Download Basic Sentence Parts

Business Writing
Firefly Electric and Lighting Corp.
Training and Organizational Development
Human Resources Department
Module 3
Module Three:
Constructing Sentences
Now that we have a basic
understanding of how to use
words more effectively in business
writing, it’s time to look at
sentences. This module will
discuss the parts of a sentence, its
proper punctuation, and the four
kinds of sentences according to
function and according to
structure.
Have
something to
say, and say
it as clearly
as you can.
That is the
only secret of
style.
•
•
Matthew
Arnold
Business Writing
Firefly Electric and Lighting Corp.
Training and Organizational Development
Human Resources Department
Module 3
Lesson 1
Basic Sentence Parts
Definition
• A sentence:
– is a grammatical unit consisting of a set or
sets of subject and predicate
– expresses a complete thought
– begins with a capital letter
Definition
• A sentence:
– ends either with a period, a question
mark or an exclamation point
– may be composed of a word or a
group of words arranged in a
coherent and unified pattern
Example of Sentences
• A word:
– Go! (The subject is an implied “You”.)
• A group of words:
– Loreta bakes delicious chocolate cakes.
– Are your parents attending the meeting?
– How gracefully you dance!
– Hey, you’re stepping on my toes!
– Dinah married a Belgian, didn’t she?
Basic Sentence Parts
• Subject
— a grammatical structure that refers to
the person or thing that performs the action
or being in the state expressed by the
predicate.
— The subject may be a noun, a pronoun or
a noun substitute (gerund and gerund
phrase, infinitive and infinitive phrase, noun
clause and sometimes, adjective or adverb).
Parts of a Sentence
• Sentences have two parts:
SUBJECT
PREDICATE
Noun, Pronoun
or Noun Substitute
Answers the question What or Who
Verb + Object
or Modifier
Answers the question What
Basic Sentence Parts
• The set or sets of subject and predicate in
sentences may be simple or compound
– Example of simple subject/simple predicate
Simple
subject
Simple
predicate
The founder of the organization invites
young people to join his crusade.
Basic Sentence Parts
– Example of compound subject and
compound predicate
Compound
subject
Compound
predicate
Lanny and her sister , Olivia create and write
short stories for children.
Subject of the Sentence
1. Noun:
— The rains soaked the parched earth.
— Ten people have applied for this job.
— The children watch the death- defying feats of
acrobats.
2. Pronoun:
― Harold likes to drive fast cars. He drives a
Porsche 550
Note: Avoid using a pronoun as a subject without
an antecedent ( Harold in this sentence is the
antecedent of “he”).
–
–
–
Subject of the Sentence
Many are called but few are chosen.
Some of the dancers change their costumes several
times.
The earrings on display are of good quality. Those
are very expensive.
Note: In the above sentence, “dancers” can not be a
subject because it is an object of the preposition
“of”.
But: in the sentence – Some dancers change their
costumes several times, “Some” becomes modifier
of “dancers” which is the subject of the sentence.
Subject of the Sentence
3. Noun clause is a dependent clause one of
whose functions is to act as subject of the
sentence.
-- Whom you will choose as president of
your country can affect your life for six
years.
--What I want to do now is to watch a
movie.
Subject of the Sentence
4. Gerund is verb form that ends in –ing and
functions as a noun.
– Swimming tones the muscles.
– Cooking is Mother’s hobby.
5. Gerund phrase is verb form that ends in –
ing together with its object and
modifiers, if any, and functions as a noun.
– Praying the rosary every night should be
practiced by every Catholic family.
Subject of the Sentence
6. Infinitive is the base form of the verb
usually introduced by the article “to”
– To act in Broadway is Romina’s main
ambition in life. (“in Broadway” is a
prepositional phrase)
Note: The above example is an infinitive with an
adverb modifier. It is not a phrase because
there is no object.
– To study well is necessary to get good
grades. (“ well” is an adverb of manner)
Subject of the Sentence
7. Infinitive phrase is a verb form usually
introduced by the article “to”, followed by
the base form of the verb, its object and
modifiers, if any. One of its functions is as a
noun substitute.
— To generate electricity requires a power
source.
— To expand its office manpower is needed to
cope with the rapid growth of the company.
Subject of the Sentence
8. Adjective – usually functions as a modifier of
nouns and pronouns. The adjective
commonly used as a subject is a descriptive
adjective. As a subject it is prefaced by the
article “the”. The adjective as a subject
always takes on a plural verb.
