Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure Mrs. Meents Turlock Junior High School

Simple Sentence • A simple sentence is one independent clause

Independent Clause • An independent clause • makes a complete statement • has a subject and a verb S V Sally runs.

Subject • The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that the sentence is about. The subject is doing something or having something told about it. • John went for a walk.

Subject • The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that the sentence is about. The subject is doing something or having something told about it. • John went for a walk. (person) • Towns are quiet after snowfalls.

Subject • The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that the sentence is about. The subject is doing something or having something told about it. • John went for a walk. (person) • Towns are quiet after snowfalls. (place) • Eggs rolled off the counter.

Subject • The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that the sentence is about. The subject is doing something or having something told about it. • John went for a walk. (person) • Towns are quiet after snowfalls. (place) • Eggs rolled off the counter. (thing)

Subject • Not every noun in a sentence is the subject of the sentence. • John went for a walk. • Towns are quiet after snowfalls. • Eggs rolled off the counter. Sub Sub Sub

Verbs • A verb shows the action or state of being • is • am • are • was • were of the subject of the sentence.

Verbs • Physical action • Sally sneezed. • Mental action • John thinks. • State of being • Jesse is my friend.

Verb Phrases • A verb phrase is a helping verb or verbs plus a main verb. • didthink • could have beendriving • hasgone

“Not a Verb” List • Many students identify the following as verbs; they are not.

“Not a Verb” List • The word “not” is not a verb. • Mr. Smith would not cancel school today.

“Not a Verb” List • The word “not” is not a verb. • Mr. Smith would not cancel school today. • Mr. Smith wouldn’t cancel school today.

sub verb sub verb “Not a Verb” List • An “ing” word must have a helping verb in front of it to be a verb. • Mrs. Meentsis sleepinglate today. • Runningismy favorite sport.

“Not a Verb” List • A verb with “to” in front of it is not the verb of the sentence; it’s an infinitive. • The students wanted (to go) home early. sub verb

verb sub “Not a Verb” List • When there is a question, the verb phrase is split. • Did Mr. Long visit our class today? • The subject is not part of the verb phrase.

Verb Verb “Not a Verb” List • A word ending in “ly” is not a verb. “Ly” words are adverbs. • The school was painted recently. • The school was recently painted. Adverb Adverb

Verb-Subject Identification Procedure • Eliminate prepositional phrases. • Look for the action or state-of-being word to find the verb. • Ask yourself “who or what (verb)?” to find the subject. • The top of the can came off. • Kevin reported the theft. • Paula is an astronaut. sub verb sub verb sub verb

Example Set ISV—One subject/One verb sub verb • Jane went to the pool. • Paul is a very nice guy. • Cakes lined the store window. • I love chocolate ice cream. • Bikes are very expensive. sub verb sub verb sub verb verb sub

Example Set II sub verb • The old gray mare limped down the lane. • The silver-winged plane soared. • Johnny’s baby sister cried for hours. • The first three girls giggled. • Fourteen good pilots died in the war. sub verb sub verb sub verb sub verb

verb verb verb Example Set III sub • The bus must have gone by now. • My best friend could not work tonight. • The light green grapes have been eaten. sub sub

verb verb Example Set III (cont) sub 4. The committee of environmentalists is working to solve the smog problem. 5. Steven’s aunt is not following her new diet. sub

sub sub sub sub sub sub verb Example Set IVSSV-compound sub/one verb verb • Bill and Sue want to go to the movies. • Jason and his friends work together. • Are the car and truck parked outside? verb

verb Example Set IV (cont.) • The park and sidewalks are covered with snow. • Hiding and seeking are fun activities. sub sub sub sub verb

verb verb Example Set VSVV—One subject/compound verb sub verb verb • Sally swam and played all afternoon. • The dogs had barked all night and slept all day. • Michelle came home yesterday and did not work all day today. sub verb sub verb

verb Example Set V (cont) • The basketball team rode on a bus and flew in a plane to attend the game. • The park is dark and spooky at night and can be delightful on sunny days. sub verb verb verb sub

