Session Outline

Introduction to writing sentences.

True or falseAll sentences are the

same length.Sentences can end with

a question mark.Sentences always begin

with a capital letter.Sentences can end with

an exclamation mark.Sentences can end with

a comma.

False

True

True

True

false

Are these sentences?The remote control

is broken.Up the wall.Too much sun.He’s stupid!On the 21st August.Running down the

road.

Yes

NoNoYesNoNo

What does a sentence need?A subject. Every sentence must have a subject.The subject tells you who or what the sentence is

about.The rest of the sentence will tell you about the

subject.

Subject About the subjectThe hairdresser trimmed my hair.

London is a large city

We are taking exams

What else does a sentence need?

A verb. Every sentence must have a verb. A verb is known as a ‘doing’ word or a ‘being’ word. It describes the action. The verb is part of the information about the subject.

Subject Verb More about the subject

The electrician wired the plug.

Chefs work long hours in kitchens.

London is a large city.ACTIVITY

Do these sentences make sense?

I is going to the cinema.No job, from tiling to decorating, are too hard for us.The shops was closed yesterday.NoWhy?Because the subject and the verb do not agree.

I am going to the cinema No job, from tiling to decorating, is too hard for us.The shops were closed yesterday. (activity)

Make your writing look better.Experienced writers use a variety of

sentences to make their writing interesting and lively. Too many simple sentences, for example, will sound choppy and immature while too many long sentences will be difficult to read and hard to understand.

My name is Kate. I live in Manchester. I am a teacher. I enjoy going out at weekends. I go to the pub. I go to the cinema. I go shopping with my friends.

My name is Kate and I am a teacher and I live in Manchester and I go out at weekends and I enjoy going to the pub and the cinema and shopping with my friends.

My name is Kate. I am a teacher and I live in Manchester. When I go out at weekends I enjoy going to the pub, the cinema and shopping with my friends.

What are conjunctions?

Conjunctions are joining words

Conjunctions join sentences together.

Can you think of any examples of conjunctions

Examples of conjunctionsandbutbecauseifsoalthough

orwhenasbefore

Using conjunctionsJoin these two sentences together

with a suitable conjunction:

John went to work early. He had a lot to do.

John went to work early because he had a lot to do

.

Run-on sentences & comma splicing

What are run on sentences?A run-on is a sentence in which two or more complete sentences are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction.

Do not do this!

Avoid Run-On Sentences

I wanted to leave work early I couldn’t because my boss was hovering over me.

To fix the run-on sentence either use a conjunction, two separate

sentences or a semi-colon.I wanted to leave work early but I couldn’t

because my boss was hovering over me.

I wanted to leave work early. I couldn’t because my boss was hovering over me.

I wanted to leave work early; I couldn’t because my boss was hovering over me.

What is comma splicing?

Comma splicing is the incorrect use of a comma.

Comma splicing is using a comma to join together complete sentences.

You must never do this!

Comma SplicingE.g. I am studying English, it will help me to find a better job.

To fix comma splicing either use 2 seoarate sentences, a conjunction or a

semi-colon

I am studying English because it will help me find a better job.

I am studying English. It will help me find a better job.

I am studying English; it will help me find a better job.

Sentence vocabularyPhrase

A phrase is a group of words that work togetherE.g a big dog five minutes ago

A phrase doesn’t make complete sense on its own. It doesn’t have a verb so it can’t be a complete sentence.

Clause

A clause is a group of words that work together and include a verb

e.g. The boy won the race.

There are two kinds of clauses

Main Clause = a clause that makes complete sense on its own.

E.g. She bought a new dress.A main clause can be a sentence on its own.Suborninate clause doesn’t make

complete sense on its own.E.g. when she went shopping.

A subordinate clause cannot be a sentence on its own.

ConclusionA sentence must begin with a capital letter.A sentence must end with a full stop,

question mark or exclamation mark.A sentence must have a subject and a verb.The subject and the verb must agree with

each otherUse a variety of sentences in your writing.Avoid run on sentences & comma splicing.