– The beautiful always claim attention of
admirers.
– The rich enjoy many privileges not available
to the less financially endowed.
Subject of the Sentence
9. Adverb - usually functions as a modifier of
a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
The adverbs usually taken as subject are
adverbs of place and adverbs of time.
– Tomorrow is yet to come. (Adverb of time)
– Here rests the unsung heroes of our
country. (Adverb of place)
The Predicate of a Sentence
• The grammatical structure that serves as
predicate of the sentence is the verb. There
are three kinds of verbs according to
structure:
– Transitive verb is a verb that needs a
receiver of its action in order to complete its
meaning. The receivers are direct object,
indirect object , objective complement and
retained object.
The Predicate of a Sentence
--Intransitive verb is a verb that is
complete in itself. It does not need a
receiver of its action. It may take on
adverb modifiers in order to make its
meaning clearer.
-- Linking verb is a verb that connects the
subject of the sentence to a noun,
pronoun, adjective or any other of the
noun substitute that is related to it.
The Predicate of a Sentence
• Some verbs may pair off with auxiliary or
helping verb to denote tense, person,
mood, number or aspect. The most
common auxiliary verbs are the verbs be,
have and do.
• Another helping verbs are the modal
auxiliaries. These are auxiliary verbs that
express ability, possibility, permission or
obligation.
The Predicate of a Sentence
• Modal auxiliaries include:
 can/could/ be able to – implies
ability or possibility
 shall/should/ought to – implies
asking or giving permission, polite
request, polite suggestion; offer
assistance
The Predicate of a Sentence
will/would – implies futurity of an
event or action, polite requwst or
statement
 may/ might - implies possibility,
giving or asking permission
must/ have to/ need to – implies
obligation
Basic Sentence Parts
Let’s Review
Basic Sentence Parts
1. One of these is a not true of a sentence:
a) has a set of subject and predicate
b) the subject can be a noun clause
c) may have a simple subject but compound
predicate
d) the subject can also be an object of the
preposition
e) is made up of one word.
2. One of these cannot be used as subject of the
sentence.
a) infinitive phrase
b) prepositional phrase
c) gerund phrase
d) noun clause
e) gerund
Basic Sentence Parts
3. When an adjective is used as a subject:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
it must take on a plural verb
it must be used as a modifier
it must consist of a phrase
it must take on a singular verb
all of the above
4. The predicate of a sentence can be:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
a complete verb
A linking verb
An intransitive verb
A transitive verb
All of the above
Basic Sentence Parts
5. Which of these will require an antecedent when used
as subject of the sentence?
a) noun
b) pronoun
c) adjective
d) adverb
e) gerund
6. Which can be used as modifier of an adjective used as
subject of the sentence?
a) the
b) some
c) any
d) many
e) all
Basic Sentence Parts
7. All of these are noun substitutes except one:
a) Pronoun
b) Gerund
c) Infinitive
d) Preposition
e) None of the above
8. Which one of these adverbs can be used as
subject of the sentence?
a) Adverb of manner
b) Adverb of frequency
c) Adverb of place
d) Adverb of affirmation
e) Adverb of negation
Basic Sentence Parts
9.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The verb form used in the infinitive is:
S-form
past form
present participle form
past participle form
base form
Basic Sentence Parts
10.Which of these is not a modal auxiliary?
a) must b) should c. could be d) ought to
e) will
11. The most common auxiliary verbs are:
a) have b) do c) be d) none of the
above e) all of the above.
12. The predicate must always have:
a) an auxiliary verb b. a verb c. an object
d) a complement e) a modal auxiliary
Basic Sentence Parts
13.Which of these cannot be a noun
substitute?
a) pronoun b. adverb c. noun clause d.
gerund e. infinitive
14. Of the verbs, which can have an adjective
complement?
a) Linking verb b. Intransitive verb c.
Transitive verb d. All of the above e.
None of the above
Basic Sentence Parts
15.In the sentence, “The crying child wants to
watch the clown swallowing the broken
pieces of glass.”, which f the words below
functions as predicate?
a) crying b) wants c) to watch d.
swallowing e. broken.
Basic Sentence Parts
.
Basic Sentence Parts
Identify the simple subject and simple
predicate in the sentences below. Write the
answer in your notebook
1. Andrew is leaving his mother a message.
2. Camille has been calling you since this
morning.
