Sentence Writing Strategies Simple Sentence One independent clause

Sentence Writing Strategies

Simple Sentence One independent clause.

Clause Has a subject and a verb

Independent Clause Contains a subject and a verb and makes a complete statement— can stand alone.

Subject of a Sentence The subject is the: person place thing quality idea that the sentence is about. Nouns

Examples of Subjects John went for a walk. Towns are quiet after snowfalls. Eggs rolled off the counter. Silence is golden. Peace is at hand. (Person) (Place) (Things) (Quality) (Idea)

Verbs A verb is a word that shows the action or state of being of the subject of the sentence.

Examples of verbs Sally sneezed. (Physical action) John thinks. (Mental action) Jesse is my friend. (State of being)

Helping Verbs Am Are Can Could Has Have Had is do does did be been being may might shall should was were will would

Verb-Subject Identification Procedure Step 1: Look for the action or state-of-being word to find the verb. Example: Kevin reported theft.

Verb-Subject Identification Procedure Step 2: Ask yourself, “Who or what (verb)? ” to find the subject. Example: Paula is an astronaut.

Phrase A group of words that functions as one part of speech and DOES NOT have a subject and verb.

Noun Phrases A noun phrase is when several words, two or more, are used for the subject.

Noun Phrases • • A noun phrase is the complete subject The noun in the phrase is the main subject. -It is the most important word in the complete subject. -The main subject is the one word that tells what the sentence is about.

Noun Phrases Examples: The old gray mare limped down the lane. The silver-winged plane soared. The first three girls giggled. The chairman of the meeting left early.

Verb Phrases A verb phrase is when several words, two or more, form the verb.

Verb Phrases l These words form the complete verb. l The one verb that shows the action or state of being is called the main verb. *Verb phrases are formed by putting one or more helping verbs in front of the main verb.

Helping Verbs Am Are Can Could Has Have Had is do does did be been being may might shall should was were will would

Verb Phrases Examples: The bus must have gone by now. The light green grapes have been eaten. Steven’s aunt is not following her new diet. The rickety wagon should not have been filled to the top.

Inverted Simple Sentences In some simple sentences, the verb comes before the subject of the sentence. Example: Onto the stage danced the performers. Will you go to the movie this weekend?

Infinitives Sometimes words in the sentence show action without being the main verb of the sentence. Example: Jason hoped to go skateboarding.

Infinitives l Any verb that has the word ‘to’ in front of it is an infinitive. An infinitive is not the main verb of the sentence. – When you have a sentence with several action words in it, check for the word ‘to’. –

Compound Subjects • • So far we have seen simple sentences with one subject and one verb ( S V ). The next kind of simple sentence contains two or more subjects and one verb ( S S V ). * We call two or more subjects in a simple sentence a compound subject.

Compound Subjects Examples: Paul and Marci want to go to the mall. The slopes and the buildings were covered with snow. Ty, Shane, and Christine went to buy some new clothes. Are the car and truck getting new rims?

Compound Verbs l When a simple sentence has one subject doing more than one action, the sentence contains a compound verb ( S V V ). – Like compound subjects, compound verbs are separated by the word ‘and’.

Compound Verbs Examples: Bobby surfed and skated all day. Mary sailed and skied at the lake. The dogs barked all day and slept all night. Children should not be allowed to watch television and should be encouraged to play.

Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs Some simple sentences can have both a compound subject and a compound verb ( S S V V ).

Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs Examples: Jack and his father camped and fished at the campground. Radio towers and tall buildings must have lights and must be visible at night. The graduates and their parents posed for pictures and celebrated with a party.

Simple Sentence Formulas 1) 2) 3) 4) S SS V V VV VV

Examples: Simple S V I have a cat. S S V James and Cara have a cat.

Examples: Simple S V V I fed and walked the dog. S S V V Laura and Shirley fed and walked the dog.

Steps for Sentence Writing l Step 1: Pick a Formula l Step 2: Explore Words to Fit the Formula l Step 3: Note the Words l Step 4: Search and Check

Search and Check l Search: – – Look for the action or state-of-being word(s) to find the verb(s). Ask the “Who or What Question” to find the subject(s). l Check: – – – Capital letter End punctuation Makes sense

Compound Sentence Two independent clauses joined together with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Compound Sentences l The students finished class, and they went to lunch. l Kevin did not want to hurt Kathy’s feelings, so he said nothing about her mistake. l I want to see my sister soon, for she has been in Vail snowboarding for five months.

Comparing Compound Sentences to SSVV Simple Sentences Simple Sentence The men and women met at the station and went to dinner. Compound Sentence The men met at the station, and the women went to dinner.

Comparing Compound Sentences to SSVV Simple Sentences Simple Sentence The ducks and geese squawked and fluttered their wings. Compound Sentence The ducks squawked, and the geese fluttered their wings.

Coordinating Conjunctions A word that is used with a comma to join two independent clauses. , For , But , And , Or , Nor , Yet , So

Coordinating Conjunctions l Examples: -Baseball is my favorite sport to watch, but football is my favorite sport to play. -We did not see Mike at the movie, nor did we see him at the restaurant.

Semicolons l Semicolons (; ) can also be used to join the two independent clauses of a compound sentence.

Semicolons Examples: -Susan loves to swim; her brother likes to drive. -The meeting was over; it was already midnight. -Jason was highly respected; he always stood up for people who were being picked on.

Examples: Compound I ; I We went to the movies; my parents went to the mall. I, c I We went to the movies, but my parents went to the mall.

Complex Sentence One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Dependent Clause Contains a subject and a verb but CANNOT stand alone; a subordinating conjunction is used.

Subordinating Conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions are words that show the relationship of the dependent clause to the independent clause.

Subordinating Conjunctions After so that Although than As when Until while

Subordinating Conjunctions Because when Before since If even though Unless though

Sequencing Complex Sentences l Dependant Clause First (Comma needed) D, I EX: When I get to Phoenix, you will be sleeping. l Independent Clause First ID (Comma not needed) EX: You will be sleeping when I get to Phoenix.

Examples: Complex ID I love dogs because they do not judge anyone. D, I Because they do not judge anyone, I love dogs.

Complex Sentences l We could play video games since we have an Xbox downstairs. l Although you have to go soon, we could play one game of “Grand Theft Auto. ” l Since you are my best friend, I will tell you about when he called me.

Complex Sentences l Even though he told me he did not like me, David passed me a note asking me to go to the movies. l Tiger Woods will soon be considered the best golfer of all times because he will eventually surpass Jack Nicholas’s major tournament win record.

Compound-Complex Sentences A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. Examples: When you are ready, I will call the store, and we can talk to Tim. Before the trick-or-treaters came, Megan made candied apples; they were delicious.

Sequencing Compound. Complex Sentences Dependent clause first: After the party was over, Jean had a headache, so Paul cleaned up the house. Dependent clause second: Jean had a headache after the party was over, so Paul cleaned up the house.

Sequencing Compound. Complex Sentences Dependent clause third: Jean has a headache, so Paul cleaned up the house after the party was over.

Compound-Complex Sentences l Floyd planned to go to the game even though it was snowing; Helen wanted to stay home. l Helen wanted to stay home; Floyd wanted to go to the game even though it was snowing.

Compound-Complex Sentences l Kevin, who had been late many times before, came late to class today; his teacher gave him a hard time after class was over. l The players who had been invited came to our house after the game was over; they celebrated the win.