Grammar Topics for Weeks 2-3:

Elements of a Sentence
and Sentence Types
Elements of a Sentence
 Class Discussion Question

What makes a sentence complete?

What makes a sentence incomplete/a fragment?
Sentence Basics

A proper, grammatically-correct sentence needs 3 basic things to be considered

COMPLETE:

• Subject = source of the verb or action (generally a noun or pronoun)

• Verb and Predicate

• Predicate = Verb and states something about the subject
• Example: “went home” in the sentence “John went home.”
Noun • person, place, thing, idea, or concept

Verb • describes an action (You worked hard

today.) – Action Verbs

• describes a state of being (I am hungry.) –

To be Verbs

• helps other verbs –Helping Verbs

• If you see an –ing verb verb, look before it
for the to-be verb.
• Example: I was helping my mother.

Pronoun • replaces nouns or proper nouns

Verb Types
1. Each of their children owns a new bicycle this spring.

2. For many factory tasks, robots are more efficient than humans.

3. All the way home, the setting sun blinded me.

4. The movie was, despite its violent scenes, a masterpiece.

5. Dressed in a wet suit, Mike trains for the triathlon.

6. A thousand candles were gleaming at the silent ceremony.

7. None of my friends is studying for the test tomorrow.

8. Education in the sciences is becoming increasingly important.

9. Slowly but steadily, the tortoise is gaining the hare.

Verb Types - Answers
1. Each of their children owns a new bicycle this spring.

2. For many factory tasks, robots are more efficient than humans.

3. All the way home, the setting sun blinded me.

4. The movie was, despite its violent scenes, a masterpiece.

5. Dressed in a wet suit, Mike trains for the triathlon.

6. A thousand candles were gleaming at the silent ceremony.

7. None of my friends is studying for the test tomorrow.

8. Education in the sciences is becoming increasingly important.

9. Slowly but steadily, the tortoise is gaining the hare.

Subjects
• Only nouns and pronouns can be subjects of a sentence

• Subject = the performer of the action / the star of the sentence

• Locate the verb and then ask who or what before the verb?

You try:
1) My professor writes grammar textbooks.
2) Time and tide wait for no man.
3) One of the children ran away.
Subjects
Multiple Subjects:
• A sentence can have multiple subjects
• Example: The doctor advised the patient, while the placement students took
notes.

You try:
1) The Paramedic took vital signs, while her partner spoke to the family.

2) Patience and ambition will lead to a successful career in nursing.

Multiple Subjects

Tip: Locate the verb and then ask who or what before it?

You try:

1) The piano or the bookcase has to go.

2) Uncle Jim, Aunt Sue, and my cousin Jake went to Jamaica on vacation.

3) Neither the pillows nor the curtains match the couch.

4) The books by the door and the flip-flops in the living room need to be put away.

5) Nobody in the bank and nobody in the store saw the accident.

6) Marc cleaned the living room, while his mother made supper.

7) During the hike, Paul noticed a storm moving in; his wife decided to head back to their car.
Multiple Subjects - Answers

Tip: Locate the verb and then ask who or what before it?

You try:

1) The piano or the bookcase has to go.

2) Uncle Jim, Aunt Sue, and my cousin Jake went to Jamaica on vacation.

3) Neither the pillows nor the curtains match the couch.

4) The books by the door and the flip-flops in the living room need to be put away.

5) Nobody in the bank and nobody in the store saw the accident.

6) Marc cleaned the living room, while his mother made supper.

7) During the hike, Paul noticed a storm moving in; his wife decided to head back to their car.
Tip locate the verb and ask who or what before
it
1. Each of their children owns a new bicycle this spring.

2. For many factory tasks, robots are more efficient than humans.

3. All the way home, the setting sun blinded me.

4. The movie was, despite its violent scenes, a masterpiece.

5. Dressed in a wet suit, Mike trains for the triathlon.

6. A thousand candles were gleaming at the silent ceremony.

7. None of my friends is studying for the test tomorrow.

8. Education in the sciences is becoming increasingly important.

9. Slowly but steadily, the tortoise is gaining the hare.

Tip locate the verb and ask who or what before
it
1. Each of their children owns a new bicycle this spring.

