English Sentence Structure - English Grammar Lesson

Hi, I’m Olivier.

嗨，我是Oliver。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn about sentence structure in English.

在本節課裡，您會學到英文的句型架構。

You’ll learn how to construct all kinds of sentences in English, from the simplest

您能學到造各種類型的英文句子， 從最簡單的

possible sentences, to long, complex sentences which contain many different ideas.

句子到包含了很多不同想法 的既長又複雜的句子。

To begin, a question:

最開始，有一個問題：

What’s the simplest sentence you can make in English?

您可以造的最簡單的 英文句子是什麼？

What does every sentence in English need?

每個英文句子要有什麼成分？

Every sentence needs a verb.

每個句子需要一個動詞。

The simplest sentence is an imperative, which means when you tell someone to do something.

最簡單的句子是您想讓某人去做 某些事情時所用的一個祈使句。

For example:

舉例來說：

Run!

Run!

Leave!

Leave!

Work!

Work!

These are the simplest complete sentences you can make in English; they’re just one

您能造的英文句子裡，這些是 最簡單的，他們只有一個

word long!

單字的長度！

Of course, most sentences are longer than this.

當然，大多數句子都會比這個要長。

Most sentences that are longer than one word also need a noun before the verb.

大多數比一個單字長的句子， 也需要在動詞前有個名詞。

This noun is the subject.

這個名詞是主詞。

With a subject plus a verb, you can make simple sentences like:

有了主詞加動詞，您就能造 簡單句，例如：

He runs.

He runs.

She left.

She left.

They’re working.

They’re working.

You can see that the verb can be in different forms: past or present, simple or continuous.

您能看到這裡的動詞有不同的形式：過去式 或現在式，簡單式或進行式。

The verb form doesn’t change the structure of the sentence.

動詞的形式不會改變句子的架構。

These are all the same: subject plus verb.

都是一樣的：主詞加動詞。

Of course, these sentences aren’t very interesting.

當然，這些句子都很沒趣。

You can’t say much with short sentences like these.

您用短句不能表達很多東西。

Let’s add a little more information.

我們再加一點資訊。

Take the sentence he runs.

拿這個句子來說：he runs。

What could you add after runs to make it longer?

您可以在runs後面加點什麼，句子會變得更長？

You could add an adverb of place:

您可以加一個地方副詞。

He runs around the park.

He runs around the park.

You could add an adverb of time:

您可以加一個時間副詞。

He runs every morning.

He runs every morning.

You could add both:

您也可以兩個都加上。

He runs around the park every morning.

He runs around the park every morning.

You could add an adverb of manner:

您也可以加一個情狀副詞。

He runs slowly.

He runs slowly.

You can see that you have many choices, but your choices are also limited.

您可以看到，您有很多選擇， 但是您的選擇也是有限的。

In this case, you can use different kinds of adverbs, but there are also things you

在這個例句裡，您可以用不同類型 的副詞，但是也有一些是

can’t use.

您不能用的。

For example, you can’t use another verb after run, you can’t use an adjective, and

例如，您不能在run的後面用另一個 動詞，您也不能用形容詞，

you can’t use a noun, or at least you can’t use a noun with this meaning of run.

您不能用名詞，或至少 您不能用有跑步意思的名詞。

This is an important point, so let’s look at it in more detail.

這點很重要，所以，我們 看看更多的細節。

To build grammatically complete sentences in English, there’s one important question:

要造一個語法上完整的英文 句子，有一個重要的問題：

what needs to come next?

接下來要有什麼？

For example, you saw the sentence he runs.

例如，您看到he runs這個句子時，

That’s a complete sentence.

那是一個完整句。

You can put a full stop after runs, and it’s correct.

您完全可以在runs後面 就停下，而且這是正確的。

It’s very basic, but it’s correct.

雖然句型很基礎，但是這是正確的。

What about these:

那這些句子呢？

She likes He wants

She likes He wants

We go

We go

These aren’t complete sentences.

這些不是完整句。

Can you explain why not?

