Download Chapter 1: Sentence Basics

CHAPTER 1
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
A group of words must pass three tests in
order to be called a sentence:
• It must contain a subject, which tells you who
or what the sentence is about.
Gabriella lives in Manhattan.
• It must contain a predicate, which tells you
what the subject is or does.
Gabriella lives in Manhattan.
• It must express a complete thought.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
Two types of verbs make up all sentences:
• An action verb describes the action in a
sentence.
dance
drive
write
• A linking verb links the subject of the
sentence to words that describe or rename it.
appear
be
is
seem
become
were
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
It can be hard to find the subject and verb in
certain types of sentences:
• The subject of a command is always
understood to be you.
[You] Give me that book.
Subject
Verb
• In a question, the verb comes before the
subject. To find the subject and verb, rewrite
the question as a statement.
Was Danielle home?
Danielle was home.
Copyright
by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Subject © 2002Verb
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
(Continued)
It can be hard to find the subject and verb in
certain types of sentences:
• In a here or there sentence, the verb also
comes before the subject. Here or there is
never the subject.
There goes my afternoon.
My afternoon goes there.
Subject
Verb
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
There are two important rules for writing a
sentence correctly:
• Every sentence must start with a capital letter.
The neighbors are getting loud.
• Every sentence must end with a punctuation
mark (a period, question mark, or
exclamation point).
The neighbors are making such a racket!
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
A sentence can have more than one subject
or more than one verb (or both at once):
• Compound subject
Danielle and Darryl were home.
• Compound verb
The boxes have been packed, labeled, and
shipped.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
There are several guidelines for using
commas in a compound sentence:
• DON’T separate a subject from a predicate
with a comma.
The woman riding the brown horse, is my sister.
• DON’T put a comma between two parts of a
compound subject or verb.
Jamil, and Katy got engaged last week.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
(Continued)
There are several guidelines for using
commas in a compound sentence:
• DO use a comma when a compound has
three or more subjects or verbs.
My boss, her assistant, and I arrived early
for the meeting.
This morning she jogged three miles, lifted
weights, and stretched.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
A noun is a word that labels a person, place,
thing, or idea.
• A plural noun names more than one person,
place, thing, or idea.
The tigers are hungry.
• A proper noun names a specific person,
place, thing, or idea and begins with a capital
letter.
The tiger is named Shep.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
(Continued)
A noun is a word that labels a person, place,
thing, or idea.
• A possessive noun shows ownership. An
apostrophe (’)and an -s are used to form the
possessive.
Shep’s home is in northeast Asia.
Tigers’ main food source is wild pig.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
Pronouns can replace nouns, making writing
less repetitive.
• A pronoun may be a
subject
I, you, he, she,
it, we, they, who
• A pronoun may be an
object
me, you, him, her,
it, us, them, whom
• A possessive pronoun
may stand alone
mine, yours, his, hers,
ours, theirs, whose
• A possessive pronoun
may accompany a noun
my, your, his, her,
its, our, their, whose
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
(Continued)
Pronouns can replace nouns, making writing
less repetitive.
• In compounds with a noun and a pronoun, it
can be hard to figure out whether to use a
subject pronoun or an object pronoun. To
make it easier, cross out the noun.
Kyoko and (I, me) went to a concert.
(I, me) went to a concert.
Kyoko and I went to a concert.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
Soundalike words, called homonyms, can
cause confusion about when to use
apostrophes.
• Contractions use apostrophes. Possessive
pronouns do not.
You’re out of your mind.
• Possessive nouns use apostrophes.
Possessive pronouns do not.
The robot’s metal hand reached out and
scratched its head.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
(Continued)
Soundalike words, called homonyms, can
cause confusion about when to use
apostrophes.
• Never use an apostrophe to form a plural
noun (even if it sounds like a possessive
noun).
The coal miners went out on strike and the
steelworkers’ union voted to join them.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
CHAPTER 1: Sentence Basics
THE END
Practice the skills you learned in this chapter by taking
the Chapter Review Quiz or the GED Practice Quiz.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.