The structure of a complete sentence, and recognizing complete and incomplete sentences.

1. Intro to complete &
incomplete sentences
Robert Wilks
ITESO
Critical Reading and Writing in English

2. What is a sentence?
idea

3. What is a sentence?
idea
X

4. Objectives
• Know the definition of a sentence.
• Know the essential parts of a sentence.
• Be able to recognize a complete and incomplete sentence.

5. Chat with a partner for a minute
and try to come up with a
definition of a sentence.

6. A sentence is
• a group of words
• that acts as a grammatical unit,
• contains a main subject
• and a main verb,
• can stand alone,
• and “sounds” complete by itself.
A sentence always begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.

7. Example 1
I’m tired.

8. Example 1
I’m tired.
subject - I

9. Example 1
I’m tired.
verb - am

10. Example 1
I’m tired.
Expresses a complete idea and “sounds” complete.
Begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.

11. Example 2
Driving from Guadalajara to DF can take about 7 hours.

12. Example 2
Driving from Guadalajara to DF can take about 7 hours.
subject - driving

13. Example 2
Driving from Guadalajara to DF can take about 7 hours.
verb – can take

14. Example 2
Driving from Guadalajara to DF can take about 7 hours.
Expresses a complete idea and “sounds” complete.
Begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.

15. Example 3
The route that we need to follow goes through the mountains.

16. Example 3
The route that we need to follow goes through the mountains.
subject – the route

17. Example 3
The route that we need to follow goes through the mountains.
verb – goes

18. Example 3
The route that we need to follow goes through the mountains.
Expresses a complete idea and “sounds” complete.
Begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.

19. Example 3
The route that we need to follow goes through the mountains.
ROUTE GOES is the “spine” of the sentence.
“that we need to follow” is an “appendage” that tells which route.
“though the mountains” is an “appendage” that tells where it goes.

20. Example 4
After a thorough search, we found the trail back to the lodge.

21. Example 4
After a thorough search, we found the trail back to the lodge.
subject – we

22. Example 4
After a thorough search, we found the trail back to the lodge.
verb – found

23. Example 4
After a thorough search, we found the trail back to the lodge.
Expresses a complete thought and “sounds” complete.
Begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.

24. Example 4
After a thorough search, we found the trail back to the lodge.
WE FOUND is the “spine” of the sentence.
“after a thorough search” is an “appendage” that tells when.
“the trail back to the lodge” is an “appendage” that tells the object of
the verb.

25. What is the “spine” of this sentence?
The repair of all of Guadalajara’s asphalt pavement that is in poor
condition, requiring a reconstruction of the foundation and not just
filling and resurfacing, would require an investment of around 10 billion
pesos, estimates the city official.

26. What is the “spine” of this sentence?
The repair of all of Guadalajara’s asphalt pavement that is in poor
condition, requiring a reconstruction of the foundation and not just
filling and resurfacing, would require an investment of around 10
billion pesos, estimates the city official.
REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE is the “spine” of the sentence.
Everything else adds information and explanation – “appendages”

27. All of these are phrases and clauses.
They are incomplete by themselves
• from Guadalajara to DF
• about 7 hours
• that we need to follow
• through the mountains
• After a thorough search,
• the trail back to the lodge
• of all of Guadalajara’s asphalt
pavement
• that is in poor condition
• requiring a reconstruction of the
foundation and not just filling
and resurfacing
• an investment of around 10
billion pesos
• estimates the city official

28. Review
• A sentence is a group of words that act as a grammatical unit,
containing a main subject and a main verb.
• A sentence can stand alone and “sounds” complete by itself.
• A sentence always begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.
• We need to identify the structure of a sentence in order to punctuate
it correctly.