Writing Sentences by Tarasine A. Buck

Warm-Up Writing  What is your favorite place to go when you want to relax? What does this place look like? Why do you like it?  Take minutes to write about your answers.

Questions for Discussion  What is a sentence? What parts does a sentence need to be complete?  A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought. A complete sentence must also have a subject and a verb.

The Complete Sentence Complete Thought SubjectVerb Sentence

Sentence Combining Error: Fragments  A fragment is a group of words trying very hard to be a sentence, but not succeeding.  A fragment is missing an important part of what it takes to be a true complete sentence. It may be missing a subject or a verb, or it may not be a complete idea.

No Complete Thought! No Verb! No Subject! Fragment  No Fragments Allowed! Sentence Sen Fragment  

Sample Fragments  There are three children in my family. My older sister, my younger brother, and I.  On the street saw a small child crying.  When I went to elementary school. I enjoyed playing with my friends.

Turning Fragments into Complete Sentences  You can help a fragment become a complete sentence by adding the missing part. Fragment  Subject Complete Sentence

Practice with Fragments  There are three children in my family. My older sister, my younger brother, and I.  On the street saw a small child crying.  When I went to elementary school. I enjoyed playing with my friends.

Sentence Combining Error: Run-On Sentences  When you want to combine two or more sentences, there are special rules you must follow.  Sentences that are not combined correctly often become run-on sentences. They have too many subjects and verbs and too many complete thoughts!

No Run-Ons Allowed! Sentence Sen  Run-On Sentence

Sample Run-On Sentences  I love to spend time in the park it is a very peaceful place.  The ocean is my favorite place to go, it helps me to relax.  I walked down to the library and I found a book that I liked so I checked it out.

Combining Sentences Correctly 1.Put a period after the first and begin the second with a capital letter. 2.Use a comma and a connecting word (like and, but, or, or so) between them. 3.Use a semicolon (;) between them. When you have 2 complete sentences, you can:

Practice with Run-On Sentences  I love to spend time in the park it is a very peaceful place.  The ocean is my favorite place to go, it helps me to relax.  I walked down to the library and I found a book that I liked so I checked it out.

One More Rule!  In more formal English writing, we do not begin sentences with connecting words like and, but, or so. Try to connect these sentences to the sentence before or take out the connecting word.  You can also replace these words with: and=in addition, but=however, so=as a result

Practice with Connecting Words  I feel very tired. So I want to go to bed.  I walked down to the beach with my friend. And we spent the entire evening looking for shells.  I did not want to leave the party. But I knew I needed to return home soon.