1. Sentence Writing Strategies

2. Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is an independent clause that has a subject and a predicate.

3. Independent Clause
A group of words that makes a complete statement and has a subject and a predicate.

4. Subject
The person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. It’s always a noun.
All subjects are nouns, but not all nouns are the subject of the sentence.

5. Predicate
The predicate shows the state of being or action of the subject of the sentence.
Action can be physical or mental or state of being (is/are).
All predicates are verbs, but not all verbs are predicates.

6. Subject-Verb Identification Procedure
Step 1: Find the verb.
Step 2: Ask yourself “Who or What?” is doing the action to find the subject.

7. 4 Types of Simple Sentences
SV Jill sat.
SSV Jill and Jan sat.
SVV Jill sat and ate.
SSVV Jill and Jan sat and ate.
s=subject v=verb

8. Noun Phrase When two or more words are used together for the subject
These typically describe the subject, give us information about the subject
The noun phrase is the Complete Subject

9. Head Word of Subject
Is the one word that names what the sentence is about.
Example:
The old gray horse grazed in the field.
Head word = horse
Complete subject= old gray horse

10. Verb Phrase When one or more helping verbs is in front of a main verb
The verb phrase is the Complete Verb

11. 23 Helping Verbs Shall, should Will, was, were, would Is
May, might, must
Be, being, been
Can, could
Has, have, had
Am, are
Do, does, did

12. Helping Verbs
Helping verbs can be right in front of the verb or a few words away.
Example:
I could have walked to the park.
Main Verb= walked
Helping Verbs= could have

13. Complete Verb Includes the main verb and the helping verbs. Example:
She may be going to the mall today.
Main verb= going
Complete Verb= may be going

14. Verbs Can Move Verbs can come before the subject
Example: Down the street ran the bulls.

15. Verbs Can Move
Sometimes the subject will appear between the helping verb and the verb.
Example: Will you go to the movie tonight?

16. Infinitives
Any verb that has the word “to” in front of it is an infinitive – it is NOT the main verb
Infinitive= to + verb

17. Infinitive I am going to eat cake. I = Subject
Am Going=Complete verb (helping verb + main verb)
To eat = infinitive

18. Compound Subjects
When there are two or more subjects in an independent clause
Bill and Sue want to go to the movies.
SSV

19. Compound Verbs
When there are two or more verbs in an independent clause
Sally swam and played all afternoon
SVV

20. Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs
When there are two or more subjects and verbs
The ponies and calves scampered and played in the field.
SSVV

21. Practice What is a simple sentence?
A simple sentence is an independent clause that has a subject and a predicate.

22. Practice
How many independent clauses are in a simple sentence?
One

23. Practice What’s a subject?
The person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. It’s always a noun.
What’s a predicate (verb)?
The action or state of being of the subject of the sentence

24. Practice An independent clause has two important parts; what are they?
A subject and a Verb (predicate).

25. Practice What’s a compound subject?
When there are two or more subjects in an independent clause
What are compound verbs?
When there are two or more verbs in an independent clause

26. Practice What is the head word of the subject?
The one word that names what the sentence is about.
What makes up a complete verb?
The main verb and the helping verb

27. Practice
What are the simple sentence formulas? SV
SSV
SVV
SSVV

28. Practice The tree fell down. S=tree, V=fell Here are the cookies.
S=cookies, V=are
Are you going to the mall?
S=you, V=going, Helping verb=are