Sentences

GE-PC
GRAMMAR REVIEW
PERMANENTLY

One day the Nouns were clustered in the street.

An adjective walked by, with her dark beauty. The Nouns were
struck, moved, changed.

The next day a Verb drove up, and created the Sentences.

-Kenneth Koch-
Four kinds of Sentences
FOUR KINDS of SENTENCES

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

In order to express ideas clearly in writing, you must arrange words

into sentences. A sentence is a group of words that expresses a
complete thought. A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends
with a punctuation mark.

Sentences express ideas in four ways.

Four kinds of sentences

1) DECLARATIVE SENTENCES- makes a statement. It ends with a

period. Most sentences are declarative sentences.

Example: The Parthenon in Greece was dedicated in 438 B.C.

2) INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES- An interrogative sentence asks a

question. It ends with a question mark.

Example: Where is the replica of it? Is it in Tennessee?

The four kinds of sentences

3. IMPERATIVE SENTENCES- an imperative sentence gives a command

or makes a request. It ends with a period.

EXAMPLES: Do not stay outside any longer.

Come into the Parthenon, please.

4. EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES- expresses strong feeling. It ends with

an exclamation point.

EXAMPLE: What a beautiful building it is!

COMPLETE and SIMPLE
SUBJECTS

The subject part of a sentence names

someone or something.
 The COMPLETE SUBJECT

The subject part of a sentence contains the topic and words or

phrases that modify the topic. All of the words in the subject part of a
sentence make up the complete subject.

A famous swampy area lies in southern Florida.

Many tourists from distant places visit the area.

 The SIMPLE SUBJECT
The main word in the complete subject is called the simple subject. Usually a simple
subject is a noun or pronoun . You can find the simple subject by removing any adjectives
or prepositional phrases from the complete subject. The simple subjects in the sentences
below are in purple fonts.

A famous swampy area lies in southern Florida.

Many tourists from distant places visit the area.

Often the simple subject of a sentence is a proper noun. When this is the case, the simple
subject may consist of more than one word.

The beautiful Everglades National Park is popular.

Florida Under Five Flags by R.W. Patrick tells the story of a great state.
The Simple Subject

Sometimes the subject part of a sentence is just one

word, usually a noun or pronoun. That one word is then
both the complete and the simple subject.

We visited the Everglades National Park.

Alligators awaited us there.

 COMPLETE and SIMPLE
PREDICATES

The predicate part of a sentence tells what

the subject is or does.
The COMPLETE PREDICATE

The entire predicate part of a sentence is called the complete

predicate. The complete predicate must contain a verb. It may
also contain adverbs, prepositional phrases, nouns, and
pronouns. In the sentences below , each complete predicate
is in green fonts.

We have been studying the state of North Carolina.

This great state comprises three major regions.
The SIMPLE PREDICATE

The simple predicate is the main word or words in the complete

predicate . the simple predicate is always a verb or verb phrase.
In the sentences below the simple predicates are in dark yellow
fonts.

We have been studying the state of North Carolina.

This great state comprises three major regions.

An adverb often interrupts the verbs in a verb phrase. Such an adverb is not
part of the simple predicate.

The coastline of the state is constantly changing.

An adverb in the predicate may come before the verb.

Constantly the coastline of the state is changing.

The predicate may be just one word, a verb. This verb is then both the
complete and the simple predicate.

The waves crash.

The coastline changes.
 LOCATING THE SUBJECT

A subject may precede or follow a

verb. It may interrupt a verb phrase
or be understood.
Locating the subject

Being able to locate the subject of a

sentence is an important skill. Often the
subject appears at the beginning of a
sentence. However, in many sentences the
subject is located in different spaces.
Subjects and Verbs in declarative Sentences
In most declarative sentences the subject precedes the verb. This
is called normal word order.

Students from our class visited the Alamo.

The Alamo was built about 1718.

(Students and Alamo are the subjects in the sentences above).

Subjects and Verbs in Interrogative Sentences
In many interrogative sentences the subject is between the parts of the verb
phrase. Such interrogative sentences usually begin with a helping verb or a wh-
word.

Have you visited the Alamo?

What did your classmates see at the Alamo?
When may I visit it?

To find the subject of an interrogative sentence, reword it as a declarative

sentence. The subject will then appear in normal word order.

You have visited the Alamo.

Your classmates did see what at the Alamo.
I may visit it when.
Subjects and Verbs in Imperative Sentences
The pronoun you is always the subject of an imperative sentence. Generally,
however, the pronoun you is not stated.

(You) Remember the Alamo.

An imperative sentence often contains a noun set off from the rest of the sentence
by a comma. This noun is a noun or direct address. It is never the subject of the
sentence. The subject is understood to be you.

Students, (you) do not lose your maps.

Sentences Beginning with Here and There
The words here and there may begin sentences, but they are never subjects. Both
here and there can be adverbs.

Here is the Alamo. There are our guides.

Unlike, here, there can also be used as introductory word to start a sentence.

There is no doubt about it.

Sentences with Inverted Word Order
In normal word order the subject appears before the verb. In inverted word order
the subject comes after the verb.

Into the old fort went my classmates.

High above the structure flew the Texas flag.

Sentences such as these can be reworded in normal word order to make it easier
to find the subjects.

My classmates went into the old fort.

The Texas flag flew high above the structure.
Sentences Beginning with Phrases and Adverbs
Adverbs and prepositional phrases often begin sentences. These words are
usually part of the predicates. They modify the verbs. In the sentences, the
complete predicates are in pink fonts. The words in green fonts are the simple
predicates.

Bravely the Texans defended the Alamo.

In a famous battle the Alamo was taken.