Sentenced! Part 1

On the Chain Gang --

Chaining Words Together to Create Correct Sentences

Verbs

The core or nucleus

of every sentence is a

verb.

Verbs

That means it is the most important part, and you cannot have a sentence without at least one verb that is doing the job of a verb.

The Jobs of Verbs

Add information about people, places, things, events, and so forth.

2. Indicate the time of the message. (Tense)

Note about Verbs

A verb can be either a single word or a set of words.

“Many birds live near brooks.”“That homing pigeon has

flown back to Utah from Mexico.”

Verbs Add Information

_____has been lying (in the street)(for three weeks)._____ received all A’s.

______ ate eight Big Macs and three orders (of fries).

Who or what?

Verbs Show Time

_____ is a secret agent._____ was a secret agent.

______ will be a secret agent._______ has been a secret agent.

Who or what?

= Subject

_____ is a secret agent._____ was a secret agent.

______ will be a secret agent._______ has been a secret agent.

Who or what?

= Subject

Verbs Show Time

_____ runs six miles a day._____ ran six miles a day.

_____ will run six miles a day._____ has run six miles a day.

Who or what?

= Subject

_____ runs six miles a day._____ ran six miles a day.

_____ will run six miles a day._____ has run six miles a day.

Who or what?

= Subject

The Subject

the wording (usually coming before the verb) that a verb

adds information about

the wording (usually coming before the verb) that a verb

adds information about

The Subject

The Job of the subject is to occupy the “territory”

(usually) before the verb and answer (or ask) who or what.

Who? What?

The Job of the subject is to occupy the “territory”

(usually) before the verb and answer (or ask) who or what.

Who? What?

Nouns and Their Replacers

The importance of the jobs of nouns is second only to the importance of the jobs of verbs.

Higher Pay for Nouns!

Nouns and Their Replacers

The Test for Finding Nouns: Say THE before each word (outside the sentence). If it “fits,” and if the word’s meaning does not change, the word is a noun. This won’t work for

Proper nouns -- look for the capital letters.

Nouns and Their Replacers

Practice the Test for Finding Nouns:

The dog jumped over the orange cow.

(Remember that the word shouldn’t change meaning when “the, a, an” is placed in

front of it.)

Louie gently coaxed the pig into its pen.

Noun Jobs

As subject (usually before the verb)

As an object of a verb

Sunshine has warmth.

As an object of a preposition

Shaylene came with friends.

Noun Replacers

Pronouns -- Personal you he she it we they

2. Others -- his yours theirs

someone nothing anybody everything many few another

both either some etc. that those this these

Sentenced! Part 2

On the Chain Gang --

Chaining Words Together to Create Correct Sentences

Reminder The core or nucleus

of every sentence is a verb which adds information and indicates time.

A Synonym

A verb may also be

called a

predicate.

ReminderThe Job of the subject is to

occupy the “territory” (usually) before the verb and answer (or ask) who or what.

Who? What?

The Job of the subject is to occupy the “territory”

(usually) before the verb and answer (or ask) who or what.

Who? What?

Sentence

a subject (shown or “implied”)

+ a verb (that is

adding information about the subject)

= complete thought

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.

It will begin with a capital letter and and end with a punctuation mark.

Examples of Sentences

Dinner was good. Can you go to the mall with me? Get me some popcorn. What a great game that was!

About Clauses

No, not that kind of Claus!

About Clauses

A clause is a group of words

that has a subject and a

verb (predicate).

Subject

+

Verb

=

Clause

Subject

+

Verb

=

Clause

Changing the Topic?

Are you independent

or

dependent?

Independent or Dependent?

In other words, can

you stand on your own in

life?

An Independent Person

An independent person can stand on his or her own -- lift his or her own “weight.”

An Independent Clause

An independent clause can stand on its

own.

About Clauses

A clause is a group of words

that has a subject and a

verb (predicate).

Subject

+

Verb

=

Clause

Subject

+

Verb

=

Clause

A Dependent Person

A dependent person needs help or care or basics provided for him or her.

A Dependent Clause

A dependent clause needs an independent clause joined to it. A dependent clause can not stand on its own.

About Clauses

A clause is a group of words

that has a subject and a

verb (predicate).

Subject

+

Verb

=

Clause

Subject

+

Verb

=

Clause

A Dependent Clause

A dependent clause has a subject and

a verb (predicate), but

does not express a complete

thought.

A Dependent Clause

Examples:-- that you will

succeed-- before she went

to the mall-- where I have laid

my watch down

What makes a Clause Dependent?

A word is added to the front of the clause.

-- before she went to the mall

-- where I have laid my watch down

Complex Sentence

When you combine a dependent clause with an independent clause, you have a complex sentence.

Complex Sentence

If the dependent clause comes first, use a

comma ( , ) to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Dependent or Independent?

Where the candy was.

We never gave the other team a chance.

Because I won the contest.

Will you help me clean up my room?

Sentenced! Part 3

On the Chain Gang --

Chaining Words Together to Create Correct Sentences

Why Worry About Sentences?

Why should we worry about

using complete, correct

sentences in our writing?

Why Worry About Sentences?

What reasons can you think

of? Who would like to be a scribe?

Why Worry About Sentences?

Why Worry About Sentences?To make sense B1

Use them every day

Organization

The way we talk

The way we write

Not confused

Why Worry About Sentences?

