Sentences

1. Sentences Back to basics

2. Sentences We begin by identifying two parts of speech that are in every complete sentence: nouns and verbs. A noun is a word that names something: a person, place, thing, or idea. A common noun is a general name: song, musician, foreigner A proper noun is a specific name: Let It Be, Beatles, Englishman

3. Sentences A verb is a word that expresses action or state of being. action: run, carried, screamed state of being: is, are, seemed

4. Sentences A verb may consist of one word or of several words. It may be composed of a main verb and one or more helping verbs. helping verb + main verb = verb will return will return would expect would expect is leaving is leaving must have shown must have shown

5. Sentences • There are two basic parts to a sentence • The subject tells whom or what the sentence is about. We know a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. So the subject will always contain a noun. • The predicate is the idea expressed about the subject. It usually tells what the subject is; what the subject did; or what happened to the subject. The predicate contains the verb.

6. Sentences EXAMPLES Subject (who or what) Predicate (idea expressed about the subject) • The volcano erupted again. • A reporter relayed the news. • My cousin became an artist. • The subway riders raced for the door.

7. Sentences • The complete subject includes all the words that identify the person, place, thing, or idea the sentence is about. • The busy volcano erupted again. • What is the complete subject? • The busy volcano. • The simple subject names exactly what or whom the sentence is about. • The busy volcano erupted again. • What is the simple subject? • volcano

8. Sentences • The complete predicate includes all the words that tell or ask something about the subject. • The busy volcano erupted again. • What is the complete predicate? • erupted again. • The simple predicate is the verb. • The busy volcano erupted again. • What is the simple predicate (the verb)? • erupted.

9. Sentences Examples: Write this sentence down: The question confused me. Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate. What is the complete subject? What is the complete predicate?

10. Sentences Example: Write this down The black stove glowed like a lighted pumpkin. What is the simple subject? (one word) What is the simple predicate (the verb)? (one word)

11. Sentences MORE PRACTICE: The soft mud under my feet cushioned my toes. Complete subject: Complete predicate: Our leadoff hitter ripped a ground-rule double. Simple subject: Simple predicate: All four tires need air. Simple subject: Simple predicate:

12. Sentences Every complete sentence has a subject and a predicate. Is this a complete sentence? The book on the floor. Is this a complete sentence? I stepped on the book on the floor.

13. Sentences Is this a complete sentence? The hippie hat on his head. Is this a complete sentence? The hippie hat on his head leaned at a humorous angle. OK, next: sentence clauses

14. Sentences • Sentences contain clauses • A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. • An independent clause can stand alone; it expresses a complete thought (it is a complete sentence). • A subordinate clause cannot stand alone; it does not make sense without the rest of the sentence.

15. Sentences • After the families came to the United States, they tried hard to fit into American culture. • The boldfaced clause is a subordinate clause: It needs the rest of the sentence to make sense. • The narrator’s mother liked to invent gadgets, and her father worked at a more traditional job. • The two boldfaced clauses each express a complete thought. They are independent clauses joined by the conjunction “and.” • Now, you practice on this handout.

16. Sentences: Comma Splices • Comma splices • Two independent clauses (or two complete thoughts) within one sentence cannot be separated by a comma alone. • When that occurs, we have what’s called a comma “splice.”

17. Sentences: Comma Splices • Example: Henry probably still would end up like he does, no one can ever tell what is happening to him or her next in life. • We have two independent clauses: • Henry probably still would end up like he does. • No one can ever tell what is happening to him or her next in life. • But they are erroneously “spliced. You cannot join two independent clauses with only a comma.

18. Sentences: Comma Splices • Fix the comma “splice” in three ways: • Simply replace the comma with a semi-colon. • Henry probably still would end up like he does; no one can ever tell what is happening to him or her next in life. • Keep the comma, but add a subordinating or coordinating conjunction. • Henry probably still would end up like he does, but no one can ever tell what is happening to him or her next in life. • Replace the comma with a period and form two sentences. • Henry probably still would end up like he does. No one can ever tell what is happening to him or her next in life.

19. Sentences: Comma Splices • Example: It was more than that, the crops were not rotated. • Fix: It was more than that; the crops were not rotated. • It was more than that. The crops were not rotated.

20. Sentences: Comma Splices • Identify and correct the comma splices in these sentences. • Use a semi-colon: Because of their circumstances, the world was cruel to them, they had no chance for a prosperous life. • Form two sentences: Because of the Dust Bowl, they decide to go west, nature simply gives them a push. • Use a conjunction: It could be argued that Jackie Brown should have pursued an education, it’s not that simple.