WHAT IS A SENTENCE?

TODAY’S LESSON WILL EXPLAIN:

1. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN EVERY SENTENCE?

2. WHAT IS A SUBJECT?

3. WHAT IS A PREDICATE?

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:

1. SUBJECT

2. PREDICATE

SUBJECTS

• Simple Subject

1. Usually only one word.

2. Always a noun or pronoun.

3. Tells what or who the sentence is about.

• Complete Subject

1. Can be several words or only one word.

2. Always contains a noun or pronoun.

3. Always includes the simple subject.

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:

1. Action verbs: run, jump, sit, sleep.

2. Being verbs: am, is, was, seem.

COMPLETE PREDICATE

• Always contains the simple predicate (a verb)

• Can be one word or several words.

The sunset is beautiful.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?