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Sentences: The Building Blocks of Our Writing
What is a sentence?
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A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Different kinds of
sentences have different purposes.
Types of Sentence Structures:
Sentence
Simple
Compound
Complex
Opener, SENTENCE.
SENT, interrupter, ENCE.
SENTENCE, closer.
Kinds of Sentences:
Kind of Sentence
Punctuation
Purpose
Declarative
Interrogative
Exclamatory
Imperative
Period (.)
Question Mark (?)
Exclamation Point (!)
Period (.)
Makes a statement
Asks a question
Expresses strong feeling
Gives a command or
makes a request
Examples from Literature:
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“Are you paying attention here?” (Freak the Mighty, p. 4)
“Count all of the doors and windows. List everything blue. Mount an expedition to
discover the hot water tank.” (Coraline, p. 7)
“Up, up, up! It is going to be a big, big, big day!” (The Hunger Games, p. 54)
“Once upon a time, a tiny caterpillar burst from the egg which had been home for so
long.” (Hope for the Flowers, p. 1).
Sentence Search:
Type of sentence
Example
Declarative
Interrogative
Imperative
Exclamatory
Try it Yourself:
In your writer’s notebook, complete the following prompt, using at least one of each kind
of sentence:
“In the rearview mirror the cabdriver saw…”
This piece should be at least one page in your notebook.
What makes a sentence a sentence?
What are sentences made of?
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Every sentence has two parts: a subject and a predicate.
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The subject names WHOM or WHAT the sentence is about.
The complete subject includes all of the words in the subject. The simple subject is
the main word or group of words in the complete subject. (NOUN or PRONOUN)
In imperative sentences, the subject is implied (you, understood).
To find the subject, ask yourself: Who or what did or is something?
Examples:
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-
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The predicate tells what the subject DOES or HAS. It can also tell what the subject
IS or IS LIKE.
The complete predicate includes all the words in the predicate of a sentence. The
simple predicate is the main word or group of words in the complete predicate.
(VERB).
To find the predicate, ask yourself: What did they do? or What are they?
Examples:
The Most Basic Unit: A Simple Sentence
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A simple sentence has one subject and one predicate.
Simple sentences are almost synonymous with independent clauses. An
independent clause has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own, making a
complete thought.
Identifying the Subject and Predicate in Simple
Sentences:
Problems with Sentence Formation (1)
What is a Fragment?
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A sentence must contain at least one subject and one predicate, and it must form a
complete thought.
A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought.
It could be missing a subject, a predicate, or both.
2 Word Showdown:
He paced.
And mosquitoes.
Stacy gasped.
Eric stirred.
And gnats.
Another corpse.
Jeff shrugged.
Amy turned.
To look.
Jeff nodded.
Jeff sighed.
(The Ruins, Scott Smith)
SUBJECT
PREDICATE
Searching for Fragments
Underline the fragments below:
What if. He didn’t do it.
What he did. Was throw the baseball fast and hard.
We went boating and waterskiing. And exhausted.
Rickey suffers from arachnophobia. A fear of spiders.
Although the paramedics knew it was too late. They gave him CPR anyway.
She wondered what to do next. Being that she completed all her work.
Jack offered to lift the heavy box. Which didn’t bother me a bit.
Why Would an Author use A Fragment?
“The bigger kids came around too, for other reasons. From Moore Street and Arch Street
and Chestnut and Green. Heading for the vacant lot to check out the new kid. To test
him. To see if everything they’ve heard was true. To see how good he really was. And how
bad.” (Maniac Magee, p. 54)
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Checking our own writing for Fragments:
The Sentence Test:
1) Can you answer: Who or what did or is something?
2) Can you answer: What did they do? or What are they?
3) Is it a complete thought?
Complicated Subject and
Predicate Structures
Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates
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A sentence may have more than one simple subject or simple predicate.
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A compound predicate has two or more simple predicates, or verbs, that have the
same subject. The simple predicates are connected by and, or, but, and nor.
A compound subject has two or more simple subjects that have the same predicate.
The subjects are joined by and, or, or nor.
Why Compound Subject and Compound Predicates
Complicate Things: Subject/Verb Agreement
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When two simple subjects are joined by and or both…and, the compound subject is plural
and takes the plural form of the verb.
Examples:
The pit and the pendulum are both to be avoided.
Both the motorcycle and the speedboat belong to Josh.
When simple subjects are joined by or or nor, the compound subject may be singular or
plural. The verb must agree with the nearer simple subject.
Examples:
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The dog or the cat has scattered all the food.
Either Carmen or Melissa is helping with the work.
Neither the plumber nor the electrician wants to do the work.
This river or at least the nearby streams flood every year.
Either the ants or the carpenter dances every year.
