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Writing Basic Sentences
“The crocodile broccoli” doesn’t make sense. Something is missing. “The crocodile eats broccoli” sounds better because it has a subject (crocodile) and a verb (eats) and expresses a complete thought.
Making Sense
A group of words that states a complete thought is called a sentence. Sentences surround you. They fill your conversations and your writing. They speak to you from stories and books and help you day to day.
What do you need to know about sentences to use them well? See the next two pages. (Also see pages 350–353.)
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Sentence Parts
Subject
Every sentence has a subject—who or what the sentence is about.
Lupita draws dinosaurs.
Verb
Every sentence has a verb (also called the predicate). An action verb tells what the subject is doing.
Lupita draws dinosaurs.
A linking verb connects the subject to another word in the sentence.
Dinosaurs are awesome.
Remember, the subject and verb must go together. You must use a singular verb with a singular subject, and a plural verb with a plural subject. (See page 352.)
Modifiers
Many sentences include modifiers, which describe nouns, verbs, and other words.
Lupita skillfully draws giant dinosaurs on huge pieces of brown paper.
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Sentence Problems
Sentence Fragment
A fragment is missing one of the sentence parts.
Gave her dog a bath
(The subject is missing.)
Corrected Sentence:
Poppy gave her dog a bath.
Run-On Sentence
A run-on sentence happens when two sentences run together.
Moose looked funny he was a mess of bubbles.
(This example is really two sentences.)
Corrected Sentences:
Moose looked funny. He was a mess of bubbles.
Rambling Sentence
A rambling sentence is one that goes on and on.
Moose jumped out of the tub and shook water over everything and Poppy got mad and ran after him and I laughed and shouted for Mom to help.
(Too many and’s are used.)
Corrected Sentences: Moose jumped out of the tub and shook water over everything. Poppy got mad and ran after him. I laughed and shouted for Mom to help.
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