THE SENTENCE

• The units fit

together to
compose the whole

• The words, called parts of speech are

arranged in an understandable way
• The heart of the sentence is the predicate
– denotes the action, asserts experiences,
states existence in one form or the other.
While I was waiting for my date
Mother’s love
The panda eats, shoots, and leaves
Come here, Joe
Which came with the package
Hearts aflame
Consider this
Sit
Analysts study trends
Dinner is served; go to the dining room
How to Identify:

Adverb - Ask yourself: "Does this answer 'When,' 'Where,' 'How,' or 'To
what extent?'?"
Predicate Nominative - Ask yourself: "Is it a noun?" "Does it rename
the subject?" "Is the verb a linking verb?"
Predicate Adjective - Ask yourself: "Does it modify the subject, yet is it
in the predicate?" "Is the verb a linking verb?"
Direct Object - Ask yourself: "Does this answer: 'verb + whom? or
what?'"
Indirect Object - Ask yourself: "Does this answer: 'for whom?' or 'to
whom?'?"
Gerund - Ask yourself: "Does it look like a verb even though it is part of
the subject?" or "Does it look like a verb even though it modifies
something else?"
Preposition - Ask yourself: "Does it show a relationship with 'the box'?"
(Examples: around the box, under the box, to the box)
Conjunction - Just remember this: FAN BOYS (F= for, A= and, N= nor,
B= but, O= or, Y= yet, S= so)
Luisa collects gems.
Monina bakes delicious cakes.

Mother bought groceries.

Please show some respect.
 Objects and Complements
• Direct object: receives the mental or
physical action conveyed by the verb.
• Analysts study trends.
• Children love clowns.
• Executives want results.
• I see friends.
Teachers give students guidance.

Send them your greetings.

We awarded them prizes.

Leave me room.
• Peter read stories. TRANSITIVE
• Maria wrapped gifts. VERBS NEED A
• Mother gave advice. DIRECT OBJECT

• Peter read stories to

the children. TRANSITIVE
VERBS MAY HAVE
• Maria wrapped gifts
A DIRECT OBJECT
for her mother. AND AN INDIRECT
• Mother gave advice OBJECT
to my cousins.
• The stories were read TRANSITIVE
by Peter. VERBS CAN BE
• The gifts were TRANSFORMED
wrapped by Maria. TO THE PASSIVE
• The advice was given VOICE.
by Mother.

Trends are studied by analysts.

Clowns are loved by children.
Results are wanted by executives.
Friends are seen by me.
LINKING VERBS: verbs of Being
Describe the subject or serve as synonyms:
• Circumstances are right.
• Adjectives are modifiers.
• I am optimistic.
• You should be president.
• You will be free.
• He felt feverish.
• It is turning colder.
• Lemons taste bitter
 Intransitive Verbs
• She smiles sweetly.
• He runs fast.
• The sun shines brightly.

• We work.
• She walks.
• Children grow.
Word groups as Sentence Elements
• Phrase
– Compound subject; compound predicate,
compound object
– Modifier; prepositional phrase
• Clause:
– Independent Clause – can stand on its own
– Dependent Clause – cannot stand on its
own; needs an independent clause to
support it.
Compound Subjects

Mary and Teresa are

sisters.
Compound Verbs

They sang and danced.

 ice cream
Mary ate
and

cheesecake
Compound Indirect Objects

We sent senators and representatives

letters.
Compound Complements

Dog cute
ar

but
s
cat
an
expensi
d
e
s ve
The woman sweeps the floor
 ad
j.
The old woman sweeps the
dirty floor
 ad
ad

j.
ajd.

con .
j.
.

sub

subje ver
ct b
The old woman with the dirty
broom sweeps the floor of her
house whenever she can.
Modifying a sentence
Sentences flesh out their skeletal parts with
secondary components called modifiers. Modifiers
can restrict the meaning of the word being modified:
restricting or defining
 The man living in the apartment downstairs
is eighty-five years old.

A restrictive phrase or clause is one that is so

essential to the meaning of the sentence (or clause)
that it cannot be omitted without substantially changing
the meaning of the sentence (or clause). Restrictive
phrases and clauses are NOT set off by commas.
• Modifiers can just give
supplementary information:
nonrestricting, just adds a detail

My grandfather, who lives in the

apartment downstairs, is eighty-
five years old.