full sentence
B1Neutral to formal, widely used in educational, linguistic, legal, and general contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A grammatically complete sequence of words containing a subject and predicate, expressing a complete thought.
In linguistics, a syntactic unit that can stand alone as an independent clause, typically containing a finite verb. In legal contexts, refers to the maximum period of imprisonment specified by a court.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term emphasizes grammatical completeness. In casual speech, 'sentence' alone is often used, but 'full sentence' adds emphasis on completeness, often in pedagogical contexts (e.g., 'Answer in a full sentence').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the term identically in grammatical and legal contexts. Slight preference in UK English for 'complete sentence' as a pedagogical alternative.
Connotations
In educational settings (UK & US), 'full sentence' often implies a correct, elaborated answer versus a fragment. In legal contexts (US), 'full sentence' strongly emphasizes the maximum penalty.
Frequency
More frequent in US educational materials explicitly instructing students. In UK, 'complete sentence' is equally common in pedagogy.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + [Verb] + [Object/Complement] (+ [Adverbial])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to serve the full sentence (legal)”
- “to not complete a full sentence (overwhelmed/interrupted)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in report writing or communication training to emphasize clarity. 'Please ensure all recommendations are presented in full sentences.'
Academic
Fundamental in linguistics and language teaching. 'The study analyzed the acquisition of full sentence structures in toddlers.'
Everyday
Common in parenting or teaching: 'Can you tell me what happened in a full sentence?'
Technical
In computational linguistics/NLP: 'The parser failed to generate a grammatically full sentence.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The pupil was asked to write a full sentence on the board.
- The judge handed down a full sentence of five years.
American English
- For the assignment, please respond using a full sentence.
- He is expected to serve the full sentence with no parole.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My name is Anna. I live in London.
- The cat is sleeping.
- It is a sunny day.
- Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.
- She finished her work before the meeting started.
- Having considered all the evidence, the jury reached a unanimous verdict.
- The proposal, which was submitted last week, has been approved.
- Notwithstanding the defendant's previous good character, the magistrate imposed the full sentence permitted by law.
- The hypothesis posits a correlation between socioeconomic factors and linguistic complexity in full sentence production.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A full sentence is like a full meal—it needs a subject (the eater) and a verb (the action of eating) to be complete.'
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS CONSTRUCTION (building a complete structure); THOUGHTS ARE CONTAINERS (a full sentence holds a complete idea).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing the Russian habit of omitting the subject in present tense (e.g., 'Холодно' -> 'It is cold' is a full sentence in English).
- English requires an explicit subject in a declarative full sentence, unlike Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Using a subordinate clause as a full sentence (e.g., 'Because I was late.').
- Writing a phrase without a finite verb (e.g., 'The big red car.') and calling it a full sentence.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a 'full sentence' in a grammatical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is an imperative sentence where the subject 'you' is implied. It contains a finite verb ('stop') and expresses a complete thought.
In modern grammar, they are synonymous. 'Full sentence' is often used for emphasis in teaching, while 'complete sentence' is a slightly more formal descriptive term.
Yes, if that word is a finite verb fulfilling the predicate role and the subject is clear from context (e.g., 'Go!' [implied subject: you], 'Rains.' [as a dramatic statement, implied subject: it]).
It establishes the basic unit of coherent written and spoken communication, moving learners from simple words/phrases to structured, clear, and grammatically standard expression.