Writing Effective Sentences

Writing Effective Sentences

Complete Sentences A complete sentence… • has a subject • has a verb • expresses a complete thought Examples: Olivia (subject) rode (verb) her bicycle two miles. Please be quiet! (verb) (The subject is you or the audience)

Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is a group of words that has been capitalized and punctuated but lacks a subject or a verb and does not express a complete thought. Examples: Was an outstanding athlete! (no subject) Andi an impressive singer. (no verb) While she was taking swimming lessons. (not a complete thought)

Run-on Sentences A run-on sentence is two complete sentences combined and punctuated like one. In a run-on, two separate thoughts run into each other. Example: The yearbook staff is working hard to organize the yearbook they also like to take candid photos of students.

Phrases A phrase is a group of words that acts as a single part of speech; however, it does not have both a subject and a verb. Phrases are often used to combine sentences. Example: The football team won again. They have won all their games this season. The football team has won all their games during this season.

Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, the object of the preposition (noun or pronoun), and any modifiers (articles or adjectives) of that object. Examples: under the table over the rainbow above a street sign between two trees

Commonly Used Prepositions aboutaboveaccording toacrossafteragainstalongalong withamongapart fromaroundasas foratbecause ofbeforebehindbelowbeneath besidebetweenbeyondbut*byby means ofconcerningdespitedownduringexceptexcept forexceptingforfrominin addition toin back ofin case of in front ofin place ofinsidein spite ofinstead ofintolikenearnextofoffonontoon top ofoutout ofoutsideover pastregardingroundsincethroughthroughouttilltotowardunderunderneathunlikeuntilupuponup towithwithinwithout

Appositive Phrases Appositive phrases are phrases that need to be set off by commas. If a phrase renames a noun or pronoun in a sentence, it is an appositive phrase. Example: • Arachne challenged Athena, the goddess of wisdom, to a weaving contest. (Athena is named and then referred to again in the same sentence as the goddess of wisdom.)

Adjective Phrases An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that is used as an adjective. An adjective phrase modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun. It answers one of the following questions: • What kind? • Which one? • How many? • How much?

Adjective Phrases cont. Examples: • Ted Turner, a millionairefrom Atlanta, owns several businesses. from Atlanta – adjective phrase millionaire – noun the phrase modifies • Three dogsin the contest won blue ribbons. in the contest – adjective phrase dogs – noun the phrase modifies

Adverb Phrases An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that is used as an adverb. It modifies (describes) a verb, adjective, or an adverb. Adverb phrases answer the following questions: • When? • Where? • How? • Why? • How often? • How long? • To what extent?

Adverb Phrases cont. Examples: • We got our new puppy at the animal shelter. got – verb at the animal shelter – adverb phrase (The phrase answers the question WHERE.) • On Saturday we will rehearse the new song. will rehearse – verb On Saturday – adverb phrase (The phrase answers the question WHEN.)

Clauses A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone independently as a sentence. A subordinate or dependent clause cannot stand alone because it does not express a complete thought. It needs help to be a complete sentence.

Clauses cont. Examples: • The band marched in the parade (independent clause) • while the football team rode on a float behind them (subordinate clause) The band marched in the parade while the football team rode on a float behind them.

Subordinate Clauses Subordinate or dependent clauses add extra information to sentences and they often begin with words like who, which, that, because, when, if, while, until, before, and after. Examples: • when the weather gets cold When the weather gets cold, I wear sweaters. • before the movie begins I want to get some popcorn before the movie begins.

Adjective Clauses An adjective clause is a subordinate (dependent) clause that describes a noun or pronoun. It contains both a verb and its subject. An adjective clause usually follows the word or words it modifies. It tells… • which one • what kind

Adjective Clauses cont. Example: a redrose - adjective a rose with red petals - adjective phrase a rosethat has red petals– adjective clause rose – subject has - verb

Relative Pronouns A relative pronoun usually introduces an adjective clause by relating it to the noun or pronoun the clause modifies. Commonly Used Relative Pronouns: thatwhichwhowhomwhose

Relative Pronouns continued Examples: (copy one sentence) • A snorkel is a hollow tube THAT lets a diver breathe underwater. • Gary Paulsen is the writer WHO is the author of Hatchet and Brian’s Winter. • The team’s mascot, WHICH is a bulldog, is called Uga.

Adverb Clauses An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. It contains both a subject and a verb. Adverb clauses answer the questions… • How? • When? • Where? • Why? • To what extent? • How much? • How long? • Under what condition?

Adverb Clauses cont. Example: Bravely, Jason battled a dragon. adverb With great bravery, Jason battled a dragon. adverb phrase Because Jason was brave, he battled a dragon. adverb clause

Subordinating Conjunctions A conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause. Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Examples: AFTER the sun had risen, we left for the cabin. Late yesterday afternoon, BEFORE the deer left the field, we took photos of them.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions after because though although before unless as how until as if if when as long as in order that whenever as much as since where as soon as so that wherever as though than while

Coordinating Conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions can be used as connecting words to combine sentences. FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Simple Sentences (S) A simple sentence contains one independentclause and no subordinate clauses. Examples: A good rain will help the farmers. rain – subject, will help - verb Where are my keys? keys – subject, are - verb

Compound Sentences (CD) A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses. Example: The leaves on the trees in Georgia are changing colors. The trees in Tennessee are already a beautiful orange. – 2 simple sentences The leaves on the trees in Georgia are changing colors, but the trees in Tennessee are already a beautiful orange. – 1 compound sentence connected with a coordinating conjunction

Complex Sentences (CX) A complex sentence is a sentence that contains oneindependent clause and at least one subordinate clause. Examples: When the outside temperatures start getting cooler, I think of college football. Albert Einstein, who was a famous scientist, wrote many interesting books and essays.

Compound-Complex Sentence (CC) A compound-complex sentence contains two or moreindependent clauses and at least one subordinate clause. Examples: When Jeb goes hunting, he takes camping supplies, and he wears camouflage clothing. The quarterback threw a pass, and Sawyer caught itbefore the buzzer sounded.

Which paragraph is better? Why? I am nervous and excited. The championship game is tomorrow. Our team is ready. We have been practicing for months. We have the strongest offense. The other team is good. We are better. We will win. I know it. The championship game is tomorrow, and I am nervous and excited. Our team is ready, as we have been practicing for months, and we have the strongest offense. The other team is good, though we are better. I know that we will win.

I am nervous and excited (S). The championship game is tomorrow (S). Our team is ready (S). We have been practicing for months (S). We have the strongest offense (S). The other team is good (S). We are better (S). We will win (S). I know it (S). The championship game is tomorrow, and I am nervous and excited. (CD). Our team is ready, because we have been practicing for months, andwe have the strongest offense. (CC). The other team is good, though we are better (CX). I know that we will win (S).

Writing Effective Sentences