Example Set VISSVV—Compound sub/compound verb • The ponies and calves scampered and played in the field. • Kathy and her father do not like to play tennis and hate to jog. sub sub verb verb verb sub sub verb

verb Example Set VI (cont) sub sub • The Army and the Navy had a football game and filled the stadium. • The two boys and their fathers were sick and did not attend the Father-Son Banquet. verb verb sub sub verb

verb Example Set VI (cont) 5. Parties and dances are usually fun and can be thrilling. sub sub verb

Simple Sentence Formulas • SV—one subject/one verb • Joanie loves to sing. • SSV—compound subject/one verb • Tom and Bernice are late. • SVV—one subject/compound verb • Eddie tripped and fell. • SSVV—compound subject/ compound verb. • Danny and Louise hurried and caught the bus.

Formula Card Simple Sentences sv ssv svv ssvv

Simple Sentence • A simple sentence is one independent clause

Compound Sentences • A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses. • The students finished class, andthey went to lunch.

Compound Sentences • Kevin didn’t want to hurt Kathy’s feelings, sohe said nothing about her mistake. • I want to see my sister soon, for she has been in Switzerland for two years.

Compound Sentences • Compound sentences are joined with a comma and a conjunction: • The sun was shining, andthe sky was clear. • Or with a semicolon: • Mike and Bernie went for a hike;the day was beautiful.

Compound Sentences • In a compound sentence not all the subjects are doing all the verbs. • The men and women met at the station and went to dinner. (simple) • The men met at the station, andthe women went to dinner. (compound)

Compound sentences • The ducks and geese squawked and fluttered their wings. (simple) • The ducks squawked, andthe geese fluttered their wings. (compound)

Compound Sentences • Harry and Joe ate ice cream and drank pop. (simple) • Harry ate ice cream, andJoe drank pop.(compound)

Coordinating Conjunctions FANBOYS • for • and • nor • but • or • yet • so

Simple Sentence • A simple sentence is one independent clause. • A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses. • An independent clause • has a subject and a verb • is a complete thought or idea

Coordinating Conjunctions • Use coordinating conjunctions with a comma to join two independent clauses. • Baseball is my favorite sport to watch, butfootball is my favorite sport to play. • The children ran all the way to school, yetthey were late anyway. • You will have to finish the project, oryour group will get a failing grade. • Hanni was not at the game, norwas she at the party. • We did not see Mike at the movie, nordid we see him at the restaurant.

Semicolons • Semicolons (;) can also be used to join the two independent clauses of a compound sentence. • Susan loves to swim;her brother likes to dive. • Jason was highly respected;he was always such a responsible person. • The meeting was over;it was already midnight.

Formulas for Compound Sentences • I,cI Independent Clause, conjunction Independent Clause • I;I Independent Clause; Independent Clause

Formula Card Compound Sentences I,cI I;I Simple Sentences sv ssv svv ssvv

Coordinating Conjunctions • “For” means because in a compound sentence. • She enjoys Disneyland, for she has fun there. • “And” joins two equally important ideas. • I went shopping, and I ate lunch. • “Nor” introduces a negative clause. • John will not do his homework, nor will he clean his room.

Coordinating Conjunctions • “But shows a contrast between two ideas. • I tried my very hardest, but I came in last in the race. • “Or” give a choice between two ideas. • You may do the assignment now, or you may complete it at home tonight.

Coordinating Conjunctions • “Yet” shows a contrast between two ideas. (but) • The teacher read the story slowly, yet I still missed the main idea. • “So” tells you that the first clause causes the second clause. • You ate your lunch too fast, so you have a stomach ache.

“For” and “Nor” • “For” = “because” in a compound sentence • The football field was ruined, for the rain had flooded it. • Johnny is going to fail language arts, for • Mrs. Meents is very happy, for

Sentence Structure