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Writing
Effective
Sentences
Unit 1
Lesson 1 Simple sentences with
action verbs
OBJECTIVES:
After completing this lesson, you should be able
to
• define a simple sentence
• identify the subject, main verb, and auxiliary
verb(s) in a simple sentence
• recognize direct and indirect objects
• recognize the functions of adjective and adverb
modifiers
1A Identifying the subject and verb
• A sentence contains a subject and a verb (also
referred to as a simple predicate) and conveys
a complete thought. Simple sentences are
those that contain only one subject/verb
combination.
Subject/Verb
The subject (S) is what or who does something.
S
AV
People work.
S
AV
They ran.
The action verb (AV) is what the subject does.
• Subjects may be nouns (such as people) or
pronouns (such as they).
Most sentences, of course, contain several
words in addition to the simple subject and
verb. When these additional words appear
individually, they are sometimes called
modifiers.
Subject/Verb with Modifiers
Words that modify nouns are called adjectives.
S
AV
Many people work hard.
S
AV
Race horses run fast.
Words that modify verbs are called adverbs.
Application 1-1
•
Identify the subject in each of the following
sentences by places S above it. Because you re
presently dealing only with action verbs,
identify each verb with AV.
S
AV
EXAMPLE: Mary left soon.
1. Most students studied quietly.
2. The water flows north.
3. Martin planned very carefully.
4. This morning I tried again.
5. Our speaker began immediately.
1B Identifying direct and indirect
objects
• Sentences with action verbs in them often
contain a word that tells who or what received
that action. Such a word is known as a direct
object (DO) of the verb. Some examples
follow:
S
AV
DO
All students wrote their papers.
The word papers (direct object) tells what the students
wrote.
S
AV
DO
Every player hit the ball well.
The word ball (direct object) tells what the players hit.
S
AV
DO
The teacher remembered me.
The word me (direct object) tells whom the teacher
remembered.
• Sentences may also contain an indirect object
(IO) of the verb. It is a word that tells to whom
or for whom something was done:
S
AV
IO
DO
She gave Maria her keys.
The keys (direct object) were given to Maria (indirect
object).
S AV
IO
DO
I asked Bill several questions.
The questions (direct object) were asked of Bill
(indirect object).
Application 1-2
•
In the following sentences place S above the
subject and AV above each action verb; also,
place DO above each direct object and IO
above each indirect object. (Note: Every
sentence will contain a subject and an action
verb, but every sentence will not contain both
a direct and an indirect object.)
1. Their family bought a new house last week.
2. Mr. Jones added the numbers first.
3. I mailed the company my check.
4. Only one person believed her story.
5. His secretary wrote each customer a letter.
1C Identifying auxiliary verbs
• The main verb in a sentence is often preceded
by one or more auxiliary (helping) verbs. The
most common auxiliaries are shown below.
Columns 4 and 5 contain various forms of the
verb “to be.” when these state-of-being verbs
appear with action verbs, they act as auxiliaries
(AUX); when used individually, they act as
linking verbs (LV). Linking verbs will be
explained in Lesson 3.
Col. 1
Col. 2
Col. 3
Col. 4
Col. 5
can
have
should
am
being
could
may
will
are
is
did
might
would
be
was
do
must
been
were
had
shall
• Subject/Verb With Auxiliaries
S AUX AV
She has planted her garden.
S AUX
AV
He was chosen team captain.
S
AUX AUX
AV
Our customers have been complaining
lately.
Application 1-3
•
Identify the subject (S), auxiliary verb
(AUX), and main verb (AV) in each of the
following sentences.
1. Many more colleges have developed these
programs.
2. The noisy fan was removed right away.
3. Some patients are going home tomorrow.
4. Their boss may have given poor instructions.
5. Mrs. Brown did pay her bill promptly last
month.