Pronunciation

/sənˈtəns/

Definitions

Noun

A sentence is a grammatical structure that expresses a complete thought, idea, or statement, typically consisting of a subject, verb, and (often) an object. In written or spoken language, it is the basic unit of communication that conveys meaning.

Verb

To sentence, or to pronounce a sentence, is to issue a formal judgment, declare a punishment, or to express a complete thought in the form of a grammatically correct statement.

Noun (colloquial)

Sometimes used informally to refer to a group of words that convey a message, even if not a complete grammatical sentence.

Phrases

• “Formulate a sentence”
• “Write a sentence that summarizes the main point”
• “Sentence structure”
• “Run-on sentence” (a sentence that joins two or more independent clauses without proper punctuation)

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The teacher asked the students to write a five-sentence paragraph about their vacation.”
• Verb: “The judge sentenced the defendant to six months in prison.”
• Colloquial: “I need to clear my head before I can string together a coherent sentence.”

Synonyms

• Statement
• Clause
• Expression
• Utterance
• Declaration
• Judgment
• Proposition

Related Words

• Fragment (an incomplete sentence)
• Clause (a part of a sentence that contains a subject and a verb)
• Period (.) - marks the end of a complete sentence
• Comma (,) - separates items in a sentence
• Colon (:), Semicolon (;) - used to separate related clauses or items
• Prepositional phrase (a group of words that begin with a preposition and modify a noun or pronoun)