The Parts of a The Parts of a Sentence and Sentence and Complete Sentences Complete Sentences vs. Sentence vs. Sentence Fragments.Fragments.

Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentence

Sentences consist of two basic parts:Sentences consist of two basic parts:Subjects andSubjects andPredicates.Predicates.

Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentence

The The Subject Subject tells whom or what the tells whom or what the sentence is about.sentence is about. Ex.Ex. Some residents of the desert Some residents of the desert can can

survive a long drought.survive a long drought.

Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentence

The The PredicatePredicate tells something about tells something about the subject and will contain a verb.the subject and will contain a verb. Ex. Some residents of the desert Ex. Some residents of the desert

can survive a long drought.can survive a long drought.

Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentence

The The subject subject may come before or after may come before or after the the predicatepredicate or between parts of the or between parts of the predicatepredicate.. Ex. Ex. Particularly noteworthyParticularly noteworthy isis the Australian the Australian

frog.frog. Ex. Ex. For up to three years For up to three years itit can live without can live without

rainfall.rainfall. Ex. Ex. How canHow can an animalan animal survive that long?survive that long?

Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentence

The The subject subject can be described as the can be described as the simple simple subjectsubject or the or the complete subject.complete subject. Simple Subject = Simple Subject = The main word or word group The main word or word group

that tells whom or what the sentence is aboutthat tells whom or what the sentence is about Complete Subject = Complete Subject = The simple subject plus any The simple subject plus any

words that modify the simple subjectwords that modify the simple subject Ex. “A dog like this is usually nervous.”Ex. “A dog like this is usually nervous.”

Simp. Subj. = “Dog”Simp. Subj. = “Dog” Comp. Subj. = “A dog like this”Comp. Subj. = “A dog like this”

Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentence

The The predicatepredicate can be described as the can be described as the simple simple predicatepredicate or as the or as the complete predicatecomplete predicate.. Simple Predicate = Simple Predicate = The verb, or verbs.The verb, or verbs. Complete Predicate = Complete Predicate = The verb or verbs and all the The verb or verbs and all the

words that modify the verb and complete its words that modify the verb and complete its meaning.meaning.

Ex. “She has been looking for you all morning.”Ex. “She has been looking for you all morning.” Simp. Pred. = “has been looking”Simp. Pred. = “has been looking” Comp. Predicate = “has been looking for you all morning.”Comp. Predicate = “has been looking for you all morning.”

Complete Sentence vs. Complete Sentence vs. FragmentsFragments

Again, a sentence contains a Again, a sentence contains a subjectsubject and a and a predicatepredicate, and expresses a , and expresses a complete thought.complete thought.

A A sentence fragment sentence fragment is a word or word is a word or word group that is capitalized and punctuated group that is capitalized and punctuated as a sentence but does not contain both as a sentence but does not contain both a subject and verb, or does not express a a subject and verb, or does not express a complete thought. complete thought.

Complete Sentence vs. Complete Sentence vs. FragmentsFragments

Ex. The magazine’s essay contest for Ex. The magazine’s essay contest for tenth-grade American history students.tenth-grade American history students.

Fragment (no verb).Fragment (no verb). Sentence: The magazine’s essay contest Sentence: The magazine’s essay contest

for tenth-grade American history students for tenth-grade American history students ends Tuesday.ends Tuesday.

Complete Sentence vs. Complete Sentence vs. FragmentsFragments

Ex. Was chosen as the best one from Ex. Was chosen as the best one from over two thousand entries.over two thousand entries.

Fragment (no subject).Fragment (no subject). Sentence: Her essay was chosen as the Sentence: Her essay was chosen as the

best one from over two thousand entries.best one from over two thousand entries.

Complete Sentence vs. Complete Sentence vs. FragmentsFragments

Ex. When the judges announced the Ex. When the judges announced the winner.winner.

Fragment (Does not express a complete Fragment (Does not express a complete thought)thought)

Sentence: When the judges announced Sentence: When the judges announced the winner, everyone applauded.the winner, everyone applauded.