Sentence Structure: Clauses, Phrases, and

Modifiers

Chapter 5, Lesson 1

What is a Sentence?

A sentence is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. Sentences begin with a capitalized word and end with a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point. Good sentences convey a complete thought and make sense.

Subjects and Predicates

Subject: tells what the sentence is about.

Predicate: tells about the subject or tells what the subject is doing.

Examples

Think--Pair--Share

• Think of three sentences and write them in your notes. Underline the subject in each sentence. • Pair up with the person next to you and share sentences. Are they correct?

Clauses and Phrases

Phrase: Part of the sentence which does not contain its own subject & predicate

Clause: Part of a sentence which contains its own subject and predicate.

Two Types of Clauses

Independent Clauses: Contains a subject and predicate and makes sense on its own. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence.

Dependent Clause: Contains a subject and a predicate but cannot stand on its own. A dependent clause is DEPENDENT upon an independent clause.

Phrases, Dependent Clauses, and Independent Clauses

After breakfast, Katie finished her Phrase Independent Clause

homework.

After she finished her homework, she Dependent Clause

went to school. Independent Clause

Katie felt a lot better after she finished Independent Clause Dependent Clause

her homework.

Katie went to school and then she went to

Independent Clause Independent Clause

cheerleading practice.

Let’s Try a Few Together

We will underline and identify the clauses and phrases in the sentences below:

1.Before the basketball game, Mack went to the mall.

2.Mack bought a new pair of shoes. 3.Mack wore his new shoes at the

basketball game.

Your Turn!

Underline and identify the phrases and clauses in the sentences below.

1.Although she looks a lot older, she is not sixteen years old yet.

2.After school, I have a detention.3.I need to go shopping after I serve

my detention.

Check Your Answers!

1. Although she looks a lot older, she is Dependent Clause

not sixteen years old yet. Independent Clause

2. After school, I have a detention. Phrase Independent Clause

3. I need to go shopping after I serve my Independent Clause Dependent Clause

detention.

Modifiers

Modifiers develop sentences. Modifiers may be either words, phrases, or

clauses. Modifiers can come either before or after the words they modify.

Word Modifiers

Basic Sentence: The dog ran.Word Modifier: The brown dog ran.[ The word “brown” modifies the

word “dog.”]Word Modifer: The brown dog ran

quickly.[ The word “quickly” modifies the

word “ran.”]

Phrase and Clause Modifiers

Phrase Modifier: The brown dog ran quickly through the intersection.

[ The phrase “through the intersection” modifies the word “ran.”]

Clause Modifier: The brown dog, who has a yellow collar, ran quickly through the intersection.

[ The clause “who has a yellow collar” modifies the word “dog.”]

Examples

1. The mean teacher handed out a difficult quiz.

Modifies teacher Modifies quiz

2. The teacher, who has a bad reputation, is Modifies teacher

always yelling at students.

3. The teacher yelled loudly. Modifies yelled

Let’s Try This Together!

1. Jon has new white shoes.2. The smart boy aced the hard test.3. Sarah walked slowly to her next

class.

On Your Own

1. The school, across the street, will reopen in the fall.

2. The student, who transferred from the city, made the basketball team.

3. The tall player ran speedily down the court.

Check Your Answers

1. The school, across the street, will Modifies school

reopen in the fall.2. The student, who transferred from the Modifies student

city, made the basketball team.3. The tall player ran speedily down the Modifies player Modifies ran

court.

Independent Practice

Review pages 33-34 in your packet entitled “Chapter 5: Sentence Structure” and complete the practice problems on pages 34-35.