Sentence Sense (from HMH Grammar Practice Grade 8)

Sentence Sense

by John Welkener

​adapted from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Grammar Practice: Grade 8, pages

What is a sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.​

A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point.​

​Example sentences

​The fans at the basketball game cheered wildly.

​

​Answer the phone.

​

​Did you read the news this morning?

​

​What a wonderful surprise this is!

Sentence Fragment

​​When a group of words looks like a sentence but does not express a complete thought, it is called a sentence fragment.

​

​SENTENCE: The fruit in the bowl is too ripe.

​

​SENTENCE FRAGMENT: The fruit in the bowl.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

• Let's go to the river!

• I think maybe um...

• Yeah

• im hungry

Open Ended

In the space below, write your own complete sentence.

​A declarative sentence makes a statement.

​A declarative sentence is always followed by a period.

​EXAMPLES

• ​The trails can be steep and muddy.

• ​Shaqille O'Neal played for the L.A. Lakers in the 1990s and 2000s.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a declarative sentence?

• Can we go on a walk?

• Let's go to lunch!

• I can see the trees from here

• The fish is very sleepy.

Open Ended

In the space below, write your own declarative sentence.

​An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request.

​An imperative sentence is usually followed by a period.

A strong command is followed by an exclamation point.

​

​EXAMPLES

• ​(You) Write your name on the top of the paper.

• ​(You) Call the fire department!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an imperative sentence?

• Is there a doctor nearby?

• Go to the doctor.

• Shall we make dinner together?

• I am convinced that you need to see a doctor.

Open Ended

In the space below, write your own imperative sentence.

​An exclamatory sentence shows excitement or expresses strong feeling.

​An exclamatory sentence is followed by an exclamation point.

​

EXAMPLE

• ​What an amazing athlete Simone Biles is!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an exclamatory sentence?

• Oh no, there's a snake in the water. 

• There's a fire in the house!

• Go to sleep.

• Can anybody hear me?

Open Ended

In the space below, write your own exclamatory sentence.

​An interrogative sentence asks a question.

​ An interrogative sentence is followed by a question mark.

​

​What time is lunch?

​

​Will you go with me to the ball?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an interrogative sentence?

• It's dinner time!

• Let them eat cake!

• Can you help me?

• will you go with me to the ball 

Open Ended

In the space below, write your own interrogative sentence.

Multiple Choice

Is the following a sentence or a sentence fragment?

who wrote the screenplay for that movie

• sentence

• sentence fragment

Multiple Choice

Is the following a sentence or a sentence fragment?

river rafting, a popular and exciting sport

• sentence

• sentence fragment

Multiple Choice

Is the following a sentence or a sentence fragment?

The paper in this book was once part of a tree.

• sentence

• sentence fragment