您可以解釋這是為什麼嗎？

They aren’t complete, very simply, because they aren’t finished.

他們不是完整的，很簡單， 因為他們還沒有結束。

Look at the first sentence: She likes.

看下句一: She likes.

She likes…what?

She likes....什麼呢？

She has to like something.

她必須喜歡某些事。

He wants…

He wants…

What does he want?

他想怎樣呢？

You can’t just ‘want’, you have to want something.

您不能只是 ‘want’，您必須想要某些東西或想要做某事。

We go…

We go…

Where?

去哪?

At this point, we want to teach you a word: complement.

關於這點，我們想教您一個字：補語。

The complement is the thing you add after a verb to make a sentence complete.

補語是您要加在動詞之後 而句子就會變得完整的成份。

A complement can have many different forms.

補語有很多不同的形式。

It can be a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb.

它可以是一個名詞、一個動詞、 一個形容詞或是一個副詞。

These things can be single words or phrases.

這些可以是簡單的單字或片語。

For example, when we say ‘noun’, we also mean noun phrases.

例如，在您想說“名詞”，我們也指的是名詞片語。

So, table is a noun, and the wooden table which my grandmother gave me is also a noun.

那麼，table是一個名詞，我阿嬤 給我的木桌也是一個名詞。

Both nouns refer to one object—one table.

兩個名詞都指向同一個物體—一張桌子。

For this lesson, a noun can be one word, or a phrase.

基於這個原因，一個名詞可以是 一個單字或一個片語。

Okay, let’s practice.

好，我們來練習一下。

Look at the first sentence: she likes.

看句一：she likes。

How could you finish this?

這個句子要怎樣才會更完整呢？

What are the possible complements?

可以用的補語有哪些？

Pause the video and write down three endings for your sentence.

暫停影片，給句子寫 三個可能的結尾。

Try to use different ideas and structures.

試著用不同的想法和架構。

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Let’s look at some possible answers.

我們看下可能的答案。

These are just our suggestions; of course there are many possibilities!

這些只是我們的建議；當然， 還有很多可能性。

She likes strawberries.

She likes strawberries.

She likes swimming.

She likes swimming.

She likes getting up before the sun rises.

She likes getting up before the sun rises.

She likes to listen to music while she works.

She likes to listen to music while she works.

You can see that there’s more than one possible complement: you can use a noun, a gerund (a

您會發現，這裡不止有一種補語， 您可以用一個名詞、動名詞

verb with -ing which acts like a noun), a gerund phrase, or an infinitive verb with

（一個末尾有ING的動詞，擔當名詞）、 一個動名詞片語，或是一個帶

‘to’.

“to”的不定詞。

So, you have many choices!

所以，您有很多選擇。

However, like before, your choices are also limited.

然而，和剛才一樣，您的選擇 也是有限的。

Only certain structures are possible.

只有特定的句型才可以用。

The idea of complements isn’t just for the first verb in the sentence.

補語的想法不僅僅適用於句子裡的 第一個動詞。

Many words need a complement.

很多單字都需要一個補語。

For example, look at one of the sentences you just saw:

例如，看下我們剛才看到的一個例句：

She likes getting up before the sun rises.

She likes getting up before the sun rises.

Technically, you can say She likes getting up.

從技術角度來說，您可以說， She likes getting up。

It’s a grammatically complete sentence, but you’d never say it.

語法上，這是完整的， 但是您永遠不會這樣說。

Why not?

為什麼？

Because it doesn’t make any sense.

因為這樣沒意義。

You need more information.

您需要加更多的資訊。

She likes getting up… when?

She likes getting up....什麼時候？

Why?

為什麼？

How?

怎樣？

You need a complement after getting up to complete the idea.

您要在getting up後加一個補語， 整個想法才會完整。

She likes getting up before…

She likes getting up before...

Before also needs a complement.

Before也需要一個補語。

You can’t stop there.

您不能在這停下。

Before what?

Before什麼呢？

She likes getting up before the sun….

She likes getting up before the sun….

