1. Sentences

2. Recognize basic sentence elements including subjects and predicates.
Differentiate among phrases, dependent clauses, and independent clauses.
Understand how to use simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
Identify four basic sentence patterns.
Punctuate statements, questions, commands, and exclamations.
Use techniques to avoid three basic sentence faults: fragments, comma splices, and run-on sentences.

3. Sentence Elements

4. Sentence Sentence: A group of words that: Contains a subject
Includes a predicate
Expresses a complete thought
Subject
Completeness
Predicate
Sentence
Elements

5. Subject
Sentence
Elements
Simple subject: a noun or a pronoun that tells who or what the sentence is about
Complete subject: includes all modifiers

6. Four Tips for Locating Subjects
To locate a sentence subject, ask Who or what is being discussed?
The manager hires all new employees.
Who is being discussed?
Training programs educate new employees.
What is being discussed?

7. Four Tips for Locating Subjects
Ignore prepositional phrases.
The manager of the program for all new hires in our division called a meeting.
Who is being discussed?
Where are the prepositional phrases?
Sentences may have multiple subjects.
The president, controller, and supervisor gave their approval.

8. Four Tips for Locating Subjects
Reword inverted sentences to locate the subject.
Sitting in the front row is Rachel.
Who is being discussed?
Reword: Rachel is sitting in the front row.
Did any other candidates qualify?
Reword: Other candidates did qualify?

9. Predicate
Sentence
Elements
Simple predicate: a verb or verb phrase that tells or asks what the subject is doing or what is being done to the subject
Complete predicate: includes modifiers, objects, and complements

10. In this sentence what is the
Simple subject?
Complete subject?
Simple predicate?
Complete predicate?
manager (simple subject)
A manager from ComStar (complete subject)
has been calling (simple predicate)
has been calling you (complete predicate)
A manager from ComStar has been calling you.

11. Completeness
Sentence
Elements
In addition to having subjects and predicates, sentences must be complete. Examples:
Two technology companies merged. (This sentence has a subject and a predicate and is complete.)
Which explains the jump in stock price. (This fragment, broken off from another sentence, is incomplete and doesn’t make sense.)

12. Recognizing Phrases and Clauses
Complete
Sentences
Clauses
Phrases
Phrase: a group of related words WITHOUT a subject and a verb
Kim came to the interview in the morning. She had been told to arrive at 10 a.m. (These sentences have five different phrases. Can you find them?)

13. Recognizing Phrases and Clauses
Complete
Sentences
Clauses
Phrases
Clause: a group of related words WITH a subject and a verb
Independent clauses can stand alone.
Dependent clauses rely on independent clauses for their meaning. Cannot stand alone.
When she arrived, she introduced herself. If she was afraid, she didn’t show it. (Which clauses are independent? Dependent?)

14. Sentence Varieties

15. Four Sentence Varieties
Simple sentence: has one independent clause―that is, one clause that can stand alone
Compound sentence: has two or more independent clauses.
Each interviewee sent a résumé.
Kim spent many hours preparing her résumé, and she practiced her answers to typical interview questions.

16. Four Sentence Varieties
Complex sentence: has one independent clause and one dependent clause
When Kim arrived for the interview, she introduced herself to the receptionist.
Compound-complex sentence: has two or more independent clauses and one dependent clause
Because she had prepared well, Kim felt confident; she answered all questions fully and enthusiastically.

17. Sentence Patterns

18. This is the most basic sentence pattern
The subject is followed by its verb.
Pattern No. 1:
Subject-Verb
EXAMPLES
Charlie called.
She is working.
All employees work.

19. Subject-Action Verb-Object
Pattern No. 2:
Subject-Action Verb-Object
The subject is followed by an action verb and its direct object.
The object usually answers the questions What? and Whom?
EXAMPLES
ComStar created an Instagram account.
A law office hired her.

20. Pattern No. 3:
Subject-Linking Verb-Complement
The subject is followed by a linking verb and its complement.
Complement
Noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject
Completes the meaning of the subject

21. Complement Examples
Pattern No. 3:
Subject-Linking Verb-Complement
Our receptionist is Patricia. (Noun complement) The winner of the award is he. (Pronoun complement) Their website is attractive. (Adjective complement)

22. Verbs may occasionally precede subjects.
Pattern No. 4:
Inverted Order
Verbs may occasionally precede subjects.
EXAMPLES
Chairing the committee is Renee Cornell.
There are three items we should discuss.
Here is my business card.

