Download BASIC SENTENCE FORMS S=SUBJECT V=VERB (transitive or

A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
BASIC SENTENCE FORMS
S=SUBJECT
V=VERB (transitive or linking)
DO=DIRECT OBJECT (always noun or pronoun)
•
the receiver of the action of the verb
•
will NEVER rename the subject of the sentence
IO=INDIRECT OBJECT (always noun or pronoun)
•
is the receiver of the direct object
OC=OBJECT/OBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT (noun or adjective)
•
is a noun or an adjective that follows the direct object and refers back to the direct object either
renaming it or describing it
SC=SUBJECT/SUBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT (noun, adjective, or pronoun; can be called a predicate noun,
predicate adjective, or predicate pronoun)
•
renames the subject
A. S+V
B. S+V(t)+DO
C. S+V(t)+IO+DO
D. S+V(t)+DO+OC(noun)
E. S+V(t)+DO+OC(adjective)
F. S+LV+SC(noun/pronoun)
G. S+LV+SC(adjective)
BASIC SENTENCE FORMS EXAMPLES
A. Duff bakes.
B. Duff bakes cakes.
C.A bride gave Duff fifteen-thousand dollars for his cake.
D.Food Network declared him an extreme baker.
E. Everyone considers his cakes delicious.
F. Duff is the “Ace” of the cake business.
G. H i s c a k e s a r e e x t r e m e .
1"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
Sentence Forms Notes
Form A: contains a subject and an action verb—intransitive; no objects or complements.
Example:
Mrs. Trahan drives to school every morning.
Form B: contains a subject, an action verb—transitive, and a direct object (receives the action of the
verb). To find it, say “SUBJECT + VERB + WHAT or WHOM?” The answer is the direct object.
Example:
Mrs. Trahan drives her car to school every morning.
Form C: contains a subject, an action verb—transitive, an indirect object (noun or pronoun that receives
the direct object), and a direct object. To find the indirect object say “SUBJECT + VERB + DO + FOR
WHOM/WHAT, TO WHOM/WHAT?” The answer is the indirect object. The IO is always sandwiched
between the V (t) and the DO.
Example:
Mrs. Trahan’s father gave her a big red truck.
Form D & E: contain a subject, an action verb—transitive, a direct object, and an object complement. (It
may contain an IO.) The OC further identifies or describes the direct object. It can be a noun, pronoun (4)
or an adjective (5).
Only certain types of verbs enable a writer to create a sentence with an OC. Verbs that perceive, judge,
create or change allow for an OC in the sentence. Verbs: declared, named, elected, appointed, ordered,
called, discovered, consider, painted, decorated are just a few.
Example:
Mr. Reiss named Mrs. Trahan the Student Council advisor.
Example:
Mrs. Trahan painted the room glittery pink.
Form F: contains a subject, a linking verb, and a subject complement (noun or pronoun; also called a
predicate noun/pronoun).
Example:
Mrs. Trahan is a teacher.
Example:
Mrs. Trahan is she.
Form G: contains a subject, a linking verb, and a subject complement (adjective; also called a predicate
adjective).
Example:
Mrs. Trahan is loud.
2"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
Practice with Sentence Forms
Directions: Follow the directions for the sentences that follow.
• Put all prepositional phrases in parentheses.
• Underline the subject once and the verb twice—don’t forget helping verbs.
• Circle all direct objects.
• Highlight indirect objects.
• Put a box around all object complements.
• Draw an arrow from any subject complements to the subject.
1. Alex baked the class pumpkin bread.
2. I will make them superstars by the end of the year.
3. Learning new technological applications seems easy.
4. My dog brought Dad his slippers.
5. I find school elections a good experience.
6. In the middle of the pile of papers was Mr. Jones’ golden fountain pen.
7. The students grew impatient with waiting for the video.
8. Lisa and Jim made Mrs. O’Brien a pie from the strawberries in their garden.
9. Some people consider smart phones, iPads, and other technology a necessity of life.
10. Jenna ran the 100-meter dash very quickly for a beginner.
11. We appointed Shannon the liaison to Junior High Student Council.
12. The people consider anything on their property theirs.
13. You offered me a nearly perfect plan.
14. The end of the year isn’t near.
15. I met Jenny in the cafeteria for the meeting on Wednesday night.
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A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
PHRASES
•
A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain both a verb and its subject and is used as a
single part of speech.
Prepositional Phrases
•
Prepositional phrases include a preposition, a noun or pronoun called the object of the preposition,
and any modifiers of that object.
o
Example: The Seine River flows through Paris.

The noun Paris is the object of the preposition through.
o
An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun.
o
Example: Claude Monet was a talented painter of water lilies.

