Structurally English sentences are very simple.
Such sentences are analytically structured from the element of a Subject (S),
of a Predicate (P), and, if there is any, of an Object (O). Here, the element
of an S can be a Noun (N), a Noun Phrase (NP), or a Pronoun (Pron) functioning
as an S like 'I', 'we', 'you', etc. In English, the element of a P must be a
verb. The element of an O can be a N, a NP, or a Pron., functioning as an O
like 'me', 'us', 'you', etc. Basically English sentences are very short sentences,
containing the element of an S, of a P, and, if there is any, of an O. Short
English sentences are getting longer, more vivid or more lively, at least
because of two sorts of element, namely: first, pre and post
modifiers, of which the elements can be adjectives, nouns, present and past
participles; and second, adjuncts, of which the elements can
be the adverbials of (1) frequency, (2) place, (3) manner, (4) time, (5)
purpose, or (5) reason, or (5) concession, for example:
THE hunchback, short, old, Javanese
(pre modifiers) WOMAN (S) sitting on the grass over there (post
modifiers) always (adverbial of frequency) WORKS (P) industriously in
the rice field (adverbial of place) every day (adverbial of time) in order to
survive (adverbial of purpose) / because of the tradition of her village
(adverbial of reason) / in spite of feeling tired (adverbial of
concession) / etc. (adjuncts).
Although such a sentence is relatively long, it
belongs to what we call 'Simple Sentence'. A Simple Sentence is a sentence with
one S and one P, and if there is any, with (an) O(s), which can be a Direct
Object (DO), or both DO and Indirect Object (IO).
The essential elements that form the
above-mentioned Simple Sentence is THE WOMAN (S) WORKS (P).
The elements of S and P are essential because the Simple Sentence does not have
any meaning when such elements are omitted.
Furthermore, Simple Sentences constitute
the bases of Compound Sentences, Complex Sentences,
and Compound-Complex Sentences.