What Is a Sentence? Unit 1 Lesson 1

Objectives Students will: Distinguish between sentences and sentence fragments.

Definitions A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought. It must tell who or what. It must also tell what or what happens. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a punctuation mark. Example: Lightning flashed in the sky.

Definitions A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is not a sentence. Examples: Flashed in the sky. When the tree fell.

Identify if the following are a sentence or sentence fragment. If a sentence fragment, add words to make it a sentence. A storm was coming. Behind the pine tree. A crack of thunder after the lightning. Because the loud noise surprised us. Luckily, the storm ended quickly. (sentence) (sentence fragment) (sentence)

Choose the group of words that is a sentence. 1. Tornadoes are dangerous. Winds of high speed. 2. They spin like tops. Often in the Midwest. 3. Can appear very suddenly. They appear as funnel shaped clouds.

Choose the group of words that is a sentence. 4. Such storms can be called waterspouts. When they occur over water. 5. Reaching speeds of 300 miles per hour. Almost everything in their path is destroyed. 6. Because of the spinning winds. They are more violent than hurricanes.

Tornado Roars Through Town ( Identify the seven sentences.) The air feels heavy. I can ’ t breathe. Suddenly a dark, whirling cloud. It ’ s shaped like a funnel. It is racing across the fields. Towards the town. People point and run. A roar like a freight train. Whirling winds scoop up trees and houses. At last it is over. When people go out. Rubble everywhere.

Homework WB pgs. 1 & 2