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10 Writing Basic Sentences

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075
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Writers Express

Start-Up Activity

Provide students with several pairings of subjects and verbs (dogs chase, cats purr, motorcycles roar). Have them add words to each pair to create interesting sentences. Then have them write a sentence with a compound subject and another one with a compound verb. Display some of the sentences for class discussion.

Think About It

“Nouns and verbs are the two indispensable parts of writing. Without one of each, no group of words can be a sentence.”

—Stephen King

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.F

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.3

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.3.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.4.L.1.1

LAFS.4.L.1.2

LAFS.5.L.1.1

LAFS.5.L.1.2

LAFS.5.L.2.3

LAFS.4.L.2.3

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.6.b.1.C

110.6.b.11.D

110.6.b.11.D.i

110.6.b.11.D.ix

110.6.b.11.D.x

110.6.b.11.D.xi

110.7.b.1.C

110.7.b.11.D

110.7.b.11.C

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 076 from Writers Express

Sentence Review

Use this page to help students remember the basic parts of a sentence. The subject is what the sentence is about, and the verb is usually what the subject is doing. These two parts give the sentence its power. Think of them as matter (subject) and energy (verb).

Compounds

When two or more subjects are joined by and or or, a compound subject results.
When two or more verbs are joined by and or or, a compound verb results.
When two or more sentences are joined by and or or, a compound sentence results.

Complex Sentences

When a complete sentence is joined to an incomplete clause, a complex sentence results.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.L.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.1.C, 110.6.b.11.D

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Grade 4 Grade 5

Mode:

Writing Basics

English Language Arts:

Qualities of Writing Conventions

Page 077 from Writers Express

What Can Sentences Do?

Demonstrate the different types of sentences: statements, questions, commands (and requests), and interjections. For more on forming commands and requests, see the minilesson below.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.L.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.1.C, 110.6.b.11.D

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Grade 4 Grade 5

Mode:

Writing Basics

English Language Arts:

Qualities of Writing Conventions

Page 078 from Writers Express

Sentence Errors

Once your students understand the basic parts of a sentence, they will have an easier time identifying fragments, run-on sentences, and rambling sentences.

Fragments occur when a sentence lacks a subject or a verb or doesn't express a complete thought. Fragments are fixed by adding whatever is lacking.
Run-on sentences occur when two sentences are joined without punctuation or a conjunction. Run-ons are fixed by adding correct punctuation and a conjunction.
Rambling sentences occur when too many ideas are crowded into one sentence. Rambling sentences are fixed by breaking them into smaller units.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.L.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.1.C, 110.6.b.11.D

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Grade 4 Grade 5

Mode:

Writing Basics

English Language Arts:

Qualities of Writing Conventions

Page 079 from Writers Express

Sentence Agreement

Help your students understand that the subject and the verb in a sentence need to agree in number (singular or plural). Point out how to recognize singular and plural.