Neither the bricklayer nor the concrete pourers are ready.
An Invitation to Identify:
Examples of Compound Subjects in your reading:
1)
2)
3)
An Invitation to Imitate:
Pull three sentences from your own writing. Make the subject of each sentence a
compound subject, connecting the first sentence’s compound subject through the word
“and,” the second through the word “or,” and the last through the word “nor.”
1) Original:
Revised:
2) Original:
Revised:
3) Original:
Revised:
Sentence Combining
Compound sentences
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A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more simple sentences
joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction or by a semicolon.
Examples:
Format for Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions:
SENTENCE , (coordinating conjunction) SENTENCE.
for
and
not
but
or
yet
so
Model Sentences Using Coordinating Conjunctions:
He tried to stare into her fiery gaze, but he couldn’t stop looking at the purple vein
bulging in her forehead. – (Out of Patience)
The dark scares us, for we don’t know what is waiting in the dark. (Scary Stories 3: More
Takes to Chill Your Bones).
I could remember every detail of the whole night, but it had the unreal quality of a
dream. (The Outsiders)
Angeline would reveal no secrets now, and Damiana would reveal no secrets later. (The
Safe-Keeper’s Secret).
Using Semicolons to Connect:
Format for Compound Sentences with Semicolons:
SENTENCE ; SENTENCE.
Examples From Literature:
“Everyone was staring; she knew they would notice.” (The Westing Game, p. 31)
“Why me? I’m a doctor; I took an oath to save lives, not take them.” (The Westing Game,
p. 99)
Invitation to Imitate Using Coordinating Conjunctions:
“It’s Friday night, and Mom is yelling at me because I won’t eat the chicken she cooked
for dinner.” (Confessions of a Closet Catholic)
It’s Friday night, and my mom works all night. I stay up and watch scary movies, so I
won’t be bored. I think this plan will work, but it never does.
Your Turn: Create three compound sentences, with each using a different coordinating
conjunction. Your sentences should start with: “It’s Friday night.”
Invitation to Combine:
A nervous chuckle rose up in me.
I refused to let it out.
I tried calling her as soon as I got home from school.
Her line was busy.
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Nancy Osa, Cuba 15
Look in your own writing. Find two separate sentences that could be made into a
compound sentence. Show the revision work here.
Original Sentences: _______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Revised Compound Sentence:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Invitation to Collect:
Look in a novel you are reading to find examples of compound sentences using
FANBOYS.
Questions to Consider:
1) Are there two complete sentences, with subjects and verbs on each side of the
FANBOYS? Are a comma and one of the FANBOYS joining the two complete sentences?
Why might the author use that specific coordinating conjunction?
Look in a novel you are reading to find examples of compound sentences using
semicolons.
Questions to Consider:
1) Are the two sentences intimately connected? Does the author purposefully connect the
sentences with a semicolon?
Problems with Sentence Formation (2)
Comma Splices
What is incorrect about the following sentence?
Felicia balled up the napkin in her fist, she didn’t say anything.
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If you put a comma between two complete sentences without a conjunction, it’s an
error called a comma splice or comma fault.
There are multiple ways to fix a comma splice.
o The semicolon: if the sentences are closely related to each other, you can use a
semicolon.
o The conjunction: if the sentences are related, you can add a conjunction such
as and.
o The period: if the sentences are not connected, a period should go between
them.
Examples:
What are the three ways that we could correctly write each sentence? Which way(s)
would be best in this case?
1. He could be courteous and helpful on the surface, you never know what was going on
underneath. (The House of the Scorpion p. 96)
A.
B.
C.
2. Maria had insulted him in front of everyone, he intended to make her pay. (The House
of the Scorpion p. 108).
A.
B.
C.
Run-Ons
Student Error: What is incorrect about the sentence below?
Something that makes me happy is my friend Destiny she doesn’t try to act all cool and
she is just goofy like when she dances she doesn’t care about what anybody says and she
just dances and laughs and doesn’t worry so she is a lot of fun to hang with because she
makes me laugh and we can go to Ingram Park mall and cruise around she is not shy so
we always get to meet new people.
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A run-on sentence is two or more sentences incorrectly written as one sentence.
Run-on sentences are, in some ways, the opposite of comma splices: instead of using
the wrong punctuation, they occur when you don’t use any punctuation between two
sentences.
Many people mistakenly believe that run-on sentences are just long sentences, but
run-on sentences are actually sentences that are smashed together without any
punctuation or with incorrect punctuation.
To correct a run-on, write separate sentences or combine the sentences. (The same
way you would correct a comma splice).
Mentor Texts:
Every day was a happy day, and every night was peaceful. (Charlotte’s Web, p. 11)
Celia says you’re in shock, but I think you’re just lazy (The House of the Scorpion p. 59).
