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, subject-verb
agreement and voices of verbs.
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).
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.
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. Gerund – verb form that ends in –ing and
functions as a noun.
– Swimming tones the muscles.
– Cooking is Mother’s hobby.
4. Gerund phrase - 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
5. Infinitive – is a verb form usually
introduced by the article “to”.
– To act in Broadway is Romina’s main
ambition in life.
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.
Subject of the Sentence
6. 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
7. Adjective – usually functions as a modifier of
nouns and pronouns. The adjective commonly
used as a subject is the 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
8. Adverb - usually functions as a modifier of
a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
The adverbs usually taken as a subject are
adverbs of place and adverbs of time.
– Tomorrow is yet to come.
– Here rests the unsung heroes of our
country.
Basic Sentence Parts
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:
-form
past form
present participle form
past participle form
base form
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
If you got a score of 5 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
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
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.
Module 3, Lesson 1: Basic Sentence
Parts Quiz
1. Please proceed to www. Quia.com/web
2. On the space provided, enter your log in
name and your password.
3. Under “Quiz”, please select Module 3,
Lesson 1, Quiz 1
4. Follow the instructions in the quiz.
5. Follow these same steps when you go to
succeeding quizzes after every lesson.
End of Lesson