Grammar Unit 2: The Parts of a Sentence

What is a sentence? A sentences is a word group that contains a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. Verbs are also called predicates

Purposes of a Sentence Declarative~ A statement Interrogative~ A question Imperative ~ A command Exclamatory ~ Shows emotion What is the purpose of the following sentences: Can you picture a robot twenty-five feet tall? interrogative Step up and say hello to Beetle. Imperative Perhaps you have heard of CAM, an even more advanced robot. Declarative What an amazing creation it is! Exclamatory

Subject and Predicates Sentences consist of two basic parts: Subject Tells whom or what the sentence or clause is about Predicate Tells something about the subject SUBJECT PREDICATE Some residents of the desert can survive a long drought PREDICATE SUBJECT Particularly noteworthy is the Australian frog. PREDICATE SUBJECT PREDICATE How can an animal survive that long

Complete Subject and Predicate In each of the following examples, the words labeled make up the complete subject and predicate. A complete subject and predicate are the subject and predicate and their modifiers. SUBJECT PREDICATE Some residents of the desert can survive a long drought PREDICATE SUBJECT Particularly noteworthy is the Australian frog. PREDICATE SUBJECT PREDICATE How can an animal survive that long

Simple Subject The main word or word groups that tells whom or what the sentences is about The dog with this pedigree is usually nervous. A dog with this pedigree ~ Complete subject Dog ~ Simple subject Both of these cockatiels are for sale. Both of these cockatiels ~ Complete subject Cockatiels ~ Simple subject

Simple Predicate (Verb) The main word or words that tells something about the subject. Spiders snare their prey in intricate webs. Complete: snare their prey in intricate webs Simple: snare Rosa has been looking for you all morning. Complete: has been looking for you all morning Simple: has been looking Have my keys been found? Complete: Have been found Simple: Have been found

Practice! Write out the complete subject for each sentence. Underline the simple subject. 1. All of the townspeople ran from the burning building. 2. Only I am able to know what I am thinking. 3. The saber toothed tiger is a good example of an extinct predator.

Answers! 1. All of the townspeople ran from the burning building. 2. Only I am able to know what I am thinking. 3. The saber toothed tiger is a good example of an extinct predator.

Practice! Write out the complete predicate for each sentence. Underline the simple predicate. 1. The bird’s feathers were long and colorful. 2. We went to lunch with Amar and his friend today. 3. Daniel can come with us to the movie.

Answers! 1. The bird’s feathers were long and colorful. 2. We went to lunch with Amar and his friend today. 3. Daniel can come with us to the movie.

Sentence Fragments A word or word group that is capitalized and punctuated as a sentence but that does not contain both a subject and a verb(predicate) or that does not express a complete thought. The magazine’s essay contest for the tenth-grade American history students. Sentence fragment: Does not contain a verb The magazine’s essay contest for the tenth-grade American history students resulted in increased school spirit. Sentence!

Sentence Fragments (cont) Was chosen as the best one from over two thousand entries. Fragment: No subject Her essay was chosen as the best one from over two thousand entries. Sentence: Subject- essay; Verb- was chosen When the judges announced the winner. Fragment: Not a complete thought When the judges announced the winner, everyone applauded. Sentence!

Practice! Determine if each statement below is a fragment or expresses a complete thought: 1. If your parents think today’s fashions are weird. 2. Layers very common in medieval clothing. 3. When clothes were edged and lined in fur. 4. In the later Middle Ages, women wore jeweled metal nets over their coiled braids.

Answers! 1. If your parents think today’s fashions are weird. Fragment: Does not express a complete thought 2. Layers very common in medieval clothing. Fragment: Does not contain a verb 3. When clothes were edged and lined in fur. Fragment: Does not express a complete thought 1. In the later Middle Ages, women wore jeweled metal nets over their coiled braids. Sentence!