Used every day B2

Get into college

Don’t Act like gangsters

Don’t sound stupid

So we can communicate with people

So Ms. Dorsey won’t get mad

Know what we’re trying to say

Why Worry About Sentences?

It makes sense

To not be a hick

To get a good grade

To get a job

Why Worry About Sentences?

A1

So people can understand us.

So you can get a good grade.

So we can sound educated.

Why Worry About Sentences?

A2

So people will understand

We don’t want to talk like Tarzan.

Get a good education

Can speak with a variety of people

Why Worry About Sentences?

Non-Sentences

To the left you see a non-human.

Below you see some non-sentences:o green alien

o although he seems friendly and cute

o that humans look strange

Phrases

One possible type of non-sentences are PHRASES. These are groups of words that do not contain both a subject and a verb.

Phrases

One popular phrase is

“Merry Christmas!”

Phrases

Here are some other phrases:

red glass ornamentshas been hangingon the artificial treethe tall teenage boy

without a ladder

Just for Fun

Can you answer this question?

What do a cat on a beach and Christmas have in common?

Just For Fun

The answer is this:

They both have

“Sandy Claus/claws”!

Back to Work on the Chain Gang!

Can you explain what a

clause is?

No, not “Claus,” but “clause.”

Back to Work on the Chain Gang!

Reminder: When is a

clause not a sentence --

a non-sentence?

Back to Work on the Chain Gang!

Reminder: What is a phrase?

Three Major Types of Non-Sentences

a fragment

a run-on

a comma-splice

Fragments

A sentence fragment is a

piece of a sentence. It cannot stand

on its own and make sense.

Fragments

Examples:Went to the theme park yesterdayWe on the biggest roller coaster

My whole familyBecause I wanted cotton candy

__________

A sentence fragment can be a phrase or a clause (or a single word).

Run-On’s

A run-on sentence

contains two complete

thoughts that are not joined

properly.

Run-On’s

Examples: It is cold out I don’t want to wear my

heavy coat. Becca will pick me up we’ll go ice

skating.___________

A run-on will be made up of two (or more) independent clauses.

Comma Splices

A comma-splice is made up of two sentences

joined by a comma.

It also is a non-sentence!

Comma Splices

Examples:Our team practiced every afternoon, we

practiced for an hour.The coach gave the team a pep talk,

they played better after that.-------

A comma-splice will be made up of two (or more) independent clauses.

Sentenced! Part 4

On the Chain Gang --

Chaining Words Together to Create Correct Sentences

Back to Basics

A sentence must have a verb.

A sentence also needs a subject, but that may be shown or implied.

(Put the yarn down, and step away from the mouse with your paws up.)

Back to Basics

Sentences are made up of

individual words,

phrases,

and clauses. Of course, a sentence will also start with a

capital letter and end with an end punctuation mark.

Back to Basics

A phrase is a sentence part made up of more than one word.

A clause is a sentence part that has both a subject and a verb.

Back to Basics

An independent clause has both a subject and a verb, and can stand on its own as a complete sentence.

A dependent clause has both a subject and a verb, but cannot stand on its own, usually because something has been added to it.

Dependent or Independent?

I was surprised.

Since she was late.

That Ms. Dorsey gave a quiz today.

But the snack bar is closed.

Sierra rushed to class.

Tyler is hungry.

Dependent or Independent?

I was surprised that Ms. Dorsey gave a quiz today.

Since she was late, Sierra rushed to class.

Tyler is hungry, but the snack bar is closed.

Three Major Types of Non-Sentences

a fragment

a run-on

a comma-spliceThese are crimes against grammar!

Crimes Against Grammar!

A fragment is a set of words that does not present a complete thought.

Crimes Against Grammar!

A run-on is two complete sentences (two independent clauses) that have been shoved together without being properly joined.

Crimes Against Grammar!

A comma-splice is two complete sentences (two independent clauses) that have been shoved together with just a comma inbetween.

Crimes Against Grammar!

These are actually criminals that can be reformed! There are ways to fix fragments, run-ons, and comma-splices!

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

Simple Sentence

Compound Sentence

Complex SentenceRemember?

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

Simple Sentence = noun + verb

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

Simple Sentence = noun + verb

Example:

Mr. Christensen is leaving.

Make up another example.

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

2. Compound Sentence

Two independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined together with appropriate conjunctions and punctuation.

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

2. Compound Sentence

Mr. Christensen is leaving, and the students are sad.

Make up another compound sentence.

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

2. Complex Sentence

A dependent clause and an independent clause are joined together with appropriate conjunctions and punctuation.

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

2. Complex Sentence

Example:

After Mr. Christensen

leaves, school won’t be as fun. (or)

School won’t be as fun after Mr. Christensen leaves.

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

2. Complex Sentence

Example:

Create your own example, and write it first with the dependent clause first, and then with the dependent clause last.

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

2. Complex/ Compound

Sentence: Dependent Clause

+ two independent clauses, or . . .

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

Example: Since Mr. Christensen was such a great student teacher, the students got better grades, and Ms. Dorsey wasn’t as stressed as usual.

Complex/Compound Sentence

Legal Ways to Create Sentences

Create your own example of a compound/complex sentence.

Complex/Compound Sentence