Sentence Structure

4.1.2.4 Identify and reduce fragments and run on sentences

Types of Sentences All sentences must have at least one subject and a verb and express a complete idea, but they can also be much more complicated. We generally do not speak using all complete sentences, but it is important to learn how to write good, complete and interesting sentences to make your meaning clear.

Simple Sentences The most basic sentences are known as simple sentences. A simple sentence may have more than one subject, but only has one verb idea. A verb idea might be more than one actual word, such as with the verbs had lived or could have had or must have been.

Examples of Simple Sentences In each sentence, the subject is bold and the verb idea is underlined. Matteo plays soccer. Domingos and Kat play soccer. My brother Kalen plays soccer. Sarah has been playing soccer for five years. Cadence and her soccer team should have won the finals this year.

Examples of Simple Sentences In the given examples, you can clearly see that each sentence has one verb idea, although there may be more than one subject.

Compound Sentences When two or more verb ideas are linked in a sentence, it becomes a compound sentence.

Examples of Compound Sentences In each sentence, the subject is bold and the verb idea is underlined. Daniel plays soccer in the summer and skis in the winter. Cayleah plays soccer, but I prefer softball. Isabella plays soccer and Tyler does too. On Tuesdays, Grace and Nyadholly play soccer and I go to swimming lessons. Seth played soccer yesterday, but Ashton did not.

Types of Sentences Sentences can also look very different depending on what they are saying. There are four types of sentences that you will learn to write: Declarative Interrogative Imperative Exclamatory

Declarative Sentences Make a statement Example: Dayanna’s team won the soccer game.

Interrogative Sentences Ask a question Example: Did Evan’s team win?

Imperative Sentences Command or order Examples: Get out there and run your hardest! Don’t touch the ball with your hands.

Exclamatory Sentences Show excitement Example: What a great game you played!

What Makes A Sentence Complete? In writing, the rule is that complete sentences should always be used, even though this is not the case when speaking. If you are writing dialogue (direct speech) in a story, it is acceptable to have the characters speak using some incomplete sentences, also called utterances. In order for a sentence to be complete, it must have a noun subject and a matching verb. The very simplest complete sentence has only a noun and a verb.

Simple Complete Sentences Examples: Paw cried. Lawmay laughed.

More Types of Sentences Most sentences have some other information to make the idea clearer or more complete: Examples: Ms. Stolte cried because she skinned her knee. Morgan laughed at the dog’s tricks.

Incomplete Sentences Sometimes, extra information can confuse you because the sentence looks long enough, but it still might be incomplete if the subject’s verb is missing. Look carefully at the following incomplete sentences: Kathleen, my very best friend in the whole wide world. On Tuesday, Sally, the kid from next door.

Incomplete Sentences It is important to remember that the statement must be finished for the sentence to be complete, even if it has a subject and a verb. The following ideas are unfinished: Natalia cried because. Zavianne cried because she skinned her. Cayleah laughed at the dog’s.

Incomplete Sentences Usually, you will notice that a sentence is incomplete when you read it to yourself because it sounds like something is missing. Natalia cried because. (Why did she cry?) Zavianne cried because she skinned her. (What did she skin?)

Incomplete Sentences Here is a slightly more complicated example: On Tuesday, Daniel, who lives next door. Even though there is a verb in this sentence (lives), the sentence is still incomplete. The phrase “who lives next door” is just extra information explaining who Daniel is. We are left wondering, “What did Daniel do on Tuesday?” There needs to be a verb matching the subject. On Tuesday, Daniel, who lives next door, laughed at the dog’s tricks. Now it is a complete statement.

Run-On Sentences Run-on sentences occur when more than one complete sentence is attached to another complete sentence without punctuation or conjunctions to separate them. Examples: There was a thunderstorm our game was rained out. Fix: insert a period to divide the two sentences. There was a thunderstorm. Our game was rained out. Fix: insert a subordinating conjunction and a comma. Because there was a thunderstorm, our game was rained out. Fix: insert a coordinating conjunction and a comma. There was a thunderstorm, and our game was rained out. Fix: insert a semi-colon. There was a thunderstorm; our game was rained out.

Context Clues Determine the meaning of the bolded words based on the context of the sentences. Jane’s dad interrogated her about where she went late last night. John declared that he had the correct answer to the problem. When she stubbed her toe on the corner, she suddenly exclaimed, “Ouch!” The king issued many imperatives to his subjects.

Three ways to end sentences in English: End Marks Three ways to end sentences in English: Period . Question ? Exclamation Point ! There are four types of sentences.

Declarative Sentences Make statements and end with periods Examples Cookies taste good. We didn’t get home until late. Dolphins can recognize their reflections.

Exclamatory Sentences Excitedly express emotion, end with exclamation points Examples The robber is escaping! That car is headed right for us! I can’t believe we won!

Give orders, commands and instructions, Imperative Sentences Give orders, commands and instructions, end with periods or exclamation points. The subject is always “you” and implied. Examples Be home by midnight. Drop the weapon! (You,) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Interrogative Sentences Ask questions, end with question marks. Examples Are you going home? When is the graduation? Why didn’t I take notes?

Practice Write down whether each sentence is… Declarative Imperative Exclamatory Interrogative

1 Get out some paper and a pencil.

2 If you don’t have a pencil, you can use one of my crayons.

3 Why aren’t you doing your work?

4 The students wondered how many questions they would have to answer.

5 I’m so happy that we don’t have to write the sentences!

6 Stop playing around and listen to instruction.

7 We have to answer and review ten practice questions before the lesson is done.

8 Why didn’t you put your name on top of your paper?

9 Stop bothering her!

10 He wondered why he got number ten wrong.

Answers Imperative Declarative Interrogative Exclamatory