23. Rearrange these inverted sentences to place them in normal subject-verb order.
Cathy Formusa is serving on the task force.
We are considering two candidates for the position.
Your authorization form is here.
Serving on the task force is Cathy Formusa.
There are two candidates we are considering for the position.
Here is your authorization form.

24. Sentence Punctuation

25. Exclamations Commands Questions Statements
Punctuating Four
Sentence
Types

26. Statements Punctuating
Statements: make assertions and end with periods
Many companies now use social media for marketing and communication.

27. Questions Punctuating Questions: concluded by question marks
Can you avoid social media
while on vacation?

28. Commands
Punctuating
Commands: end with periods or, occasionally, with exclamation points
Log out at the end of the day. (The subject is understood to be you.)

29. Exclamations Punctuating
Exclamations: show surprise, disbelief, or strong feelings
Oh, no! I made a huge mistake!

30. Name the subject. (Hint: you might identify two subjects.)
What is this group of words?
One of my friends and I are preparing for job interviews .
Name the subject. (Hint: you might identify two subjects.)
 Statement
 Question
 Command
 Exclamation 

31. ! What is this group of words? Wow! What a presentation  Statement
 Question
 Command
 Exclamation 

32. ? Name the subject. What is this group of words?
Why do you want to work for our organization ?
Name the subject.
 Statement
 Question
 Command
 Exclamation 

33. . Name the subject. you (implied) What is this group of words?
Prepare for your interview by practicing success stories .
Name the subject.
 Statement
 Question
 Command
 Exclamation
you (implied) 

34. . Name the subject. What is this group of words?
I wonder about the validity of the proposal .
Name the subject.
 Statement
 Question
 Command
 Exclamation 

35. Sentence Faults

36. Fragment
Run-on
Sentence
Comma
Splice
Three Sentence
Faults

37. Fragment Sentence Faults Fragment: An incomplete sentence
Should not be punctuated as if it were complete
May be broken off from a preceding or following sentence

38. Comma Splice Sentence Faults
Comma Splice: when two complete sentences are incorrectly joined with a comma

39. Run-on Sentence Sentence Faults
Run-on Sentence: when two complete thoughts are run together

40. Fragment Fixing Sentence Faults Fragment Remedy
Because we have all come to depend on texting. That’s why we must find a solution.
Remedy
Because we have all come to depend on texting, we must find a solution.

41. Comma Splice Fixing Sentence Faults Comma Splice Remedies
Text messaging is popular, it’s even used in offices.
Remedies
Text messaging is popular. It’s even used in offices.
Text messaging is popular; it’s even used in offices.
Text messaging is popular, and it’s even used in offices.

42. Run-on Sentence Fixing Sentence Faults Run-On Remedies
Text messaging was once used by teenagers now it’s also used by business professionals.
Remedies
Text messaging was once used by teenagers; now it’s also used by business professionals.
Text messaging was once used by teenagers. Now it’s also used by business professionals.
Text messaging was once used by teenagers, but now it’s also used by business professionals.

43. Remedy: Identify any faults in this sentence and suggest remedies.
Unless I hear from you to the contrary. I’ll assume you agree with me.
Unless I hear from you to the contrary, I'll assume you agree with me.
 Fragment
 Comma splice
 Run-on 

44. Remedy: Identify any faults in this sentence and suggest remedies.
No stock market prices were available, the market was closed for the holiday.
No stock market prices were available; the market was closed for the holiday.
 Fragment
 Comma splice
 Run-on 

45. Remedy: Identify any faults in this sentence and suggest remedies.
The report you said you would finish by yesterday. It’s still lying on your desk.
The report you said you would finish by yesterday is still lying on your desk.
 Fragment
 Comma splice
 Run-on 

46. Remedy: Identify any faults in this sentence and suggest remedies.
Some employees work Sunday other employees come in early Monday.
Some employees work Sunday; other employees come in early Monday.
 Fragment
 Comma splice
 Run-on 

47. “Of all the arts in which the wise excel, nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well.”
– André Breton, French writer/poet ( )