1. CLC Writing Strategies Simple Sentences

2. Simple Sentences
What is a simple sentence? “A sentence that is made up of one independent clause.” What is an independent clause? “A group of words that makes a complete statement and can stand alone.”

3. Simple Sentences
Example: Susan Ran. Why can this sentences stand by itself? What two things does it have? Every independent clause must contain a subject and a verb.

4. Simple Sentences
What is a subject? The subject is what the sentence is about. The subject of the sentence is the person, place, thing, quality, or idea the sentence is about. Example: John went for a walk. What word is the subject of this sentence?

5. Simple Sentences
What is the other part of a simple sentence? The verb: A word that shows the subject’s state of being or action. That is, it tells what the subject is or does. Sally Sneezed.  Physical activity John thinks.  Mental activity John is happy. State of being

6. Simple Sentences
You must know how to find the verbs and subjects in the sentences you write because … This will help you know whether you have a complete sentence. To identify the verb and subject of a sentence, you will need to go through a two-step procedure.

7. Simple Sentences
Step One: Look for the word that shows mental or physical action or a state of being. (Look for the action verb or a linking verb) Write a “V” above it. Kevin reported the theft.

8. Simple Sentences
Step Two: Ask yourself who or what and add the verb you have found. Kevin reported the theft. Paula is an astronaut. ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE ACTION OR LINKING VERB FIRST, AND THEN ASK YOURSELF THE “WHO/WHAT QUESTION” TO FIND THE SUBJECT.

9. Simple Sentences Jane went to the pool. Paul is a very nice guy
Cakes lined the store window.
I love chocolate ice cream.
Bikes are very expensive.
Dad is strict.
Bananas taste good.
Kathy has a son named Jimmy.
Raccoons raid out garbage cans every night.
Flowers are in bloom everywhere.

10. Simple Sentences
Sometimes two or more words are used for the subject. When several words are used together like that they are called a noun phrase. The old gray mare limped down the lane. What is the verb? What is the noun phrase? What is the main subject?

11. Simple Sentences The old gray mare limped down the lane.
The silver-winged plane soared.
Johnny’s baby sister cried for hours.
The first three girls giggled.
Fourteen good pilots died in the war.
The chairman of the meeting left early.
The chrome-plated motorcycles glistened in the sun.
The pioneers in our family fled from England.
The dog’s buried bones rotted in the ground.
Carol’s best china plate broke in a hundred places.

12. Simple Sentences
Just like several words can form the subject of a sentence, the verb can consist of two or more words. This is called a verb phrase. The bus must have gone by now. Draw an arch above the three words and mark them with a “V” These three words form the complete verb. What is the main verb?

13. Simple Sentences
Verb phrases are formed by putting one or more helping verbs in front of a main verb.

14. Simple Sentences
Helping Verbs Am is Are Can May Could Might Be Must Do Being Does Been Shall Did Should Has Was Have Were Had Will Would

15. Simple Sentences
Any time that you are asked to indentify the verb of a sentence you should indentify the helping verb or verbs and the main verb in any sentence that has a verb phrase. After finding the action verb, always check to see if there are one or more helping verbs to the left of the action verb. Make an arch above the helping verbs and the main verb and write a ‘V’ above the arch.

16. Simple Sentences
The bus must have gone by now. My best friend could not work tonight. The light green grapes have been eaten. The committee of environmentalist is working to solve the problem. Steven’s aunt is not following her new diet.

17. Simple Sentences
The old rickety wagon should not have been filled to the top.
The merry pied piper would have played a happy tune.
A stray sunbeam could have pierced through the clouds.
The paint of the old gray house was peeling.
The peace treaty might have been signed today.

18. Simple Sentences
In some simple sentences the verb comes before the subject of the sentence.
Down the street moved the bulls.
What is the action word? Who or what moved?
Will you go to the movie tonight?
What is the action word? Is there a helping verb? Who or what will go?

19. Simple Sentences
Sometimes words in a sentence show action without being the main verb of the sentence. Chad hoped to go sledding. In this sentence, several words represent things you can do. What are they? Which one is the main verb of the sentence? Any verb that has the word to in front of it is an infinitive; it is not the main action verb of the sentence. When you have a sentence with many action words in it, check for the word ‘to’. Never identify the main verb as a word that had ‘to’ in front of it.

20. Simple Sentences
A second kind of simple sentence contains two or more subjects. We call two or more subjects in a simple sentence a compound subject. Bill and Sue want to go to the movies. What is the verb? What is the subject?

21. Simple Sentences
Bill and Sue want to go to the movies. Jason and his friends work together. Are the car and truck parked outside? The park and sidewalks were covered with snow. Hiding and seeking are fun activities.

22. Simple Sentences
The old man and his black cat have lived long lives. The station and its surrounding parking lot become dangerous after 9:00 p.m.. Arnie, Karen, and Ty went to buy a new van. Peace and war are direct opposites. Did Marty and Kathy travel 500 miles just to speak at the conference?

23. Simple Sentences
Just like simple sentences can have a compound subject, they can also have a compound verb. Sally swam and played all afternoon. The dogs had barked all night and slept all day. Michelle came home yesterday and did not work all day long. The basketball team rode on a bus and flew in a plane to attend the game.

24. Simple Sentences
The park is dark and spooky at night and can be delightful on sunny days. Did Jane call her father and tell him the news? I miss my sister and want to see her again soon. Children should not be allowed to watch T.V. and should be encouraged to play. Will you sit by the sea and paint the ships?

25. Simple Sentences
Some simple sentences have both a compound subject and a compound verb. The ponies and calves scampered and played in the field. What are the subjects/ verbs?

26. Simple Sentences
Kathy and her father do not like to play tennis and hate to jog. The Army and the Navy had a football game and filled the stadium. The two boys and their fathers were sick and di not attend the Father Son banquet. Parties and dances are usually fun and can be thrilling. Radio towers and tall buildings must have lights and must be visible at night.

27. What do the S and V represent in each of the formulas?
Simple Sentences
We have talked about four different kinds of simple sentences:
S V
SS V
S VV
SS VV
What do the S and V represent in each of the formulas?

28. Sentence Writing Strategy
Pick a formula
Explore words to fit the formula
Note the words
Search and check
Search: - Look for the action or state of being word(s) to find the verb(s).
- Ask the “Who or What Questions” to find the subject(s).
Check: Capital Letter
End punctuation
Makes sense

29. Create Formula Card
Simple Sentences
S V
SS V
S VV
SS VV