WHAT IS A SENTENCE?

1
WHAT IS A SENTENCE?

• TODAYS LESSON WILL EXPLAIN
• WHAT IS REQUIRED IN EVERY SENTENCE?
• WHAT IS A SUBJECT?
• WHAT IS A PREDICATE?

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WHAT IS REQUIRED IN EVERY SENTENCE?

• Not every group of words is a sentence. To be a
  sentence, a group of words must make a complete
  thought AND contain
• SUBJECT
• PREDICATE

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SUBJECTS

• Simple Subject
• Usually only one word.
• Always a noun or pronoun.
• Tells what or who the sentence is about.

• Complete Subject
• Can be several words or only one word.
• Always contains a noun or pronoun.
• Always includes the simple subject.

4
SIMPLE PREDICATE

• Always a verb. (A verb is a word that tells what
  the subject is doing or being.) There are two
  kinds of verbs
• Action verbs run, jump, sit, sleep.
• Being verbs am, is, was, seem.

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COMPLETE PREDICATE

• Always contains the simple predicate (a verb)
• Can be one word or several words.
• The sunset is beautiful.

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BUILDING SENTENCES

1. William sang.
2. My friend William sang.
3. My friend William sang a song.
4. My friend William sang a song at the wedding.
5. My sweet, talented friend William sang a
   beautiful, inspirational love song at the wedding
   last Saturday in Little Rock.

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BUILDING YOUR OWN SENTENCES

1. Write a two-word sentence that contains ONLY a
   simple subject and simple predicate.
2. To that sentence, add one or more words to
   describe the subject.
3. Keep that sentence and add one or more words to
   the predicate.
4. Add more words or phrases to that sentence to
   make it longer and more descriptive.
5. Underline the simple subject and simple predicate
   in each sentence.

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EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1. Dogs barked.
2. Those big dogs barked.
3. Those big dogs barked loudly.
4. Those big dogs in the pen next door barked loudly
   all night.

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EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1. Dogs barked.
2. Those big dogs barked.
3. Those big dogs barked loudly.
4. Those big dogs in the pen next door barked loudly
   all night.

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WHAT IS A SENTENCE?

• What must it do?
• What must it contain?
• What is a simple subject? A complete subject?
• What is a simple predicate? A complete predicate?