Writing Sentences

Writing Sentences

In this lesson, you will look at the parts of a sentence, learn to spot complete and incomplete sentences, and revise sentence fragments and run-on sentences.

Successful writing is just like baking a cake!

Successful writing means putting sentences together precisely. It can be compared to baking. If you don't follow the recipe or if you leave out a key ingredient, the cake will not turn out right. To ensure baking success, it is important to follow a recipe. To ensure writing success, it is important to know that sentences have recipes too.

As you proofread, edit, and revise your work, remember the basic recipe is very simple:

Combine one subject with one predicate to create a complete thought.

​Bears stand in cold mountain streams.

Subject = Bears

Predicate = stand in cold mountain streams.

​The girl ate macaroni and cheese.

Subject = The girl

Predicate = ate macaroni and cheese.

Multiple Choice

What is the basic recipe for writing sentences?

• Combine as many subjects as you want with as many predicates as you want to form a complete thought.

• Combine one subject and one predicate to form one complete thought.

• Start with a capital letter.

• Always put commas in all of your sentences.

​Subjects are nouns (a person, place, thing or idea). The simple subject is the key word in the sentence.

• Ask yourself who or what is the sentence all about?

Simple ​​Subjects

​The action or verb in the sentence is the predicate - it is the main action of the subject.

• Ask yourself, what is the subject doing?

​​Simple Predicates

• ​The children carved the pumpkins.

• Down the street rolled the car.

Open Ended

Create your own simple sentence about school using one subject and one predicate.

Multiple Choice

Ms. Williams eats pizza every day.

What is the subject of this sentence?

• eats pizza everyday.

• pizza

• Ms. Williams

• every day

Multiple Choice

Jerold drives his truck out of state for a trucking company.

What is the predicate of this statement?

• Jerold

• a trucking company

• out of state for a trucking company

• drives his truck out of state for a trucking company.

A sentence can have more than one subject that uses the same verb. When there are two subjects connected by and, or or nor, they are called compound subjects. Predicates can be combined using and, or or nor as well.

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​Compound Subjects and Predicates

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

Larry at the sushi.

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

Akiko changed the diaper.

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

In the haunted house went the children.

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

Bobby and Devone sat in their chairs.

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

They were running to catch the bus.

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

Ariel and Ariah skipped the previews and watch only the feature presentation.

Open Ended

Identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in the statement.

The building and the house caught on fire!

Sentence fragments do not make complete sentences all by themselves. Often they occur as a result of faulty punctuation.

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​Sentence

Fragments

To correct this example, you must add a predicate or verb.

Fixed example:

"An American in Paris" is a great movie.

2."An American in Paris." A great movie.

To correct this example, simply change the punctuation.

Fixed example:

I thought I saw the new teacher taking the bus.

​1.I thought I saw. The new teacher taking the bus.

Examples of fragments

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct revision of the fragment below:

Ran for student body president

• Ran. For student body president.

• Dillion ran for student body president when he was in the 6th grade.

• Ran for student body president in the 6th grade.

• Ran for student body president.

Open Ended

Revise the fragment below by turning it into a complete sentence:

Was wearing my cleats

(You must use this fragment in your revision)

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct revision of the fragment below:

Played the electric guitar in her new band

• Played, the electric guitar in her new band.

• In her new band, played the electric guitar.

• Played the electric guitar, in her new band.

• Ariah played the electric guitar in her new band.

Open Ended

Revise the fragment below by turning it into a complete sentence:

After the accident happened in front of the school

More fixes for fragments

Example:

The newspaper and a loaf of bread on your way home.

Fixed Example:

Pick up the newspaper and a loaf of bread on your way home.

​Add a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)

Example:

Until the players began stretching.

Fixed Example:

• The players began stretching.

• Until the players began stretching, they had pulled many muscles.

Eliminate conjunctions or add a clause

Multiple Choice

Which is the best way to combine the two statements below:

After we saw the movie. We went to the cafe' and discussed it.

• After we saw the movie, we went to to the cafe' and discussed it.

• We went to the cafe'. We discussed the movie.

• After we saw the movie because we went to the cafe' and discussed it.

• After we saw the movie and we went to the cafe' and discussed it.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best way to combine the two sentence below:

Sewing the Halloween costume. I stuck my finger with a needle.

• I stuck my finger with a needle and I was sewing a Halloween costume.

• Because of the Halloween costume's needle, I stuck my finger.

• While sewing the Halloween costume, I stuck my finger with a needle.

• Sewing the Halloween costume, I stuck my finger with a needle!

Open Ended

Combine the two statements:

Because the announcer spoke quickly. We didn't understand.

Open Ended

Combine the two statements:

Although Oregon is a beautiful state. It tends to rain a lot.

Run-on sentences are like the person at the all you can eat buffet who overfills a plate when he or she could have simply gone back for a second helping. Run-on sentences are two or more independent clauses written as though they are one sentence. The main cause of this is faulty punctuation.

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Run-on

Sentences

Fixed Example:

Julie studies hard. She is trying to win a scholarship next year.

Example:

Julie studies hard she is trying to win a scholarship next year.

​Missing punctuation

Examples of Run-ons

The soccer game ended at four; it was too late to go to the birthday party.

Fixed Example:

The soccer game ended at four, it was too late to go to the birthday party.

Example:

Use a semicolon!

Gillian lived in Houston, and she lived in New York.

Fixed Example:

Gillian lived in Houston she lived in New York.

Example:

Use a coordinating conjunction!

Multiple Choice

Run on or complete sentence?

Lila enjoyed the bouquet of tulips John gave her on prom night however she prefers roses.

• Run on

• Complete sentence

Multiple Choice

Run on or complete sentence?

Lila enjoyed the bouquet of tulips John gave her on prom night; however, she prefers roses.

• Run On

• Complete Sentence

Multiple Choice

Run on or Complete Sentence?

I love to write papers I would write one everyday if could.

• Run on

• Complete sentence

Open Ended

Revise the following run on statement:

Will you come to the party we think you'll have fun.

Open Ended

Revise the following run-on statement:

Mrs. Michaels introduced me to the reading instructor. A neighbor of mine.

Open Ended

Revise the run on statement below:

Neil locked the gate then we left the ranch.