used with object), pre·sen·tenced, pre·sen·tenc·ing.re·sen·tence, noun, verb (used with object), re·sen·tenced, re·sen·tenc·ing.un·sen·tenced, adjectiveWords nearby sentence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use sentence in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for sentence
sentence
/ (ËsÉntÉns) /
noun
verb
(tr) to pronounce sentence on (a convicted person) in a court of lawthe judge sentenced the murderer to life imprisonment
Derived forms of sentence
sentential (sÉnËtÉnÊÉl), adjectivesententially, adverbWord Origin for sentence
C13: via Old French from Latin sententia a way of thinking, from sentīre to feel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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