Ms. Mitchell Freshman Composition Andover High School

SENTENCEFRAGMENT  Sentence: a word group that contains a subject and a verb to express a complete thought.  Ex) Billy galloped.  Fragment: A word group that does not express a complete thought.  Ex) Billy trotted to.

Which of the following are sentences and which are fragments?  1. Before going out.  2. Before going out, I turn off the lights.  3. After you have finished the test.  4. You can hand me your answer sheet after you have finished the test.  5. Was waiting by the door.  6. The teacher was waiting by the door.

 Subjects: tells who or what the sentence is about (usually a noun or pronoun)  Predicate (or verb) tells something about the subject.  Subjects and verbs are not in prepositional phrases.  Typically the verb follows the subject (S  V)  The subject and verb work together as a team, so they must agree in number

 The woman in black is my mother.  The scientist discovered new bacteria.  After the movies, I went home.

 In a question, the typical order of the sentence is changed, so change it back into a sentence to easily find the subject and the verb.  Is that my book?  That is my book.  Has she answer the letter?  She has answered the letter.

 In a request or command the subject of the sentence is not usually stated. It is just understood that the subject is “you.”  Sit down!  Please answer the phone!

 The words “there” or “here” are almost never subjects.  To find the subject in these sentences, ask “who” or “what” before the verb.  Here are my cousins from Italy. [Who are? Cousins]  There is my house. [What is? House]

 Sometimes a subject will consist of two or more nouns or pronouns, and a verb will consist of two or more verbs.  The students and teachers dread September.  Either Jan or Jim will write and send the story to the magazine.

 A word or word group (usually after the verb) that describes or identifies the subject.

PREDICATE NOMINATIVEPREDICATE ADJECTIVE  A word or word group (usually following a linking verb) that identifies or refers to the subject.  Usually a noun or pronoun  Verb must be a linking verb to have a predicate nominative.  Will never be in a prepositional phrase.  S  LV  PN  An adjective (usually following a linking verb) that modifies the subject.  A predicate adjective will always be an adjective.  Verb must be a linking verb to have a predicate adjective.  Will never be in a prepositional phrase.  S  LV  PA

 I am a teacher.  You are a student.  This classroom is hot and sticky.  The bread is moldy and stale.

DIRECT OBJECTSINDIRECT OBJECTS  A noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or what receives the action of a verb or shows the result of the action  Not found in prepositional phrases  Must be an action verb in the sentence for their to be a DO  Tells you “who” or “what” after an action verb  S  V  DO  A noun, pronoun, or word group that tells “to who” or “for whom” the action of the verb is done.  IO are not found in prepositional phrases.  IOs can only be in a sentence that has a DO  The IO must come between the AV and the DO  Tells you “to who” or “for who” after an AV  S  V  IO  DO

 He followed the leader in the race.  She made a ceramic bowl.  I watched the Olympics last night.  She sold me her collection of CDs.  He handed James her book.  I saved you some dessert.

 Declarative: a sentence that makes a statement and ends with a period. I love to eat Halloween candy.  Imperative: a sentence that gives a command or makes a request. Most imperative sentences end with a period, but some can end with an exclamation point. Stop texting in class.  Interrogative: a sentence that ends with a question mark. Can you pick me up at seven?  Exclamatory: a sentence that shows excitement or expresses strong feeling and ends with an exclamation point. I can’t believe that is happening!