Transcript Writing Effective Sentences

Writing Effective
Sentences
Complete Sentences
A complete sentence…
 has a subject
 has a verb
 expresses a complete thought
Examples:
Olivia (subject) rode (verb) her bicycle two miles.
Please be quiet! (verb) (The subject is you or the
audience)
Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a group of words that has been
capitalized and punctuated but lacks a subject or a
verb and does not express a complete thought.
Examples: Was an outstanding athlete!
(no subject)
Andi an impressive singer.
(no verb)
While she was taking swimming lessons.
(not a complete thought)
Run-on Sentences
A run-on sentence is two complete sentences
combined and punctuated like one. In a runon, two separate thoughts run into each other.
Example: The yearbook staff is working hard to
organize the yearbook they also like to take
candid photos of students.
Phrases
A phrase is a group of words that acts as a single
part of speech; however, it does not have both
a subject and a verb. Phrases are often used to
combine sentences.
Example: The football team won again. They
have won all their games this season.
The football team has won all their games
during this season.
Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase includes a preposition,
the object of the preposition (noun or
pronoun), and any modifiers (articles or
adjectives) of that object.
Examples:
under the table
over the rainbow
above a street sign
between two trees
Commonly Used Prepositions
about
above
according to
across
after
against
along
along with
among
apart from
around
as
as for
at
because of
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
but*
by
by means of
concerning
despite
down
during
except
except for
excepting
for
from
in
in addition to
in back of
in case of
in front of
in place of
inside
in spite of
instead of
into
like
near
next
of
off
on
onto
on top of
out
out of
outside
over
past
regarding
round
since
through
throughout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
unlike
until
up
upon
up to
with
within
without
Appositive Phrases
Appositive phrases are phrases that need to be set off by
commas. If a phrase renames a noun or pronoun in a
sentence, it is an appositive phrase.
Example:
 Arachne challenged Athena, the goddess of wisdom,
to a weaving contest.
(Athena is named and then referred to again in the same
sentence as the goddess of wisdom.)
Adjective Phrases
An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase
that is used as an adjective. An adjective
phrase modifies (describes) a noun or
pronoun. It answers one of the following
questions:
 What kind?
 Which one?
 How many?
 How much?
Adjective Phrases cont.
Examples:
 Ted Turner, a millionaire from Atlanta, owns
several businesses.
from Atlanta – adjective phrase
millionaire – noun the phrase modifies
 Three dogs in the contest won blue ribbons.
in the contest – adjective phrase
dogs – noun the phrase modifies
Adverb Phrases
An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that is used
as an adverb. It modifies (describes) a verb, adjective,
or an adverb. Adverb phrases answer the following
questions:
 When?
 Where?
 How?
 Why?
 How often?
 How long?
 To what extent?
Adverb Phrases cont.
Examples:
 We got our new puppy at the animal shelter.
got – verb
at the animal shelter – adverb phrase
(The phrase answers the question WHERE.)
 On Saturday we will rehearse the new song.
will rehearse – verb
On Saturday – adverb phrase
(The phrase answers the question WHEN.)
Clauses
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and
a verb.
An independent clause can stand alone independently
as a sentence.
A subordinate or dependent clause cannot stand alone
because it does not express a complete thought. It
needs help to be a complete sentence.
Clauses cont.
Examples:
 The band marched in the parade (independent
clause)
 while the football team rode on a float behind
them (subordinate clause)
The band marched in the parade while the
football team rode on a float behind them.
Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate or dependent clauses add extra information
to sentences and they often begin with words like
who, which, that, because, when, if, while, until,
before, and after.
Examples:
 when the weather gets cold
When the weather gets cold, I wear sweaters.
 before the movie begins
I want to get some popcorn before the movie begins.
Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause is a subordinate (dependent)
clause that describes a noun or pronoun. It
contains both a verb and its subject. An
adjective clause usually follows the word or
words it modifies. It tells…
 which one
 what kind
Adjective Clauses cont.
Example:
a red rose - adjective
a rose with red petals - adjective phrase
a rose that has red petals – adjective clause
rose – subject
has - verb
Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun usually introduces an
adjective clause by relating it to the noun or
pronoun the clause modifies.
Commonly Used Relative Pronouns:
that which
who
whom
whose
Relative Pronouns continued
Examples: (copy one sentence)
 A snorkel is a hollow tube THAT lets a diver
breathe underwater.
 Gary Paulsen is the writer WHO is the author
of Hatchet and Brian’s Winter.
 The team’s mascot, WHICH is a bulldog, is
called Uga.
Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or an adverb. It contains both a subject and a verb.
Adverb clauses answer the questions…
 How?
 When?
 Where?
 Why?
 To what extent?
 How much?
 How long?
 Under what condition?
Adverb Clauses cont.
Example:
Bravely, Jason battled a dragon.
adverb
With great bravery, Jason battled a dragon.
adverb phrase
Because Jason was brave, he battled a dragon.
adverb clause
Subordinating Conjunctions
A conjunction that introduces a subordinate
clause. Adverb clauses begin with
subordinating conjunctions.
Examples:
AFTER the sun had risen, we left for the cabin.
Late yesterday afternoon, BEFORE the deer left
the field, we took photos of them.
Common Subordinating
Conjunctions
after
although
as
as if
as long as
as much as
as soon as
as though
because
before
how
if
in order that
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
while
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions can be used as
connecting words to combine sentences.
FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Simple Sentences (S)
A simple sentence contains one independent
clause and no subordinate clauses.
Examples:
A good rain will help the farmers.
rain – subject, will help - verb
Where are my keys?
keys – subject, are - verb
Compound Sentences (CD)
A compound sentence contains two or more
independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.
Example: The leaves on the trees in Georgia are
changing colors. The trees in Tennessee are already a
beautiful orange. – 2 simple sentences
The leaves on the trees in Georgia are changing colors,
but the trees in Tennessee are already a beautiful
orange. – 1 compound sentence connected with a
coordinating conjunction
Complex Sentences (CX)
A complex sentence is a sentence that contains
one independent clause and at least one
subordinate clause.
Examples:
When the outside temperatures start getting
cooler, I think of college football.
Albert Einstein, who was a famous scientist,
wrote many interesting books and essays.
Compound-Complex Sentence (CC)
A compound-complex sentence contains two or
more independent clauses and at least one
subordinate clause.
Examples:
When Jeb goes hunting, he takes camping
supplies, and he wears camouflage clothing.
The quarterback threw a pass, and Sawyer
caught it before the buzzer sounded.
Which paragraph is better? Why?
I am nervous and excited. The championship game is
tomorrow. Our team is ready. We have been practicing for
months. We have the strongest offense. The other team is good.
We are better. We will win. I know it.
The championship game is tomorrow, and I am nervous and
excited. Our team is ready, as we have been practicing for
months, and we have the strongest offense. The other team is
good, though we are better. I know that we will win.
I am nervous and excited (S). The championship
game is tomorrow (S). Our team is ready (S). We
have been practicing for months (S). We have the
strongest offense (S). The other team is good (S).
We are better (S). We will win (S). I know it (S).
The championship game is tomorrow, and I am
nervous and excited. (CD). Our team is ready,
because we have been practicing for months, and we
have the strongest offense. (CC). The other team is
good, though we are better (CX). I know that we will
win (S).