The prepositional phrase of water lilies modifies the noun painter, telling what kind of
painter.

It is found very close to the noun it modifies.

It may modify the object of another prepositional phrase.

It answers the same questions that single word adjectives answer: What kind? Which
one? How many?
o
An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another
adverb.
o
Example: The snow fell throughout the day.

The phrase modifies the verb fell, telling when the snow fell.

It is found before or after the word modified; it does not need to be close to the word it
modifies.

It answers the same questions that single word adverbs answer: how, when, where, why,
under what condition or to what degree/extent (how long, how many, how much, or how
far).
o
A prepositional phrase may occasionally be used as a noun.
o
Example: Before rehearsal is a good time to make the announcement.
o

The phrase is used as a noun.

It functions as the subject of the sentence.
Example: The kitten peeked out from behind the sofa.

o
The phrase functions as the object of the preposition from.
Example: The best place to swim is below the bridge.

The phrase functions as a subject complement noun (predicate noun).
4"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
Practice 1
Each of the following sentences contains a prepositional phrase. Locate the phrases by highlighting them.
Identify the prepositional phrase as an adjective, adverb, or noun phrase.
1. Deb waited patiently, eating a bowl of oatmeal and raisins.
2. I got the twins ready for bed.
3. Heavy traffic on the highway delayed them.
4. Especially for the children, the mariachi band played “The Mexican Hat Dance.”
5. Behind the sofa is the place to hide presents.
Practice 2
Write two sentences that contain one of each type of phrase indicated above. Highlight the phrase and
circle the word it modifies.
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5"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
Verbal(s) and Verbal Phrases
•
A verbal is a word that is formed from a verb BUT is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb; there
are many types of verbals.
The Participle & Participial Phrase
•
The Participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective.
o
There are two forms of participles:

present participles end in –ing

past participles end in –d or –ed (only if they are regular verbs)

different endings apply to irregular verbs (changing vowels or consonants, changing
vowels and consonants, making no changes)
•
Examples of participles used in sentences:
o
The smiling child waved. (Smiling, a form of the verb smile, modifies the noun child.)
o
The police officers searched the abandoned warehouse. (Abandoned, a form of the verb
abandon, modifies the noun warehouse.)
o
His brother acted like the chosen child. (Chosen, a form of the verb choose, modifies the noun
child.)
•
WARNING--do not confuse a participle (used as an adjective) as one used in a verb phrase
o
Example: Planning their trip, the class learned how to read a road map. (adjective)
o
Example: While they were planning their trip, the class learned how to read a map. (verb
phrase)
o
Generally if it has a helping verb in front of it, it is part of the verb phrase=NOT A
PARTICIPLE.
•
The Participial Phrase consists of a participle and any modifiers or complements the participle has.
The entire phrase is used as an adjective.
o
The phrase may be modified by an adverb or an adverb phrase and may also have a
complement, usually a direct object.
o
o
Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck seemed quite bewildered.

The participial phrase modifies the noun duck.

The pronoun itself is the direct object of the present participle Seeing.

The adverb phrase in the mirror modifies the present participle Seeing.
After a while, we heard the duck quacking noisily at its own image.

The participial phrase modifies the noun duck.

The adverb noisily and the adverb phrase at its own image modify the present participle
quacking.
6"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
o
A participial phrase (or participle) should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies,
or it will seem out of place or not make sense.

Slithering through the grass, I saw a snake trimming the hedges this morning.

The phrases slithering through the grass does not modify I and trimming the hedges
doesn’t modify snake.

Correct Example: Trimming the hedges this morning, I saw a snake slithering
through the grass.
Practice 3
Each of the following sentences contains at least one participial phrase. Locate the phrases by
highlighting them. Identify the word it modifies by circling it.
1. Known as Johnny Appleseed, John Chapman distributed apple seeds and saplings to families headed
West.
2. Having been aided by good weather and clear skies, the sailors rejoiced as they sailed into port.
3. Searching through old clothes in a trunk, John found a map showing the location of buried treasure.
4. Sparta and Athens, putting aside their own rivalry, joined forces to fight the Persians.
5. Chores having been finished, we could then go to a movie and dinner.
The Absolute
o
The Absolute Phrase consists of a participle (--ing or –ed verb) and the noun or pronoun it modifies.
The entire phrase functions as an adverb and is used to modify an independent clause.
o
It has no direct grammatical connection with any word in the clause it modifies. Rather the
phrase modifies the whole clause by telling why, when, or how.
o
o
The construction of an absolute may vary depending on the writer’s preference.

noun + an ing or ed verb added to a sentence (single or pair)

possessive pronoun + noun + --ing or –ed verb + additional modifiers

noun + --ing or –ed verb + additional modifiers
Example: Claws digging, the cat climbed the tree. OR Claws digging, paws kicking, the
cat climbed the tree.