This also doesn’t work, because it doesn’t make sense.

這也是不行的，因為還是沒意義。

It doesn’t make sense because the sun needs a complement.

之所以沒意義，是因為 the sun也需要一個補語。

Before the sun does what?

Before the sun怎麼樣呢？

She likes getting up before the sun rises.

She likes getting up before the sun rises.

Ok, finally we have a sentence which is both grammatically complete and which communicates

好，最終，我們有了一個語法完整又

meaning.

能轉達意思的句子。

What should you remember from this?

您需要記住些什麼呢？

Remember that when you use a particular word, you have limited choices in what kind of word

請記住，您在用一個具體的單字時， 您接下來要用什麼樣的單字

you use next.

是有所限制的。

To speak or write in clear, correct English, you don’t just need to know English words.

要用正確清晰的英文說或寫， 您不僅要了解英文單字。

You need to know what can come next.

您也要知道要接一些什麼內容。

For example, with a verb like like or want, it’s not enough to know the verb.

例如，有像是like或want的單字， 對了解動詞來說，還是不夠的。

You also need to know whether the verb needs a complement, and what complements are—or

您也要了解是否這個單字需要一個補語， 以及什麼樣的補語是可以用的，

aren’t—possible.

或是不可以用的。

This is why it’s good to learn vocabulary in full phrases and sentences.

這就是為什麼在完整的片語或句子裡 學習字彙會更好的理由。

That way, you’ll know how to use the words you learn to make sentences you can use in

這樣，您會知道怎樣用 學的單字在口語

your spoken or written English.

或寫作裡造句。

Using what you’ve seen up to now, you can build many simple English sentences.

用您目前為止所學到的，您可以 造很多簡單英文句子了。

Let’s see how you can add more information and more detail to these simple sentences.

我們看看，您怎樣才能在這些簡單句裡， 增加更多的資訊和細節。

You can add information to a simple sentence in two ways: you can add adjectives or adverbs.

可以有兩種方式：您可以 加形容詞或副詞。

Let’s look at an example, using a sentence we started before, but we didn’t finish:

我們看看一個例句，用我們之前開始的， 但還沒完成的一個句子。

He wants…

He wants…

Actually, you should do some work!

事實上，您應該做點什麼！

Pause the video, and finish this sentence in three different ways.

暫停影片，用三種不同的方式 完成這個句子。

Start again when you have your answers.

在您有了答案之後，我們再開始。

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Here’s our suggestion:

這裡是我們的建議：

He wants to buy a car.

He wants to buy a car.

Now, let’s add some description using adjectives and adverbs.

現在，我們用形容詞和副詞 來增加一些描述。

Can you see how you could add adjectives to this sentence?

您可以看下怎樣能在這個句子裡 增加形容詞嗎？

You could add adjectives before the word car, like this:

您可以在car這個單詞前加 一個形容詞，像這樣：

He wants to buy a new car.

He wants to buy a new car.

He wants to buy a second-hand car.

He wants to buy a second-hand car.

He wants to buy a bright red car.

He wants to buy a bright red car.

What about adverbs?

如果是用副詞呢？

Could you add adverbs to these sentences to add some details?

您能在句子裡加副詞來 增加一些細節嗎？

There are many possibilities; for example:

這裡有很多可能性；例如：

Apparently, he wants to buy a new car.

Apparently, he wants to buy a new car.

He wants to buy a second-hand car next month.

He wants to buy a second-hand car next month.

He wants to buy a bright red car for his new girlfriend.

He wants to buy a bright red car for his new girlfriend.

You can see that adverbs can be single words or phrases.

您可以看到，副詞可以是 一個單字或片語。

Adjectives can go before the noun they describe, or after some verbs.

形容詞可以放在要描述的名詞前， 或是一些動詞後。

Adverbs are more complicated, and can go in many different positions.

副詞會更加複雜一些，可以放在 很多不同的位置。

However, this is the important point: using adjectives and adverbs like this doesn’t

但是，重要的一點是；像這樣 用形容詞和動詞

change whether a sentence is complete or not.

