Writing Sentences

Writing Sentences English I Grammar

Writing is like baking a cake…you just need to follow the recipe! BASIC SENTENCE RECIPE: • Combine one subject with one predicate to yield one complete sentence • subject + predicate = sentence

EXAMPLES: The childrencarved the pumpkins. The childrenare carving the pumpkins this afternoon. Simple Subjects and Simple Predicates • subject = noun (person, place or thing) doing the action • predicate = verb (action) or verb phrase; main action of the subject

Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates • A sentence can have more than one subject that uses the same verb or more than one verb • when there are two subjects joined by and, orornor, they are called compound subjects • when there are two or more verbs joined by and, orornor, they are called compound predicates EXAMPLE: Mario and Luigi cannot speak or read Italian.

PRACTICE • Write the following sentences. Underline the subject once and the highlight the predicate in each sentence. • Larry ate the sushi. • The paper route was taking too long. • Bobby and Devon sat in their chairs. • Campbell fished and hunted in the Cascade Mountains. • They were running to catch the bus. • In the haunted house went the children. • The building and the house caught on fire.

Objects • The direct object in a sentence is the part of the predicate that is receiving the action of the verb or shows the result of the action • Ninabroughta presentto the birthday party. • Some sentences have an indirect object which tells to whom/what is receiving the direct object. Most common type of indirect object is an object of a preposition…phrases beginning with words such as, to, with, of, by, from, between, among… • Ninabroughta presentto the birthday party.

Clauses • Together, the subject and predicate make up a clause • If the clause expresses a complete thought, it is an independent clause • The teamwon the game. • If the clause does not express a complete thought, it is a dependent clause • Though Iwas tired

Sentence Fragments • Sentence fragments do not make complete sentences by themselves. • Often they occur as a result of faulty punctuation. If you put a period in the wrong place, before a complete thought is expressed, you will create a fragment. • If you omit a subject or predicate, you will also create a sentence fragment. EXAMPLES I thought I saw. The new studenttaking the bus. I thought I saw the new student taking the bus. “The Little Mermaid.” A great movie. “The Little Mermaid” is a great movie.

Practice • Proofread and revise the following sentence fragments: • Ran for student body president. • Chose the new soccer team captains, Michael and Alex. • Sent me an email with a virus. • The cat while she ate. • After the accident happened in front of the school. • Rarely gets up before noon on Saturdays. • Put too much syrup on his pancakes. • Luis to Puerto Rico rather frequently.

Fragments contd. • Sentence fragments also occur when a conjunction – like after, although, as, as much as, because, before, how, if, in order that, in as much as, since, than, though, that, unless, until, when, where, while – precedes an independent clause. • FRAGMENT: Until the players began stretching.

PRACTICE • Proofread and revise the following sentences and then add the proper punctuation: • Because the announcer spoke quickly. We didn’t understand. • The two point conversion. Made football games more exciting. • Sewing my Halloween costume. I stuck my finger with the needle. • Unless you know how to drive a manual transmission car. Buy an automatic. • After the concert was over. I bought a t-shirt for the band. • After we saw the movie. We went to the café and discussed it. • Since we had eaten a big breakfast. We just snacked for the rest of the day. • Because the workers had no contract. They discussed going on strike.

Run-on Sentences • Run-on sentences are two or more independent clauses written as though they are one sentence. • The main cause of run-on sentences, like fragments, is incorrect punctuation. • EXAMPLE: • Julie studies hard she is trying to win a • scholarship.

Fixing Run-Ons • You can use a semi-colon (;) • Julie studies hard; she is trying to win a scholarship. • You can use a comma with a conjunction. • Gillian lived in Portland, and she lived in New York. • Julie studies hard, because she is trying to win a scholarship.

Practice • Add end marks, commas, or semi-colons to fix the following sentences: • Will you come to the party we think you’ll have fun. • I sent her flowers. Hoping she would forgive me. • I found it therefore I get to keep it. • The flag has thirteen stripes. As most U.S. citizens know. • The dance team also travels to southern states. Such as Texas and Louisiana. • Mrs. Rammos introduced me to the new principal. A neighbor of mine. • Neil locked the gate then we left the ranch. • We spent a year traveling in Asia, consequently, we speak Chinese.

Writing Sentences