This is an example of=noun + an ing or ed verb added to a sentence (single or pair)

Here the absolute construction(s) are used to modify the independent clause by telling
how the cat climbed the tree.

When making this type of absolute, you must keep the participle consistent (both past or
both present participle).
o
Example: Claws dug, paws kicking, the cat climbed the tree. {This is incorrect}
7"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
o
Example: Their ivory tusks being valuable, elephants have been hunted almost to extinction.

This is an example of=possessive pronoun + noun + --ing or –ed verb + additional
modifiers
o

being valuable modifies the noun tusks

The absolute phrase modifies the independent clause by telling why.
Example: The tomcat next door kept us awake all night, howls filling the night air.

This is an example of=noun + --ing or –ed verb + additional modifiers

filling the night air modifies the noun howls

The absolute phrase modifies the independent clause by telling how the tomcat kept us
awake.
Gerund & Gerund Phrase
•
The Gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun.
o
Skiing down that slope was fun. (Skiing=subject)
o
Dad’s favorite pastime is fishing for trout and bass. (fishing=subject complement/predicate
nominative)
•
o
Give sailing a try. (sailing=indirect object)
o
We enjoyed hiking in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. (hiking=direct object)
o
Please sweep the front sidewalk after mowing. (mowing=object of the preposition)
o
Don’t confuse a gerund with a present participle used as part of a verb phrase or as an adjective

Pausing, the deer was sniffing the wind before stepping into the meadow.

Pausing is a participle modifying deer; sniffing is part of the verb phrase was sniffing.

Stepping is a gerund that serves as the object of the preposition before.
The Gerund Phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The
entire phrase is used as a noun.
o
A gerund (within a phrase) may be modified by an adverb or an adverb phrase and may have a
complement, usually a direct object; it functions as a noun, may be modified by an adjective or
an adjective phrase.


Having a part-time job may interfere with your schoolwork.
•
The gerund phrase is the subject of the sentence.
•
The noun job is the direct object of the gerund Having.
•
The article a and the adjective part-time modify job.
The townspeople heard the loud clanging of the fire bell.
•
The gerund phrase is the direct object of the verb heard.
•
The article the, the adjective loud, and the adjective phrase of the fire bell modify
the gerund clanging.
8"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I

We crossed the stream [by stepping carefully from stone to stone].

The gerund phrase is the object of the preposition by.

The adverb carefully and the adverb phrases from stone and to stone modify the
gerund stepping.
Practice 4
Directions: Please underline all gerunds in red and all participles in purple.
For some reasons X-ing Gerund has been having great difficulty in getting to sleep lately. Last night he
thought it might help if he went to bed even earlier than usual, so at 9.30 he lay down, closed his eyes
hopefully, and began counting sheep. Thinking of all those energetic little animals jumping over fences
made him feel energetic himself, so he stopped counting, went downstairs and found the most boring
book he had. It was a book called 'Home Rug-Making'. At the end of an hour he had become quite
interested in making rugs. He put the book down in desperation. Then he remembered someone telling
him once that if he repeated "Sleep" often enough, it would finally come. 15 minutes later the people in the
bedroom above him tapped angrily on the floor.
At 2 o'clock he took a sleeping-tablet. It had absolutely no effect.
At 3 he got up and walked around his room at least 20 times. At 4 he did a deep-breathing exercise. At 5
he stared at a spot on the ceiling until his eyes began to hurt.
At 6 his eyes began to feel heavy and, finally, he dropped off. His alarm-clock rang at 7. This morning at
work his boss looked at him gravely, shook his head, and said in a critical tone of voice: "See here,
Gerund, you have been looking very tired lately! Obviously, you haven't been getting enough sleep. I
really think you ought to try going to bed earlier!"
The Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase & Infinitive Clause
•
The Infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Most infinitives
begin with to.

o
Winona’s ambition is to become a doctor. (To become=subject complement [N]).

•
To install the ceiling fan took two hours. (To install=subject)
Shana likes to skate but not to ski. (To skate and to ski=direct objects).
o
The best time to visit Florida is December through April. (To visit=adjective modifying time)
o
The gymnasts were ready to practice their routines. (To practice=adverb modifying ready)
The Infinitive Phrase consists of an infinitive and any modifiers or complements the infinitive has.
o
The entire phrase may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
o
It may be modified by an adjective or an adverb; it may also have an object or complement.
o
The crowd grew quiet to hear the speaker.
9"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
•

The infinitive phrase is an adverb modifying the verb grew.