不會影響一個句子的完整性。

If you say:

如果您說：

He wants to buy a car.

He wants to buy a car.

That’s a complete sentence.

這是一個完整句。

You can add adjectives and adverbs to it to make it more detailed:

您可以加形容詞和副詞， 句子會有更多的細節：

Apparently, he wants to buy a second-hand car for his new girlfriend.

Apparently, he wants to buy a second-hand car for his new girlfriend.

However, if a sentence is incomplete, then you can’t make it complete by adding adjectives

但是，如果一個句子是不完整的， 即使加形容詞和副詞，

or adverbs:

這個句子也不會變得更完整：

He wants to buy…

He wants to buy…

This sentence is incomplete.

這個句子是不完整的。

Adding adjectives and adverbs won’t make it complete.

增加了形容詞和副詞， 它也還沒有完成。

So, at this point, you can build a simple sentence.

所以，出於這點，您可以 造一個簡單句。

You also hopefully understand something about complements and why they’re important for

您也想了解補語，並想知道 為什麼他們對造完整句

making complete sentences, and now you can also add description to a complete sentence

很重要，現在，您也可以用副詞和 形容詞給一個完整

using adjectives and adverbs.

句增添描述。

Let’s see how you can combine these simple sentences into complex ones.

我們看一下，您要怎樣把這些簡單 句組合成複雜句。

First, let’s define some words.

首先，我們來定義一些單字。

A conjunction is something which joins two sentences or two parts of a sentence together.

一個連接詞，是用於連接兩個句子或 一個句子的兩個部份的

Words like and, but, if, although, because or which are conjunctions.

單字，像是and、but、if、although、 because或which，是連接詞。

A complex sentence contains two or more parts joined with a conjunction.

一個包含兩個或更多部份的複雜句， 是有連接詞來連接的。

These parts are called clauses.

這些句子的部份稱為子句。

An independent clause expresses a complete idea, and could stand by itself.

一個獨立子句，表達了一個完整的想法， 並可以獨立存在。

A dependent clause would not make sense if it were by itself.

一個從屬子句， 其自身是沒有意義的。

A dependent clause depends on an independent clause in the same sentence in order to have

從屬子句需要依附同一個 句子裡的獨立子句

meaning.

才有意義。

Don’t worry if this is new—you don’t need to remember everything right now.

不用擔心這是否是新知識， 您不需要現在就記住它們。

You’ll see lots of examples of these ideas in this section and the next section, too.

在本單元和下一個單元裡，您會到看到 很多關於這些內容的例子。

In this section, you’re going to learn about complex sentences with two independent clauses.

在本單元裡，您會學到由兩個獨立 子句組成的複雜句。

Okay, enough abstract talk!

好吧，抽象的話說的有點多了！

Let’s see some examples:

我們來看一些例子：

He runs around the park every morning, so he’s in pretty good shape.

He runs around the park every morning, so he’s in pretty good shape.

She likes strawberries, but she hardly ever eats them.

She likes strawberries, but she hardly ever eats them.

You should write to her and thank her for the present.

You should write to her and thank her for the present.

These are simple examples of complex sentences.

這些是複雜句的簡單例句。

Here’s your recipe: independent clause + conjunction + independent clause.

這裡給了您一個規律： 獨立子句+連接詞+獨立子句。

You generally need a comma at the end of the first clause, before the conjunction, but

通常，您需要在第一個獨立子句的後面 和連接詞的前面，加一個逗號，但是

comma rules are quite flexible in English, so you won’t always need a comma.

在英文裡，逗號的使用規則是很寬鬆的， 因此您不一定要加一個逗號。

Look at the first example:

看下一個例句：

He runs around the park every morning, so he’s in pretty good shape.

He runs around the park every morning, so he’s in pretty good shape.

Which word is the conjunction?

哪個單字是連接詞呢？

The conjunction is so.

連接詞是 so。

You can split this sentence into two full, meaningful sentences:

您可以把這個句子分割成兩個 意義完整的句子。

Let’s look at one more:

我們再看一個例句：

She likes strawberries, but she hardly ever eats them.

