1. Sentences Understanding Parts of a Sentence and Sentence Types & Common Sentence Errors (Fragments/Run-Ons)

2. What is a sentence  A sentence is a group of words that must express a complete thought about something or someone.  A sentence contains a subject and a predicate  Subject : Who or what the sentence is about  Predicate : Indicates what the subject does. The predicate must include a verb. The snow fell steadily.

3. Compound Subjects and Predicates  Some sentences contain two or more subjects joined with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, nor, or, for, so, yet). Those subjects together form a compound subject.  Maria and I completed the marathon.  Some sentences have two or more predicates joined by a coordinating conjunction. Those predicates together form a compound predicate.  The supermarket owner will survey his customers and order the specialized foods they desire.

4. Sentence Types by Purpose  A declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period.  The snow fell steadily.  An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark (?).  Who called?  An exclamatory sentence conveys strong emotion and ends with an exclamation point (!).  We won!  An imperative sentence gives an order or makes a request. It ends with either a period or exclamation point, depending on how strong or mild the command or request is. In an imperative sentence, the subject “you” is often not included, but understood.  Get me a fire extinguisher now! [The subject you is understood—You get me a fire extinguisher now!]

5. Expanding Sentences  A sentence must consist of a subject and a verb:  Linda studied.  Rumors circulated.  But most sentences contain additional information about the subject and verb.  Linda studied intensely in the library for hours.  Although they swore nothing happened between them, rumors circulated about the two hours they spent together in the library.  Three common ways to add information to a sentence include: 1.Adding adjectives and/or adverbs 2.Adding phrases (groups of words that lack either a subject or predicate) 3.Adding clauses (groups of words that contains both a subject and a predicate)

6. Expanding sentences with adjectives and adverbs WITHOUT ADJECTIVES : Dogs barked at cats. WITH ADJECTIVES : Our three large, brown dogs barked at the two terrified, calico cats. WITHOUT ADVERBS : I will clean WITH ADVERBS : I will clean very thoroughly tomorrow. ADD YOUR OWN ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS TO THIS SENETENCE : I studied.

7. Expanding sentences with phrases  A phrase is a group of related words that lacks a subject, or predicate, or both. A phrase CANNNOT stand alone as a sentence. Upon entering the room, I noticed the stain on the expensive carpet. Prepositional Phrases See list of common prepositions on page ____.

8. Expanding sentences with phrases  Past participle phrases (words that end in –ed) and present participle phrases (words that end in –ing) can also be used to expand a sentence.  Irritated, Joe walked out of the crowded store.  The singer, having caught a bad cold, canceled her performance.

9. Expanding sentences with clauses  A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A clause is either independent (also called main) or dependent (also called subordinate).  An independent clause can stand alone and is a grammatically complete sentence:  The alarm sounded.  A dependent clause CANNOT stand alone as a grammatically complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. By itself, a dependent clause is a fragment:  Because the alarm sounded.

10. Dependent clauses  Most dependent clauses begin with either a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun Common Subordinating Conjunction Common Relative Pronouns After Although Because Before Whether Even if (though) Since While If That Which Whatever Who (whose, whom, whoever)

11. Sentence types  Depending on its structure, a sentence an be classified as one of four basic types: 1.simple 2.compound 3.complex 4.compound-complex

12. Simple sentences  A simple sentence has one independent clause and no dependent clauses. A simple sentence contains at least one subject and predicate. It may have a compound subject, a compound predicate and various phrases, but it has only one clause.  I studied.  I studied for my math test for three hours.

13. Compound sentences  A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses and no dependent clauses. The two independent clauses are usually joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). Sometimes the two clauses are joined with a semicolon and no coordinating conjunction.  Doing my homework each night takes a lot of time, but it helps me do better in my classes.  I set out to explore the campus; I ended up spending the day in the student union.

14. Complex sentences  A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. The clauses are joined by subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.  My friend Shay hugged me when she saw me because she hadn’t seen me in a long time.  While making breakfast, I burned the toast.

