What Makes a Sentence?

The Sentence Jingle A sentence, sentence, sentence is complete, complete, complete, when 5 simple rules, it meets, meets, meets. It has a subject, subject, subject, and a verb, verb, verb. It makes sense, sense, sense with every word, word, word. Add a capital letter, letter, and an end mark, mark. Now we’re finished, and aren’t we smart! Now our sentence has all its parts! REMEMBER: subject, verb, complete sense, capital letter, and an end mark, too. That’s what a sentence is all about!

Rule 1: It has a Subject Where have you heard the word subject before? In a sentence, a subject is the person or thing (noun) that is doing something. Ex 1: The cat caught the mouse. In this sentence, the cat is the subject, because the cat is doing the catching. Yesterday morning Matt went for a run. In this sentence, Matt is the subject because he went running. 5.LA.5.3.1 Identify complex sentences with subject and verb agreement.

Subject Practice Try to find the subject in these sentences. Frogs jump up and down. The dog jumped off the Shuttlecraft. The big lamp fell to the ground.

Subject Practice Let’s check your answers. Frogs jump up and down. The dog jumped off the Shuttlecraft. The big lamp fell to the ground.

Rule 2: It Has a Verb (Predicate) Remember, a verb is one of the eight parts of speech. When we put a verb in a sentence, it is called a predicate. Action verbs are the easiest types of predicates to locate. The man ate a hot dog. In this sentence, ate is the verb/predicate. Le Bron James shot a basket. Shot is the verb/predicate in this sentence. Justin Bieber sings songs. The predicate in this sentence is sings. 5.LA.5.3.1 Identify complex sentences with subject and verb agreement.

Rule 2: It Has a Verb (Predicate) Sometimes an action verb needs a little help, and two words become the predicate in a sentence. Here are examples of sentences that have both a helping and action verb making up a predicate. The t.v. is sitting on a stand. The ducks are quaking really loudly.

Rule 2: It Has a Verb (Predicate) The predicate in a sentence is not always an action verb. Sometimes it is a linking verb. A linking verb does not show any action. Here are some examples of sentences that have linking verbs for predicates. The New York Giants are talented. In this sentence, are is the predicate. The New York Giants are not doing anything, they are simply “being.” Maxim is a nice guy. Is is the predicate in this sentence.

Predicate Practice Can you find the verbs/predicates in the following sentences. The horse ran to the trough. Allie is reading a book. Tigers are ferocious.

Predicate Practice Did you choose the following answers? The horse ran to the trough. Allie is reading a book. Tigers are ferocious.

Subjects and Predicates At times, you will be asked to find the simple or complete subject and predicate. We have been finding simple subjects and simple predicates so far in this lesson. For example: The large cat ate a small mouse. In this sentence cat is the simple subject and ate is the simple predicate. To find the complete predicate, underline the simple predicate and everything that comes after it. The large cat ate a small mouse. Whatever is left over in your sentence is your complete subject. The large cat ate a small mouse

Complete Subjects Let’s find the complete subjects in these sentences. The young actress Miley Cyrus has made a lot of money in a short time. Last season Derek Jeter played for the New York Yankees. Double check to make sure your complete subject contains all the words before the predicate.

Complete Predicates Let’s take the same sentences now and find the complete predicates. The young actress Miley Cyrus has made a lot of money in a short time. Last season Derek Jeter played for the New York Yankees.

Rule #3: It makes sense! This is an easy rule. All you have to do is make sure what you are writing or saying makes sense!

Rule #4: Add a Capital Letter This is another easy one. Make sure to capitalize all of your sentences!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5.LA.5.4.1 Apply capitalization correctly in writing.

Rule #5: Add an End Mark This is an EASY rule, but people often get in a hurry and forget to put an end mark on their sentences. There are three types of end marks that can be used: A period (.) An exclamation mark (!) A question mark (?) 5.LA.5.4.2 Identify a colon to introduce a list and in a greeting. Identify quotation marks to punctuate dialogue. (see content limit)

Types of Sentences Depending on whether you use a period, question mark, or exclamation point will change what we call a sentence. 5.LA.5.3.1 Identify complex sentences with subject and verb agreement. (see content limit)

Exclamatory Sentences Perhaps the exclamatory sentence is the easiest to remember. When a sentence shows great excitement or shouting, you should put an exclamation mark at the end of it. All sentences with exclamation marks are called exclamatory sentences. Here are some examples of exclamatory sentences: There is a snake in the bath tub! Ouch! Tommy pulled my hair! Tomorrow is my birthday, and I can’t wait!

Interrogative Sentences Interrogative sentences are also easy to identify, but perhaps hard to say. There is a simple rule to identify these sentences. If someone is asking a question, it is an interrogative sentence. Here are some examples of interrogative sentences: Will you buy me a grilled cheese sandwich? Did you go to bed late last night? Is the sky purple or orange?

Imperative Sentences It gets a little more tricky when trying to identify sentences that end with a period. But have no fear! You can do it. Sentences that give a command, you know bossy sentences, are called imperative sentences. Here are some examples of imperative sentences: Sit down and be quiet. Go to bed right now. Take out the trash when you get home from school.

Declarative Sentences Not all sentences that end in periods are considered imperative. They can also be considered declarative sentences. Declarative sentences are sentences that simple tell you information. They do not exclaim, ask a question, or give a command. Here are some examples of declarative sentences: I like to drink diet coke and eat fries with fry sauce. Taylor Swift is a very successful singer. Fifth graders are good a writing sentences.

Types of Sentences Now it’s your turn to practice. What type of mark should you place at the end of these sentences. What type of sentences are they? Orange is Miss Feely’s favorite color There is a shark in the water What subject does Mr. William’s teach Do not run in the halls

How did you do? Orange is Miss Feely’s favorite color. Declarative There is a shark in the water! Exclamatory What subject does Mr. William’s teach? Interrogative Do not run in the halls. Imperative

Put It All Together A sentence, sentence, sentence is complete, complete, complete, when 5 simple rules, it meets, meets, meets. It has a subject, subject, subject, and a verb, verb, verb. It makes sense, sense, sense with every word, word, word. Add a capital letter, letter, and an end mark, mark. Now we’re finished, and aren’t we smart! Now our sentence has all its parts! REMEMBER: subject, verb, complete sense, capital letter, and an end mark, too. That’s what a sentence is all about!

More Practice Subjects and Predicates: http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html Types of Sentences: http://www.quia.com/quiz/106467.html

Picture References http://blogs.federaltimes.com/federal-times-blog/2010/07/08/former-sec-lawyer-sues-lebron-james-for-4m-claims-hes-his-dad-wait-what/ http://www.bsckids.com/2010/03/justin-bieber-on-the-view-twice/ http://khairilhusni.blogmas.com/2009/11/10/taylor-swift-jump-then-fall-lyrics/ http://www.bsckids.com/2010/05/miley-cyrus-promo-of-muchmusic-video-awards-on-june-20th/ http://www.zillow.com/blog/yankee-derek-jeter-building-huge-mansion-in-tampa/2009/07/16/