She likes strawberries, but she hardly ever eats them.

Again, you can split this into two full sentences.

再一次，您可以把它分割成兩個完整句。

You might think that the second sentence

您或許覺得第二個句子

here isn’t complete or doesn’t make sense by itself.

不是很完整，獨立存在沒有意義。

As it is, you’d be right.

就是這樣，您是對的。

However, you can change them to strawberries, and then it’s a complete, meaningful sentence:

但是，您能可以把 them 換成 strawberries，這時， 它就是一個完整的、有意義的句子了。

But, she hardly ever eats strawberries.

But, she hardly ever eats strawberries.

You can keep adding conjunctions and clauses for as long as you want:

只要您想，您可以繼續增加連接詞和子句。

She likes strawberries, but she hardly ever eats them, and she doesn’t earn much money,

She likes strawberries, but she hardly ever eats them, and she doesn’t earn much money,

so she has to be careful how much she spends on groceries, and fresh food is generally

so she has to be careful how much she spends on groceries, and fresh food is generally

more expensive than canned or frozen produce, so…

more expensive than canned or frozen produce, so…

Of course, just because you can, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

當然，只是因為您可以這麼說，但並不 意味著您這麼做會是個好主意。

Sentences with too many clauses are difficult to follow, so it’s generally better to limit

有太多的子句的句子會讓人跟不上節奏， 一般來說，更好的做法是

your complex sentences to two or, maximum, three clauses.

您限制子句在兩個以內， 或者最多不超過三個。

Now, you know how to build complex sentences using independent clauses.

現在，您已經知道怎樣用獨立子句來造句。

What about dependent clauses?

那麼，從屬子句呢？

Do you remember the definition of a dependent clause?

您還記得從屬子句的定義是什麼嗎？

A dependent clause is a part of a sentence which would not make sense by itself.

從屬子句是一個完整句的一部份， 它獨立存在沒有意義。

Let’s see an example:

我們再看一個例句：

She’s taller than I am.

She’s taller than I am.

This short sentence has two clauses.

這個短句有兩個子句。

Can you see where the two clauses start and end, and which one is dependent?

您可以看出每個子句的開頭和結尾嗎？ 哪個是從屬子句呢？

The two clauses are:

這兩個子句分別是：

She’s taller.

She’s taller.

And: Than I am.

和 Than I am.

They’re linked with the conjunction than.

它們是用 than 這個單字來連接的。

The second clause, than I am, is dependent.

第二個子句，than I am，是從屬子句。

It doesn’t make sense by itself.

它獨立存在沒有意義。

Let’s see some other ways to build complex sentences with dependent clauses.

我們再看一下從屬子句 構建複雜句的其他方式。

You can add a dependent clause with conjunctions like if, because, although, unless, or wherever.

您可以用一個連接詞來添加從屬子句，像是 if、because、although、unless或是wherever。

For example:

例如：

If you’re late, I’ll leave without you.

If you’re late, I’ll leave without you.

He’s broke because he spent all his money on beer.

He’s broke because he spent all his money on beer.

Although she spends a lot of time at work, she doesn’t get much done.

Although she spends a lot of time at work, she doesn’t get much done.

I won’t do it unless you come with me.

I won’t do it unless you come with me.

We can meet wherever you want.

We can meet wherever you want.

Often, you can change the order of the two clauses if you want, so you can say:

通常，如果您想，您可以改變兩個子句 的順序，所以您可以說：

If you’re late, I’ll leave without you.

If you’re late, I’ll leave without you.

Or: I’ll leave without you if you’re late.

或: I’ll leave without you if you’re late.

Notice that there’s a comma between the two clauses if the dependent clause is first,

注意到沒有，如果從屬子句放前面， 兩個子句之間會有一個逗號，

but not if the independent clause is first.

但是，如果獨立子句在前面， 就不是這樣了。

What’s the difference between these complex sentences and the ones you saw in part four?