Within the phrase, the noun speaker is the direct object of the infinitive to hear.
The Infinitive Clause is unlike other verbals. It contains a subject.
o
o
o
Example: The director of the theater has asked Rebecca to star in the play.

Rebecca is the subject of the infinitive to star.

The entire infinitive clause is the direct object of the verb has asked.
Example: The sergeant commanded them to march faster.

Them is the subject of the infinitive to march.

The entire infinitive clause is the direct object of the verb commanded.
Example: My friends and I want the next president to be him.

President is subject of the infinitive to be.

The entire infinitive clause is the direct object of the verb want.
Practice 5
Directions: Each of the following sentences contains an infinitive.
• Identify the infinitive by highlighting it.
• Underline the infinitive phrase (if there is one).
• State whether it is used as a noun (N), an adjective (ADJ), or an adverb (ADV).
• If it is a noun, identify whether it is used a subject (S), direct object (DO), or subject complement noun (SC).
Part of
Speech
Sentences
1. To land on the moon became our national goal during the sixties.
2. For me, one of the most time-consuming chores is to clean my room.
3. On our vacation last summer, we discovered an appealing little antique shop with
unusual objects to sell.
4. Since I have taken up track, it seems I don’t have moment to spare for anything
else.
5. Do you find certain television commentators difficult to understand?
6. According to our judicial system, the state makes the decision to prosecute the
defendant in criminal cases.
7. Infinitives are usually easy to recognize in a sentence.
8. Anita’s job was to interview all qualified applicants.
9. I did not have the time to watch the football game on television
10. In my spare time I like to read historical fiction.
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Function
(if a noun)
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
The Appositive & Appositive Phrase
•
The Appositive is a noun/pronoun placed beside another noun/pronoun to identify or describe it.
o
The art teacher Laurie Robichaux is my friend. (The noun Laurie Robichaux identifies the noun
teacher.)
o
I chose one person, Mrs. Moreaux, to organize the volunteers. (The pronoun her refers to the
noun person.)
o
commas and appositives—only use the commas if the information is not essential to the meaning
of the sentence; do not use commas if the information is needed to make the noun or pronoun it
identifies more specific.
•
The Appositive Phrase consists of an appositive and its modifiers.
o
Example: Valerie Manns, a receiver of strange gifts, was given a set of wisdom teeth by one
of her students. (The adjective phrase of strange gifts modifies the appositive receiver.)
o
Example: Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter known for his artworks, was also an
architect, engineer, and scientist. (The article an, the adjective Italian, and the participial
phrase known for his artworks modify the appositive painter.)
Practice 6
Directions: Highlight or underline the following phrases in the designated color.
Absolute=
orange
Appositive=
yellow
Participle=
blue
And the head itself, a ton of sculptured stone, lifted easily upon the sky. Its mouth gaped, exposing a fence
of teeth like daggers. Its eyes rolled, ostrich eggs, empty of all expression save hunger. It closed its
mouth in a death grin. It ran, pelvic bones crushing aside trees and bushes, taloned feet clawing damp
earth, leaving prints six inches deep wherever it settled its weight.
The lioness, a new mother, yawned with a soft moaning roar. Twitching her whiskered nose, she squinted
in the misty morning fog, dense and forboding. Eyes telescoping the grassy plain, nostrils sniffing the
wind, she tested each detail of the dawn before waking the rest of her cubs.
Hula is a Hawaiian dance, traditional and exotic. The hula is related to the history, culture, and religion of
the ancient Hawaiian people. Beginning as a religious dance, the hula was performed for Hawaiian royalty
only by people whom the priests had taught. Hula dancers, highly trained artists, expressed an
appreciation for the natural beauty of the Hawaiian islands, the history and concerns of the Hawaiian
people, and devotion to their religion. Hips swaying, arms and legs moving, dancers used smooth
techniques. Performing mostly for tourists, modern hula dancers present a more lively adaptation than the
traditional version of the hula dance.
11"
A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
The Clause—No, not Santa
The Clause is a group of words that contains a verb and its subject and is used as part of a sentence
•
Independent Clause—expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence
o
•
Ms. Martin explained the binary number system.
Subordinate Clause (dependent)—does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as
a sentence; must be connected to an independent clause to be complete.
o
that we collected last Saturday
o
which Rudy proofread last night
o
what Susan named her pet beagle
Types of Clauses
I. Noun Clause—a subordinate clause that is used as a noun; may be used as a subject, subject
complement, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition
o
Words to introduce noun clauses
how
that
what
whatever
when
whenever
where
wherever
whether
which
whichever
who
whoever
whom
whomever
whose
why
o
Examples:

That Shakespeare was a talented writer is an understatement. (subject)

A catchy slogan is what we need for this campaign. (subject complement [N])

The Greek astronomer Ptolemy believed that the sun orbited the earth. (direct
object)
The choreographer will give whoever can dance the best the role of Snow

Princess. (indirect object)
Grandma Lea has a kind word for whomever she meets. (object of the

preposition)
II. Adjective Clause—a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun usually begins with a
relative pronoun (think of the word “relate”—the pronoun introduces the clause and “relates”
information about the noun or pronoun it modifies)
o

a relative pronoun refers to its antecedent—a preceding noun or pronoun

connects the adjective clause with the rest of the sentence
Examples:
 Grandma Moses, who began painting at the age of seventy six, became famous for
her primitive style of art.
 I have read nearly every novel that Shirley Ann Grau has written.
 The treasure for which Dr. Diaz-Paraguas and her crew are searching belonged to
the Aztec emperor Montezuma II.
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A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
 Those two movie critics, the ones with the television show, are the only ones whose
opinions he values.
o
Sometimes, an adjective clause may begin with the relative adverb*—when or where
o
Examples:
 Uncle Jim told Lori and me about the time when he backpacked across the island of
Luzon. (which time? when he backpacked across the island of Luzon.)
 The bakery started in the town where it still bakes fresh donuts everyday. (which
town? where it still bakes fresh donuts everyday.)
o
that
o
Words to introduce adjective clauses
which
who
whom
whose
when*
where*
SOMETIMES the relative pronoun or relative adverb is not expressed, but its meaning is
understood.
o
Examples:
 The book [that] I am reading is a biography of Harriet Tubman. (tells which book)
 We will never forget the wonderful summer [when] we stayed with our grandparents
in Puerto Rico. (tells which summer)
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A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
The Adjective Clause—Each sentence in the following paragraph contains an adjective clause. Underline
the adjective clause once. Then circle the relative pronoun or relative adverb that introduces it.
Cartoonists use a variety of unusual names for the symbols that commonly appear in funnies. For
example, a briffit is the little puff of dust hanging in the spot where a swiftly departing character once
stood. For times when cartoonists want to make something appear hot or smelly, they use wavy rising
lines called waftaroms. Agitrons are wiggly lines around an object that is supposed to be shaking. The
arm of a character who is taking a swing at something may be trailed by a set of curved lines called a
swalloop. Plewds, which look like flying droplets of sweat, are drawn around a worried character’s head.
Just about everyone who likes to doodle and draw has probably used some of these symbols. Professional
cartoonists, however, have symbols to suggest almost all motions and emotions that can be found in
cartoons. Look at your favorite comic strip to find places where the cartoonist has used briffits, plewds, or
other symbols. Congratulations! Now you know a “language” that almost nobody outside the cartooning
profession knows!
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A. Trahan
English 8 Level I
III. Adverb Clause—is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. It does
contain a subject and a verb.
 It tells where, when, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition.
 When an adverb clause starts a sentence, it is followed by a comma.
o
Examples:
 You may sit wherever you wish. (modifies may sit, telling where)
 When winter sets in, many animals hibernate. (modifies hibernate, telling when)
 Jessica and Anaba look as though they have some exciting news for us. (modifies
look, telling how)
 Happy because he had made an A, Tony hurried home. (modifies Happy, telling why)
 If it does not rain tomorrow, we will go to Grand Isle. (modifies will go, telling under
what condition)
o
Subordinate Conjunctions
after
although
as
as if
as long as
as soon as
as though
because
before
how
if
in order that
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
whether
while
o
They show the relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words that the
clause modifies.
o
Note—some of the words above can be used as prepositions, be sure to double check the
sentence to make sure you have correctly identified the use of the word.
o
Examples:
 Preposition: After lunch we’ll finish making the model airplane.
 Sub. Conjunction: After you wash the dishes, I’ll dry them and put them away.
IV. The Infinitive Clause (revisited) is unlike other verbals. It contains a subject.
o
Example: The director of the theater has asked Rebecca to star in the play.
 Rebecca is the subject of the infinitive to star.
 The entire infinitive clause is the direct object of the verb has asked.
o
Example: The sergeant commanded them to march faster.
 Them is the subject of the infinitive to march.
 The entire infinitive clause is the direct object of the verb commanded.
o
Example: My friends and I want the next president to be him.
 President is subject of the infinitive to be.
 The entire infinitive clause is the direct object of the verb want.
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