Sentences, Sentences, Sentences

What makes them complete?

All complete sentences MUST have…

Subject- Who or what is the sentence about? Sometimes a subject can be understood.

Predicate- What is the subject doing?

Example: Surprisingly, the children entered the house without causing a commotion.

Can you identify the subject and predicate in each sentence?

1) Miss Helton made certain that all of her students had their assignment book signed.

2) During the nighttime storm, the swing had wrapped itself around the limb of a tree.

3) It is rude to chew with your mouth open.

4) The championship game was the hardest we had ever played.

All sentences MUST end with a punctuation mark!

Declarative Sentences- Make a statement, and end with a period (.)

Interrogative Sentences- Ask a question, and end with a question mark (?)

Exclamatory Sentences- Shows strong emotion, and end with an exclamation mark (!)

Imperative Sentences- Give a command, and can end with a period (.) or an exclamation mark (!)

Hold up your index card to identify what type of sentence I am.

1) Stop tapping your pencil against your desk.

2) When will you leave for vacation?

3) The football game starts at 6:00pm on Friday night.

4) I can’t believe I made an ‘A’ on my first math test!

5) Get out a clean sheet of paper, and write your name at the top.

Check yourself

1) Stop tapping your pencil against your desk. Imperative

2) When will you leave for vacation? Interrogative3) The football game starts at 6:00pm on Friday

night. Declarative

4) I can’t believe I made an ‘A’ on my first math test! Exclamatory

5) Get out a clean sheet of paper, and write your name at the top. Imperative

Run-ons

Run-ons sentences have at least two parts, (in other words, two independent clauses), but the two parts have been smooshed together instead of being properly connected.

It is important to realize that the length of a sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; being a run-on is a flaw that can occur in very short sentences.

Example: I went swimming, I got burned.

How can you correct a run-on?

By using a semi-colon– I went swimming; I got burned.

By adding an ending punctuation mark– I went swimming. I got burned.

By adding a conjunction (and, but, or)– I went swimming and I got burned.

How can I build stronger sentences?

Vary the way your sentences begin. – Try starting your sentences with a verb, adverb,

phrase or clause instead of always starting with the subject.

Weak: I ran to catch the school bus.

Better: Quickly, I ran to catch the school bus.

Best: Shoving my books in my backpack, I quickly ran to catch the school bus.

Make me better!

On your own paper, start this sentence four different ways using an adverb, verb, phrase and clause.

The dog chased the little boy.

How can I build stronger sentences?

Use rich language that paints a vivid picture for your audience.

Weak: The red car went fast.Better: The crimson car zoomed by.Best: With lighting speed, the crimson Mustang zoomed past the school building.

Make me better!

One your notebook paper, try to start this sentence without using the subject, and include at least three vivid descriptions.

The girl tripped over her chair.

How can I build stronger sentences?

Don’t be redundant! (Don’t repeat yourself)

Weak: Eric ate a peanut butter sandwich, and Eric drank Root Beer.

Better: Eric ate a peanut butter sandwich and drank Root Beer.

Best: Rapidly, Eric ate a peanut butter sandwich and guzzled down a glass of Root Beer.

How can I build stronger sentences?

Add more detail!– Tell who, what, when, where, how, and/or why

Weak: Emily scored the winning goal.Better: Emily scored the winning goal in yesterday’s

championship game.Best: In yesterday’s championship game, Emily

bolted to the net scoring the winning goal for her soccer team.

Make me better!

On a piece of notebook paper, use your new knowledge to make these sentences more descriptive. Try to tell who, what, when where, how, and why.

1) Alex was tired.

2) The food burned my mouth.

3) The dog ran fast.