GRAMMAR! COMPLETE SENTENCES VS. FRAGMENTS

PARTS OF A COMPLETE SENTENCE Subject – the do-er of the action Verb/Predicate – the action A complete sentence is a word or group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. A sentence fragment is a word or group of words that is punctuated like a sentence but does not contain both a subject and a verb OR does not express a complete thought. Note: From here on, in your papers when you have an incomplete sentence, I will write “frag” next to it and count it against you as a grammar error.

COMPLETE SENTENCE EXAMPLES Fragment:Was waiting by the door. [no subject] Sentence: The gorilla was waiting by the door. Fragment: The room with the high ceiling. [no verb] Sentence:The room with the high ceiling echoed with sound of basketballs thudding on the hard wood floors. Fragment:After you have finished the test. [not a complete thought] Sentence:After you have finished the test, you may rip it up and throw it away. Complete fragment activity in grammar packet.

SIMPLE SUBJECT VS. COMPLETE SUBJECT Simple Subject: the main word or word group that tells who or what is doing the action of the sentence or whom or what the sentence is about Complete Subject: consists of the simple subject and any words, phrases, or clauses that modify the simple subject Examples: A triumphant Britney Spears stepped up to the microphone. Complete Subject: A triumphant Britney Spears Simple Subject: Britney Spears Complete the complete subject/simple subject activity in grammar packet.

SIMPLE PREDICATE VS. COMPLETE PREDICATE Simple Predicate/Verb: the main word or word groups that tell something about the subject (what action the subject performs or what the subject is) Complete Predicate/Verb: consists of a verb and all the words that describe the verb in its complete meaning Examples: The ambulance raced out of the hospital driveway and down the street. Complete Predicate/Verb: raced out of the hospital driveway and down the street Simple Predicate/Verb: raced Diego may have borrowed my book. Complete Predicate/Verb: may have borrowed my book Simple Predicate/Verb: may have borrowed Complete the complete subject/simple predicate activity in grammar packet.