3. Magnificent Sequoia line the street .
4. Fathers are the pillars of security of our
homes
Basic Sentence Parts
5. The flower, lily of the valley, signifies a
return to happiness.
6. Kara has forgotten to bring her books.
7. The government will be launching a
cleanliness campaign.
8. Beyond that mountain lives a hermit said
to be more than a hundred years old.
9. Somebody has posted a message on the
bulletin board.
Basic Sentence Parts
10.Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret had lived
very privileged lives as crown princesses of
England.
11.All of these used clothes will be distributed
to the indigents in the slum area.
12.Some of the spilled oil on the road was the
cause of many vehicular accidents.
13.Myra and her husband are very protective of
their children.
14. Children, Please clean the floors and apply
floor wax aftewards.
15. Did Florinda complete the survey being
distributed by the agency?
Basic Sentence Parts
If you got a score of 8 or less in the practice
exercise, please review the notes on Basic
Sentence Parts before taking the quiz.
Please look over the uploaded Powerpoint
notes in Quia and check whether there
are other facts you need to include in your
Cheat Sheet.
Basic Sentence Parts
1. One of these is a not true of a sentence:
a) has a set of subject and predicate
b) the subject can be a noun clause
c) may have a simple subject but compound
predicate
d) the subject is also an object of the preposition
e) is made up of one word.
2. One of these cannot be used as subject of the
sentence.
a) infinitive phrase
b) prepositional phrase
c) gerund phrase
d) participial phrase
e) gerund
Basic Sentence Parts
3. When an adjective is used as a subject:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
it must take on a plural verb
it must be used as a modifier
it must consist of a phrase
it must take on a singular verb
all of the above
4. The predicate of a sentence can be:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
a complete verb
A linking verb
An intransitive verb
A transitive verb
All of the above
Basic Sentence Parts
5. Which of these will require an antecedent when used
as subject of the sentence?
a) noun
b) pronoun
c) adjective
d) adverb
e) gerund
6. Which can be used as modifier of an adjective used as
subject of the sentence?
a) the
b) some
c) any
d) many
e) all
Basic Sentence Parts
7. All of these are noun substitutes except one:
a) Pronoun
b) Gerund
c) Infinitive
d) Preposition
e) None of the above
8. Which one of these adverbs can be used as
subject of the sentence?
a) Adverb of manner
b) Adverb of frequency
c) Adverb of place
d) Adverb of affirmation
e) Adverb of negation
Basic Sentence Parts
9.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The verb form used in the infinitive is:
S-form
past form
present participle form
past participle form
base form
Basic Sentence Parts
10.Which of these is not a modal auxiliary?
a) must b) should c. could be d) ought to
e) will
11. The most common auxiliary verbs are:
a) have b) do c) be d) none of the
above e) all of the above.
12. The predicate must always have:
a) an auxiliary verb b. a verb c. an object
d) a complement e) a modal auxiliary
Basic Sentence Parts
15.In the sentence, “The crying child wants to
watch the clown swallowing the broken
pieces of glass.”, which of the words below
functions as predicate?
a) crying b) wants c) to watch d.
swallowing e. broken.
Basic Sentence Parts
13.Which of these cannot be a noun
substitute?
a) pronoun b. adverb c. noun clause d.
gerund e. infinitive
14. Of the verbs, which can have an adjective
complement?
a) Linking verb b. Intransitive verb c.
Transitive verb d. All of the above e.
None of the above
Basic Sentence Parts
Identify the simple subject and simple
predicate in the sentences below. Write the
answer in your notebook
1 Andrew is leaving his mother a message.
2. Camille has been calling you since this
morning.
3. Magnificent Sequoia trees line the street .
4. Fathers are the pillars of security of our
homes
Basic Sentence Parts
10.Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret had lived
very privileged lives as crown princesses of
England.
11.All of these used clothes will be distributed
to the indigents in the slum area.
12.Some of the spilled oil on the road was the
cause of many vehicular accidents.
13.Myra and her husband are very protective of
their children.
Basic Sentence Parts
14. Children, (You) please clean the floors and
apply floor wax aftewards.
15. Did Florinda complete the survey being
distributed by the agency?
Module 3, Lesson 1: Basic Sentence
Parts Quiz
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Lesson 1, Quiz 1
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E
End of Module 3, Lesson 1