15. Compound-Complex Sentences  A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.  If students work part-time, they must plan their studies carefully, and they must limit their social lives. Practice combining sentences in your textbook!

16. Practice Which sentence type are these? (write 1-5 on a piece of paper, label “ S ” for simple sentences, “ CP ” for compound sentences, “ CX ” for complex sentences, and “ CP-CX ” for compound-complex sentences.) 1.I am in the mood for pizza. 2.I want pizza for dinner, but I’m on a diet. 3.I probably shouldn’t have that third piece of pizza because I am on a diet. 4.Since I ate that fourth piece of pizza, I think I have blown my diet. 5.Even though I ate five pieces of pizza last night, I am still committed to losing weight, so I will go back on my diet today.

17. Answers Which sentence type are these? 1.I am in the mood for pizza. [ SIMPLE ] 2.I want pizza for dinner, but I’m on a diet. [ COMPOUND ] 3.I probably shouldn’t have that third piece of pizza because I am on a diet. [ COMPLEX ] 4. Since I ate that fourth piece of pizza, I think I have blown my diet. [ COMPLEX ] 5. Even though I ate five pieces of pizza last night, I am still committed to losing weight, so I will go back on my diet today. [ COMPOUND-COMPLEX ]

18. Sentence Errors Two of the most common sentence errors are:  Fragments  Run-on’s and comma splices

19. Fragments  A fragment is an incomplete sentence because it lacks either a subject, a verb, or both, or it is a dependent clause unattached to a complete sentence. In either case, it DOES NOT EXPRESS A COMPLETE THOUGHT.  Walked across campus. [Lacks a subject]  The car next to the fence. [Lacks a verb]  Alert and ready. [Lacks a subject and verb]  While I was waiting in line. [Dependent clause]

20. How to spot a fragment  Does the sentence have a verb ?  Does the sentence have a subject ?  The bookstore opens at eight o’clock.  Does the sentence begin with a subordinating conjunction (such as after, although, as, because, however, since or that)? If so, it must be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence.  While I waiting for the train, I saw Robert DeNiro.  Does the sentence begin with a relative pronoun (that, what, whatever, which, who, whom, whose)? If so, it must form a question or be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence.  Who lost the keys?  I am looking for the person who lost the keys.

21. Correcting Fragments  There are several ways to correct a fragment: 1.Attach the fragment to a complete sentence or independent clause. Often, this means attaching it to a sentence that comes either before or after the fragment.  I did not finish the book. Because I found it boring.  I did not finish the book because I found it boring. 2.Remove the subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun and let it stand alone as its own complete sentence:  I did not finish the book. I found it boring. 3.Add the missing subject or verb or both:  Started complaining loudly. [Who? Missing subject]  The angry patient started complaining loudly.

22. Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices  A run-on sentence contains two independent clauses that are not separated by any punctuation or a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).  RUN ON: We watched the football game then we ordered pizza.  CORRECTED SENTENCE: We watched the football game, and then we ordered pizza.  A comma splice contains two independent clauses joined only by a comma (the coordinating conjunction is missing). A comma by itself cannot join two independent clauses.  COMMA SPLICE: The average person watches 15 hours of television per week, I watch only two hours of television per week.  CORRECTED SENTENCE: The average person watches 15 hours of television per week, but I watch only two hours of television per week.

23. How to Correct Run-on Sentences & Comma Splices 1.Create two separate sentences:  RUN ON: We went for a walk in the woods we saw the leaves turning red and brown.  CORRECTED SENTENCE: We went for a walk in the woods. We saw the leaves turning red and brown. 2.Use a semicolon:  RUN ON: It is unlikely taxes will increase this year citizens expressed their opposition.  CORRECTED SENTENCE: It is unlikely taxes will increase this year; citizens expressed their opposition. 3.Insert a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS):  RUN ON: Americans are changing their eating habits they still eat too much red meat.  CORRECTED SENTENCE: Americans are changing their eating habits, but they still eat too much red meat. 4.Make one clause subordinate to the other:  RUN ON: I left the store I shut off the light.  CORRECTED SENTENCE: Before I left the store, I shut off the lights.