2. For many factory tasks, robots are more efficient than humans.

3. All the way home, the setting sun blinded me.

4. The movie was, despite its violent scenes, a masterpiece.

5. Dressed in a wet suit, Mike trains for the triathlon.

6. A thousand candles were gleaming at the silent ceremony.

7. None of my friends is studying for the test tomorrow.

8. Education in the sciences is becoming increasingly important.

9. Slowly but steadily, the tortoise is gaining the hare.

 What is missing? (*could be one or more)
Make Me Complete! 1. Subject
2. Verb
What is missing? 3. Predicate
4. Independent Clause (i.e., a complete sentence)

1. Because I stopped for coffee.

2. Is pacing the hallway.
3. Was swimming.
4. With great fear.
5. Our community library.
6. Climbed the fence.
7. When it isn’t raining.
 What is missing? (*could be one or more)
Make Me Complete! 1. Subject
2. Verb
What is missing? 3. Predicate
4. Independent Clause (i.e., a complete sentence)

1. Because I stopped for coffee.= independent clause

2. Is pacing the hallway. = subject
3. Was swimming. = subject
4. With great fear. = independent clause
5. Our community library. = verb and predicate
6. Climbed the fence. = subject
7. When it isn’t raining. = independent clause
Objects
Objects
• As we know, the Subject of a sentence = doer of the sentence or action
• Object = the receiver of the action or state of being (verbs)

To locate the object, ask yourself: “Who or what after the verb?”

Example: I monitored the patient; he is in stable condition.

Located after the verb.

Who did I monitor? The patient.
What about him? His condition is stable.
Sentence Types
Simple, Compound, & Complex Sentences

Simple: a sentence that is simple (has subject + predicate)

Compound: formed when 2 simple sentences (two ideas are joined by both a
comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semi-colon
(e.g., Vicky was happy with the lab results;
they were normal.)

Complex: formed when a sentence contains 2 ideas, but one idea is dependent
on the other idea in order for the sentence to make sense and be complete
(e.g.,
Vicky was happy with the lab results, even though she still had questions.)
Clauses and Phrases
• Clauses and phrases are groups of words that are found within a sentence but
cannot stand alone as their own sentence (with the exception of independent
clauses)
• Dependent Clause: Begins with a subordinating conjunction or pronouns
When I fly, I like to read.

Dependent Independent Clause

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

After Even if Rather than Until
Although Even though Since When
As If So that Whenever
As if If only Than Where
As long as In order that That Wherever
As though Now that Though Whereas
Because Once Till While
Before Unless
Clauses and Phrases
Identify the Independent and Dependent Clause:
1. I notice that I have more energy during the day since I started exercising.
2. When I move home, I would like to join a volleyball league.
Clauses and Phrases
Identify the Independent and Dependent Clause:
1. I notice that I have more energy during the day since I started exercising.
2. When I move home, I would like to join a volleyball league.
Sentence Structure What It Contains Example
Type
Simple Sentence 1 Independent Clause I like grammar.

Compound 1 Independent Clause + 1 or more I like grammar; I find language

Independent Clauses conjoined with interesting.
semi-colon

or with a comma + coordinating I like grammar, and I find

conjunction (FANBOYS) language interesting
Complex 1 Independent Clause + 1 or more Because I like grammar, I
Dependent Clauses have spent a lot of time
studying sentence
structure.

**Remember an independent clause = a COMPLETE thought/sentence

What type of sentence is it? Is it a simple, compound, or complex sentence?

1. Jessica started full-time studies this semester; she enjoyed her first week of classes.
_______________________

2. The fashion designer released her new clothing line. _______________________

3. Although I had a free ticket to the game, I was too tired to go.
_______________________

4. Will Trent is my favourite television series, but I like High Potential too.
_______________________

5. I have been tired since I started school.

What type of sentence is it? Is it a simple, compound, or complex sentence?

1. Jessica started full-time studies this semester; she enjoyed her first week of classes. =
compound sentence

2. The fashion designer released her new clothing line. = simple sentence

3. Although I had a free ticket to the game, I was too tired to go. = complex sentence
(independent clause + dependent clause)

4. Will Trent is my favourite television series, but I like High Potential too. . = compound
sentence

5. I have been tired since I started school. = complex sentence (independent clause +
dependent clause)