Making Corrections:
Look at these two run-on sentences that have been modified from the novel Flipped.
What are the three ways that we could correctly write each sentence? Which way(s)
would be best in each case?
1. “I am still trying to break free but the girl’s got me in a death grip.” (p. 3)
A.
B.
C.
2. “I chased Bryce up the walkway and that’s when everything changed.” (p.13)
A.
B.
C.
Complex Sentences: Interrupters
Grammar Concept: When a group of words interrupts a sentence, it needs to have
commas on both sides. Use two commas to set off nonessential information.
 Interrupters, or embedded details, add information to a sentence. The
interrupter sentence pattern gives the writer the option of adding information,
which provides the reader with more detail about it.
Student Error: Michael a real fine guy sings sweetly.
Mentor Texts:
“I was stretched out on my back, my paws dangling at my sides, thinking nothing
more of the meal I’d just eaten and the chocolate I hoped still lie ahead. (The Celery
Stalks at Midnight p. 3).
“And she didn’t want to sit next to Frank Pearl, who ate paste, in class. (Judy Moody
p. 9)
“Intricate mosaic tiles, handpicked by Baba in Isfanhan, covered the four floors of the
four bathrooms.” (The Kite Runner, p.4)
Spotted: Interrupters!
1. The sunlight showing through the drifting clouds played hide and seek with us.
2. He left the house swiftly in the night never to return.
3. An older man knobby-kneed and trim clips on his harness.
4. Sydney young and cute ran across the room.
5. My husband’s eyes those eyes our daughters have were a different shade of
blue.
6. I love you Harley Davidson with all my heart.
7. This of course is when our trip was scheduled.
Two of the Many Types of Interrupters
Appositives:
 Appositives add information to sentences by renaming nouns (person, place,
thing).
 Appositives are next to the noun they rename.
 Appositives need commas or dashes to offset them from the sentence.
Models:
Avon, a rather small snail, read a book every day. (The End of the Beginning)
Keith, the boy in rumpled shorts and shirt, did not know he was being watched as he
entered room 215 of the Mountain View Inn. (The Mouse and the Motorcycle).
NOTE: APPOSITIVES CAN COME AT THE END OF A SENTENCE AS WELL. THEY ARE NOT
JUST INTERRUPTERS.
Ingrid panned the beam across the room, a furnace room full of shadows, cobwebs,
newspaper stacks, and run (Down the Rabbit Hole).
Your Turn:
1.
2.
3.
Adjectives Shifted Out of Order:
Instead of appearing before a noun, adjectives sometimes appear right after the
noun they modify (out-of-order adjectives). When this happens in the middle of a
sentence, it must be set off by commas.
Models:
The duke, stocky and commanding, preferred simple clothes.
Daja, angry and hurt, stomped out of the forge.
Sandy, nervous and eager, obeyed.
Your Turn:
1.
2.
3.
Invitation to Collect: Look in your novels to find examples of sentences with
interrupters. If you find an appositive or adjectives shifted out of order, label it
accordingly.
Complex Sentences: Closers
Grammar Concept: Use a comma to set off additional information if it’s after an
independent clause and the additions modify or describe elements of the clause.
Student Error: It was time to get my haircut bangs over my eyes flopping back down
every time I brush it back.
Mentor Texts:
All the other kids watched the woman as she moved along the line, her high-heeled
shoes sounding like firecrackers going off on the wooden floor (Bud, Not Buddy).
The screen was coming away from the screen door in one corner, curling away from
the metal frame like a leaf. The volume-control knob had fallen off the hi-fi, leaving a
forked metal bud (A Crime in the Neighborhood).
There was a lot of posing going on, a kind of auditioning or something (The Rose and
the Bat).
Invitation to Craft using Detail:

This technique is most often used to show strong details and close observation.
Sight:
The detective walked through the door, _________________________________________.
Smell:
The detective walked through the door, _________________________________________.
Hear:
The detective walked through the door, _________________________________________.
Touch:
The detective walked through the door, _________________________________________.
Taste:
The detective walked through the door, _________________________________________.
Punctuating Closers:
Add the correct punctuation.
1. These activities are fun because there are many possibilities many of which are
funny.
2. I was so shocked I couldn’t even look in the direction where the noise came from
behind the closet.
3. In the past, I have always been told I was an exceptional writer seldom making
any significant grammatical mistakes.
4. I appreciate your help Mr. Evans.
5. Our hurried lifestyles soon take over plunging us forever into chaos.
Invitation to Collect:
Find examples of closers in a novel of your choice.
1.
2.
3.
Invitation to Imitate:
Create three examples of sentences with closers.
1.
2.
3.