Understanding sentences

1. Where the Red Fern GrowsWhere the Red Fern Grows
Lesson 1 - UnderstandingLesson 1 - Understanding
SentencesSentences

2. How can you tell a complete sentence from anHow can you tell a complete sentence from an
incomplete sentence? Usually you tell just byincomplete sentence? Usually you tell just by
listening.listening.
Incomplete Sentence (Fragment)Incomplete Sentence (Fragment)
Everyday.Everyday.
(What? Who does what everyday? I don’t get it.(What? Who does what everyday? I don’t get it.
This is not complete.)This is not complete.)

3. Incomplete Sentence (Fragment)Incomplete Sentence (Fragment)
Every day, rain or shine.Every day, rain or shine.
(I don’t care about the weather! Tell me who is(I don’t care about the weather! Tell me who is
doing what.)doing what.)

4. Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
Billy hunts.Billy hunts.
(This is a very simple sentence, but it has a subject(This is a very simple sentence, but it has a subject
[Billy] and a verb [hunts]. We know what[Billy] and a verb [hunts]. We know what
happened and who did it.)happened and who did it.)

5. Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
Billy hunts everyday.Billy hunts everyday.
(Here is the same sentence with a little more(Here is the same sentence with a little more
information. There’s no confusion here.)information. There’s no confusion here.)

6. Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
Billy hunts everyday, rain or shine.Billy hunts everyday, rain or shine.
(Here is the same sentence with even more(Here is the same sentence with even more
information, and it’s still very clear.)information, and it’s still very clear.)

7. A complete sentence must have a subject and aA complete sentence must have a subject and a
predicate. The subject tellspredicate. The subject tells whowho oror whatwhat doesdoes
the action, and the predicate contains thethe action, and the predicate contains the verbverb
and tellsand tells whatwhat the action is.the action is.
A verb is a word that expresses one of two things:A verb is a word that expresses one of two things:
 Action: jump, scream, fly, runAction: jump, scream, fly, run
 State of being: appear, seem, feelState of being: appear, seem, feel

8. A subject can be any of the following things:A subject can be any of the following things:
 The person who does the action in the sentence.The person who does the action in the sentence.
Grandpa sells goods in his general store.Grandpa sells goods in his general store.
 The place that does the action in the sentence.The place that does the action in the sentence.
The general store swarms with people before theThe general store swarms with people before the
Fourth of July celebration.Fourth of July celebration.
 The thing that does the action in the sentence.The thing that does the action in the sentence.
Flour and sugar are mixed together to makeFlour and sugar are mixed together to make
cookies.cookies.

9.  The person described in the sentence. GrandpaThe person described in the sentence. Grandpa
is happy when he makes a good sell.is happy when he makes a good sell.
 The place being described in the sentence. TheThe place being described in the sentence. The
general store is crowded on Saturday.general store is crowded on Saturday.
 The thing being described in the sentence.The thing being described in the sentence.
Cookies are best when the flour and sugar areCookies are best when the flour and sugar are
fresh.fresh.

10. Subjects may come in different forms:Subjects may come in different forms:
 One noun as the subject –One noun as the subject – BillyBilly wants houndwants hound
dogs.dogs.
 Two nouns as a subject –Two nouns as a subject – Little Ann and OldLittle Ann and Old
DanDan are two dogs.are two dogs.
 One pronoun as the subject –One pronoun as the subject – HeHe prays eachprays each
night for dogs.night for dogs.
 Two pronouns as the subject –Two pronouns as the subject – He and sheHe and she areare
both still awake because of the coon hounds.both still awake because of the coon hounds.
 A phrase –A phrase – Staying awake all nightStaying awake all night is no fun.is no fun.
 A clause –A clause – What makes me madWhat makes me mad is all the noise!is all the noise!

11. ClauseClause
when he gets the moneywhen he gets the money
(This has a subject [he] and a verb [gets], but(This has a subject [he] and a verb [gets], but
you’re left dangling, aren’t you? It’s not ayou’re left dangling, aren’t you? It’s not a
complete sentence. This is called a dependentcomplete sentence. This is called a dependent
clause. It depends on something else to make aclause. It depends on something else to make a
complete sentence.complete sentence.

12. Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
Billy will buy coon hounds when he gets theBilly will buy coon hounds when he gets the
money.money.
(Now we know what’s going on!)(Now we know what’s going on!)

