Understanding Subjects and Predicates
Every complete sentence in English requires two fundamental components: a subject and a predicate. The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something. The predicate tells us what the subject is doing or what is happening to it, and it always contains a main verb.
- Simple Subject: The main noun or pronoun without any modifying words. For example, in *The pregnant woman arrived*, the simple subject is *woman*.
- Complete Subject: The simple subject along with all the words that modify it. In the same sentence, the complete subject is *The pregnant woman*.
- Simple Predicate: Just the main verb. Here, the simple predicate is *arrived*.
- Complete Predicate: The verb together with all its objects, modifiers, or complements. In our example, there are no extra modifiers, but in *She examined the patient carefully*, the complete predicate is *examined the patient carefully*.
Recognizing these parts helps midwives construct clear patient notes and documentation, ensuring there is never any confusion about who performed a clinical action.
Core Sentence Patterns
Sentences in English follow specific structural formulas based on how verbs interact with other words. Understanding these patterns prevents garbled phrasing in clinical handovers and research papers.
- Subject + Verb (S-V): The action is complete without needing an object. *Example: The baby cried.*
- Subject + Verb + Direct Object (S-V-DO): The action passes directly to a receiver. *Example: The midwife recorded the pulse.*
- Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO): Something is given or done to someone. *Example: The doctor gave the mother medication.*
- Subject + Verb + Subject Complement (S-V-SC): A linking verb connects the subject to a word that describes or renames it. *Example: The patient looks stable.*
- Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement (S-V-DO-OC): A noun or adjective renames or describes the direct object. *Example: The team named the newborn baby healthy.*
Classifying Sentences by Structure
Sentences are classified into four main structural types based on how many clauses they contain and how those clauses are joined.
- Simple Sentence: Contains one independent clause and zero dependent clauses. It expresses a single complete thought. (*The ward is quiet.*)
- Compound Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions (like *and*, *but*, *or*) or a semicolon. (*The mother pushed hard, and the baby was born.*)
- Complex Sentence: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. (*Because the membranes ruptured early, the doctor induced labor.*)
- Compound-Complex Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. (*The shift ended, but the midwives stayed because emergencies arrived.*)
Using a healthy mix of these types keeps your academic writing engaging rather than monotonous.
Classifying Sentences by Purpose
Beyond grammar structure, sentences are grouped by what job they perform in human communication.
- Declarative: Makes a statement and ends with a period. This is the workhorse of clinical charting. (*The infant weighs three kilograms.*)
- Interrogative: Asks a question and ends with a question mark. Essential during patient intake assessments. (*Did you feel any pain before today?*)
- Imperative: Gives a command, instruction, or request, often with an implied 'you' subject. (*Breathe deeply and push.*)
- Exclamatory: Expresses strong emotion and ends with an exclamation mark. Use sparingly in professional records. (*The baby is finally breathing!*)
Choosing the right purpose ensures your verbal and written instructions are clearly understood by colleagues and patients alike.
Fixing Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Flawed sentence construction obscures meaning and looks unprofessional in patient records. Two common errors plague student writing: fragments and run-on sentences.
A sentence fragment is an incomplete thought punctuated as if it were a full sentence. It usually lacks a subject or a verb, or starts with a subordinating word without a main clause attached. *Incorrect: Because the patient had high fever.* To fix it, attach it to a main clause: *Because the patient had high fever, she was admitted.*
A run-on sentence (or comma splice) crams two or more independent clauses together improperly. *Incorrect: The labor progressed quickly the midwife called the doctor.* To fix a run-on, add a coordinating conjunction with a comma, use a semicolon, or split them into two distinct sentences.