This document provides instructions for an activity where students learn about sentence structure by adding different parts of speech to a base sentence. The activity involves students rolling a die to determine a part of speech to add, timing themselves as they write, and passing their work to a partner who then adds another part of speech. The document defines different types of sentences and provides examples and tips for using various grammatical elements to create unique sentences.

1. Harmon
ELA
Learn to manipulate
sentence structure to
create powerful
sentences.
Sentence
Structure
You need:
• Mini-easel
• Dice
• Writing utensil
• Paper
Roll the die to determine the part of speech to add to your
subject. Flip the timer and write a phrase with that part of
speech until the time is out. Switch your paper with your
partner. Now, roll the die to determine a new part of
speech. Flip the timer and add that part of speech to your
partner’s sentence.
Directions:

2. Harmon
ELA
Below is an example
of how to add
parts of speech to
create powerful
and unique sentences.
Mini Lesson:
Sentence
Structure
Be creative.
Be inventive.
Be unique.

3. Simple
Compound
Complex
express a complete thought
contains a subject and a predicate
contains two or more independent clauses
clauses are joined by a conjunction
contains an independent clause and a
dependent clause
dependent clause begins with a
subordinating
conjuction
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
The boys emptied the trash.
The boys emptied the trash, but they did not
make it to the game.
Although she was hiding from me, I was able to
spot her and ran quickly to her.
TIP: Use AND, NOR, BUT, FOR, OR, YET
TIP: also called an independent clause
TIP:
Use these subordinating conjunctioins:
AFTER, BEFORE, BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH, WHEN,
SINCE, IF, WHENEVER, UNLESS, WHILE, SO THAT,
EVEN THOUGH, WHEREVER
HARMON ELA
HARMON ELA
HARMON ELA
Simple
Compound
Complex
express a complete thought
contains a subject and a predicate
contains two or more independent clauses
clauses are joined by a conjunction
contains an independent clause and a
dependent clause
dependent clause begins with a
subordinating
conjuction
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
The boys emptied the trash.
The boys emptied the trash, but they did not
make it to the game.
Although she was hiding from me, I was able to
spot her and ran quickly to her.
TIP: Use AND, NOR, BUT, FOR, OR, YET
TIP: also called an independent clause
TIP: Use these subordinating conjunctions:
AFTER, BEFORE, BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH, WHEN,
SINCE, IF, WHENEVER, UNLESS, WHILE, SO THAT,
EVEN THOUGH, WHEREVER
HARMON ELA
HARMON ELA
HARMON ELA

4. Noun/Subject
Verb
Adjective
the name of a person, place, thing,
action, quality or idea
are either common or proper
contains two or more independent clauses
clauses are joined by a conjunction
dependent clause begins with a
subordinating
conjuction
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
The ocean is so beautiful.
Walt Disney was very creative.
The girl ran towards the field excitedly.
The salty popcorn needed more butter.
TIP: vote, buy, shop, run, paint, call, read, write,
sleep, plant, swing, stand, skip, see, yawn
TIP: man, mountain, state, moon
Massachusetts, President Obama
TIP: beautiful, kind, special, unique, tall, scary, boring,
old, sticky, quiety, yummy, popular, messy, nasty,
expensive, salty, crunchy, rare, young
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HARMON ELA
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Adverb
Pronoun
Preposition
describes an adjective, verb, or word
in relation to time, place, circumstance,
manner, cause, degree, etc.
a word that takes the place of a noun
a word that comes before a noun or
pronoun and expresses a relation to
another word
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
Sara spoke openly about the death.
It makes to take your care instead of ours.
The dog walked behind the fence.
TIP: I, you, she, they him, us, me he, it, we, her,
them, mine, our, somebody, everybody
TIP: gently, quite, then, there
TIP: of, behind, over, under, in, beside, on, next to,
between, toward, below, along, among, across,
after, onto, with, through, since, with, off, near
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5. Conjunction
Interjection
Article
a word used to connect clauses
or sentences
an abrupt remark, made especially
as an aside or interruption.
a kind of adjective which is always used
with and gives some information about a
noun
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
Alicia is quiet yet very open-minded.
Aha! I got the correct answer.
It was easy to spot the catepillar.
TIP: Bravo, ugh, thanks, dear, haha, alas, aha,
bam, uh-huh, ahem, phew
TIP:
and, but, or, yet, as well as, until, when, while,
only if, rather than, assuming that, provided
that, even though, as though, [either…or]
TIP: There’s only two: ‘A’, and ‘The’
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Past Participle
Subordinate Clause
Appositive Phrase
the form of a verb,
typically ending in -ed
a clause, typically introduced by
a conjunction, that forms part of
and is dependent on a main clause
is a noun or noun phrase that renames or
adds details to another noun right
beside it
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
At the end of the lesson, student clapped.
She answered the phone when it rang.
My journal, a leatherbound book, is brand new.
TIP: once, as, as if, after, although, since, so that,
provided that, before, unless, until, when, while
TIP: studied, finished, smoked, walked, opened
TIP: After the noun, add a comma, and then
redescribe the noun in a more specific way
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6. Gerund
Metaphor
Absolute Phrase
noun made from a verb by
adding "-ing."
a comparison in which one thing is said
to be another
sentences parts that would be complete
sentences if you added was or were
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
The partygoers were enjoying the food.
She is a walking dictionary.
His heart beating very fast, Harry stood listening
to the chilly silence.
TIP:
No “like or as”. Just say it it:
You are my sunshine.
The wheels of justice turn slowly.
TIP:
boating, hiking, jogging, cycling, barking,
speaking, enjoying, loving, promising
TIP: follows the pattern pronoun - noun - -ing word
and always are set off by commas from the rest
of the sentence
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Participal Phrase
Conjunction
Simile
express a complete thought
contains a subject and a predicate
contains two or more independent clauses
clauses are joined by a conjunction
comparing two things using like or as
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
The boys emptied the trash.
The sky cleared yet the tornado ripped
through the sky.
I am as smart as a scientist.
TIP: Use AND, NOR, BUT, FOR, OR, YET
TIP: also called an independent clause
TIP: Other examples: Temporary, like the tide.
Joyous, like the spirit of the holidays.
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