13. Determine if the following are completeDetermine if the following are complete
sentences or dependent clauses.sentences or dependent clauses.
1.1. When I left my office that beautiful spring day.When I left my office that beautiful spring day.
2.2. I was walking along whistling when I heard theI was walking along whistling when I heard the
dogfight.dogfight.
3.3. About twenty-five feet from me they caughtAbout twenty-five feet from me they caught
him and down he went.him and down he went.
4.4. Down on my knees.Down on my knees.
5.5. With one final whimper.With one final whimper.
6.6. Where the alley emptied into the street, heWhere the alley emptied into the street, he
stopped and looked back.stopped and looked back.

14. 7.7. As I watch him disappear in the twilightAs I watch him disappear in the twilight
shadows.shadows.
8.8. Whatever it was that had interrupted his life,Whatever it was that had interrupted his life,
he was trying to straighten it out.he was trying to straighten it out.
9.9. As I turned to enter my yard.As I turned to enter my yard.
10.10. As I caressed the smooth surfaces, my mindAs I caressed the smooth surfaces, my mind
drifted back through the years, back to mydrifted back through the years, back to my
boyhood days.boyhood days.

15. PhrasePhrase
the sound of the houndsthe sound of the hounds
(We just saw that a clause has a subject and a verb.(We just saw that a clause has a subject and a verb.
There’s no verb here; this is called a phrase. ItThere’s no verb here; this is called a phrase. It
could be the start of a great sentence, but itcould be the start of a great sentence, but it
needs some help. It needs some action.)needs some help. It needs some action.)

16. Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
The sound of the hounds echoed in Billy’s mindThe sound of the hounds echoed in Billy’s mind
even after the night quieted.even after the night quieted.
(Now there’s some action! It makes a very clear,(Now there’s some action! It makes a very clear,
complete sentence.)complete sentence.)

17. Tell which part of the sentence (subject orTell which part of the sentence (subject or
predicate) is missing in the sentence fragmentspredicate) is missing in the sentence fragments
below:below:
1.1. A whole bucketful of tears.A whole bucketful of tears.
2.2. My dog-wanting.My dog-wanting.
3.3. Bawling and yelling for Mama.Bawling and yelling for Mama.
4.4. Had a talk with him.Had a talk with him.

18. Let’s build a few sentences.Let’s build a few sentences.
PhrasePhrase
young Billyyoung Billy
Dependent ClauseDependent Clause
by the time hunting season was overby the time hunting season was over
Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
By the time hunting season was over, young BillyBy the time hunting season was over, young Billy
was a nervous wreck.was a nervous wreck.

19. PhrasePhrase
our cat Samieour cat Samie
Dependent ClauseDependent Clause
with one loud squallwith one loud squall
Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
With one loud squall, our cat Samie scooted underWith one loud squall, our cat Samie scooted under
the barn.the barn.

20. PhrasePhrase
the glow of the firethe glow of the fire
Dependent ClauseDependent Clause
as I sat there in silenceas I sat there in silence
Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
As I sat there in silence, the glow of the fire grewAs I sat there in silence, the glow of the fire grew
larger.larger.

21. PhrasePhrase
sparkled like a white star in the heavenssparkled like a white star in the heavens
Dependent ClauseDependent Clause
as I struck a matchas I struck a match
Complete SentenceComplete Sentence
As I struck a match, the smaller cup sparkled like aAs I struck a match, the smaller cup sparkled like a
white star in the heavens.white star in the heavens.

22. Video on Sentence FragmentsVideo on Sentence Fragments

23. Brain PopBrain Pop
http://www.brainpop.com/english/grammar/sentencehttp://www.brainpop.com/english/grammar/sentence

24. Practice – Complete Sentence orPractice – Complete Sentence or
Sentence Fragment?Sentence Fragment?
1.1. I found some slick little trails out in the gardenI found some slick little trails out in the garden
down under some tall hollyhocks.down under some tall hollyhocks.
2.2. Once I decided to make friends with him.Once I decided to make friends with him.
3.3. Thinking they were game trails.Thinking they were game trails.
4.4. Mama had another talk with Papa.Mama had another talk with Papa.

25. Go to your Student PacketGo to your Student Packet and completeand complete
Lesson 1 Practice for EnglishLesson 1 Practice for English..

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