這些複雜句和您在第四部份 看到的有什麼區別？

Here, you can’t split the sentence in two.

這裡的，您無法把他們分割成兩個句子。

Well, you can, but one of the two parts won’t make sense:

好吧，其實您可以的， 但是，沒意義而已：

If you’re late.

If you’re late.

I’ll leave without you.

I’ll leave without you.

I’ll leave without you is an independent clause, so it makes sense by itself.

I’ll leave without you是一個獨立子句， 所以它獨立存在能表達完整想法。

But the other clause—if you’re late—is dependent, and it doesn’t make sense by

但是另一個子句，if you’re late， 是從屬子句，它獨立存在

itself.

沒有意義。

It needs something more to make it complete.

它需要更多的內容，要表達的想法才會完整。

What other common ways are there to build complex sentences with dependent clauses?

還有什麼其他的用從屬子句 構建句子的常見方式嗎？

Another common structure is relative clauses, using relative pronouns like who, which or

另一個常見架構是關係子句， 用關係名詞，像是who、which或者

what to link two clauses.

what來連接兩個子句。

For example:

例如：

That’s the guy who shouted at me.

That’s the guy who shouted at me.

I have no idea what’s going on.

I have no idea what’s going on.

They gave us a cake which was made from dried beetroot.

They gave us a cake which was made from dried beetroot.

In these cases, the dependent clause goes after the independent clause.

在這些例句裡，從屬子句在 獨立子句的後面。

Let’s review what you’ve learned in this lesson.

我們來複習一下您在 本節課裡學了些什麼。

You can build a very simple sentence, with just a verb:

您可以僅僅用一個動詞來 構建一個非常簡單的句子。

Work!

Work!

You can add a subject and complement to make a simple sentence:

您可以增加一個主詞或補語 來造簡單句：

She works in a zoo.

She works in a zoo.

You can use adjectives and adverbs to add description.

您可以用形容詞和 副詞來添加描述。

Apparently, she works in a private zoo.

Apparently, she works in a private zoo.

You can make a complex sentence by adding a second independent clause, with a conjunction.

您可以用連接詞來連接一個獨立 子句，來造一個複雜句。

Apparently, she works in a private zoo, so she must know a lot about animals.

Apparently, she works in a private zoo, so she must know a lot about animals.

You can also make a complex sentence by adding a dependent clause, or even several dependent

您也可以用連接詞連接一個 從屬子句，或者幾個從屬子句

clauses, again using conjunctions to connect them.

的方式來造複雜句。

Apparently, she works in a private zoo, so she must know a lot about animals, which surprises

Apparently, she works in a private zoo, so she must know a lot about animals, which surprises

me because as far as I know she studied economics at university, although I guess I could be

me because as far as I know she studied economics at university, although I guess I could be

wrong.

wrong.

This is a big topic, and it will take you time to learn everything about these points.

這是一個很廣泛的話題， 您要花一些時間學這些內容。

Studying conjunctions and how they work can help you to build complex sentences which

學習連接詞，學習怎樣用它們， 能幫助您構建清晰且正確的

are clear and correct.

複雜句。

Relative clauses are another useful topic if you want to improve your sentence grammar.

如果您想在句子架構語法上有所提高， 關係子句是另一個很有用的主題。

Learning about relative clauses can help you to connect your ideas in complex sentences.

學習關係子句，可以幫您用 複雜句去表達您的想法。

It’s also a good idea to study verb complements and learn what structures you can or can’t

學習動詞的補語，以及了解在一個動詞之後 什麼樣的句子架構可以用或不可以

use after a verb.

用，也是一個不錯的契入點。

Remember that a lot of sentence structure is being able to answer the question: “What

記住，很多不同架構的句子都能回答一個問題：

needs to come next?”

接下來需要什麼內容？

We hope this lesson was useful for you.

我希望這節課的內容對您有幫助。

Check out our website for more free English lessons: Oxford Online English dot com.

看一下我們的網站， Oxford Online English dot com， 那裡有很多免費的英文課程。

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

再見！