Name ______#_____

Grammar Review – Sentences

Sentences and Fragments

  • A complete sentence is a group of words that tell a complete thought.
  • A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not tell a complete thought.

Ex. The rocket. (fragment – does not tell a complete thought)

The rocket soars into the clouds. (sentence – tells a complete thought)

Practice: Tell whether each group of words are a sentence or fragment.

  1. My little brother.
  2. My father takes a picture.
  3. The engines roar.

Types of sentences

A statement tells something. / My father likes to cook.
A question asks something. / What are we having for lunch?
A command tells you to do something. / Help me set the table.
An exclamation shows strong feeling. / This will be the best meal ever!

Practice: Tell what type is each sentence.

  1. Can you play soccer with us today?
  2. I can play with you tomorrow.
  3. Soccer is the best!

Subject of a Sentence

  • Every sentence has two parts
  • The complete subject in a sentence tells what or whom the sentence is about.
  • The complete subject of a sentence can be more than one word.

Ex. The tiger charged his prey.

All three of my sisters like to dance.

Practice: Draw a line under the complete subject of each sentence.

  1. The children are reading their books.
  2. A giant oak tree swayed in the wind.
  3. A squirrel ran across the fence.

Predicate of a Sentence

  • Every sentence has a subject and predicate.
  • The complete predicate tells what the subject does or is.
  • The complete predicate can be one or more words.

Ex. The children laughed at the clown.

The clown’s big red nose honked.

Practice: Draw two lines under the complete predicate in each sentence.

  1. The dog barked.
  2. The cat’s tail stood straight up.
  3. The dog chased the cate around the house.

Simple Sentences

  • A simple sentence expresses only one idea.
  • It contains only one subject and predicate.

Ex. The young man wants to fly airplanes.

Practice: Underline the subject once and underline the predicate twice.

  1. She wanted to go ice skating.
  2. Tom and Bill made a snowman outside.
  3. All my friends dressed up in scary costumes.

Compound Sentences

  • A compound sentence expresses two or more complete thoughts, which are combined using a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
  • A coordinating conjunction is a small word that links two things together.
  • and, or, but

Ex. I walk to school. You ride the bus. (two simple sentences)

I walk to school, but you ride the bus. (one compound sentence.)

Practice: Write each pair of simple sentences as a compound sentence.

  1. Sam runs down the hall. The dog chases him.

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  1. Tara goes outside. It starts to rain.

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