Definition: A sentence expresses a complete thought. Every sentence has a purpose. Examples: 1. School is fun. 2. After Rob pitched the tent, he rested.

Sentence Fragment A sentence fragment is a group of words that look like a sentence but does not contain both a subject and a verb OR does not express a complete thought. Ex. Sailing around the world. After Rob pitched the tent.

A sentence includes a subject and a predicate. Subject: whom or what the sentence is about. Predicate: describes or tells what the subject is doing.

When asked to identify the subject of a sentence, ask yourself this question. Who or what is the sentence describing? Who or what is doing something? or

The subject may come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. The pitcher struck Felicia out. After practicing, Tim bowled five strikes. When will the afternoon train arrive? Hiding in the tall grass was a baby rabbit.

Complete Subject: consists of all the words that tell whom or what the sentence is about. Simple Subject: is the main word or word group in the sentence that tells whom or what the sentence is about.

The subject is never part of a prepositional phrase. preposition: ex. Several of the puzzle pieces are under the sofa. subject: several verb: are

Compound Subject: consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction and that have the same verb. Paris and London remain favorite tourist attractions.

When asked to identify the predicate of a sentence, ask yourself this question. What is that person or thing doing? How is that person or thing being described?

Simple Predicate or Verb: is the main word or word group that tells something about the subject. Complete Predicate: consists of the verb and all the words that describe the verb and complete its meaning.

Verb Phrase Some simple predicates (verbs) consist of more than one word. Such verbs are called verb phrases. Ex: Kathy is riding the Ferris wheel. The carnival has been in town.

Tip The words never and not are not verbs. Ex: I will never forget her. She has not written to me recently.

The verb: to be Present Tense am are is Past Tense Was were

Compound Verbs: consists of two or more verbs that are joined by a conjunction and that have the same subject ex: The team played well but lost the game anyway.

Declarative Sentences: Make a STATEMENT and ends with a PERIOD. Imperative Sentences: Gives a COMMAND or makes a REQUEST. Mostly end with a PERIOD but strong commands can end with an exclamation point.

Interrogative Sentences: Ask a QUESTION. (Interrogate). Ends with a QUESTION MARK. Exclamatory Sentences: Shows EXCITEMENT or empresses STRONG FEELING. Ends with an EXCLAMATION POINT.