Download Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure
*A sentence is a group of words
expressing a complete thought.
I. Subjects
Definition: The
person, place,
thing, or idea
that the
sentence is all
about!
I. Subjects
A. Complete subject – all the words
that tell whom or what the sentence
is about.
Some architects create
amazing buildings.
I. Subjects
B. Simple subject – the main
noun/pronoun in the complete
subject.
Some architects create
amazing buildings.
II. Predicates
Definition: What the subject of the
sentence does, or a statement of
what the subject is!
II. Predicates
A. Complete predicate– the verb and
all the words that complete the
verb’s meaning.
Some architects create
amazing buildings.
II. Predicates
B. Simple predicate– the verb or verb
phrase
Some architects create
amazing buildings.
II. Predicates
B. Simple Predicates
1. Verb phrases – include a main verb
and one or more helping verbs
Forms of be: am, is, are, was, were,
be, being, been
Forms of do: do, does, did
Forms of have: has, have, had
Others: may, might, must, can, could,
should, would, shall, will
III. Compound Parts
Definition: More than one subject,
and/or more than one verb!
Compounds use conjunctions to join
the subjects or verbs. (and, or, but,
etc.)
Architects and builders must work
together and design the buildings.
III. Compound Parts
A. Compound subject: two or more
subjects that share the same verb.
Architects and builders
must work together and
design the buildings.
III. Compound Parts
B. Compound predicate: two or more
verbs that share the same subject.
Architects and builders
must work together and
design the buildings.
IV. Sentence Order
A. Normal order: Declarative and
exclamatory sentences usually have
subject first, then the verb.
Some architects create amazing buildings.
(subject)
(predicate/verb)
IV. Sentence Order
B. Unusual order: some sentences
place the subjects within the
sentence, not at the beginning.
Can you see where to go?
Go to the concession stand.
From the beginning he was lost.
IV. Sentence Order
B. Unusual order
1. Interrogative sentences: subject
comes after verb, or between parts
of verb phrase
Can you see where to go?
you = subject
can see = verb phrase
IV. Sentence Order
B. Unusual order
2. Imperative sentences: subject is
usually you, but not usually written
Go to the concession stand.
(you) = understood subject
go = verb
IV. Sentence Order
B. Unusual order
3. Inverted sentences: subject often
comes after the verb, or subject and
verb are after a prepositional phrase
From the beginning he was lost.
There are two ways to go.
Left and right looked the clueless student.