CLC Writing Strategies Simple Sentences

Simple Sentences

What is a simple sentence?

“A sentence that is made up of one independent clause.”

What is an independent clause?

“A group of words that makes a complete statement and can stand alone.”

Simple Sentences

Example: Susan ran.

Why can this sentences stand by itself? What two things does it have?

Every independent clause must contain a subject and a verb.

Simple Sentences

What is a subject?

The subject is what the sentence is about. The subject of the sentence is the person, place, thing, quality, or idea the sentence is about.

Example: John went for a walk.

What word is the subject of this sentence?

Simple Sentences

What is the other part of a simple sentence?

The verb: A word that shows the subject’s state of being or action. That is, it tells what the subject is or does.

Sally sneezed. Physical activity

John thinks. Mental activity

John is happy. State of being

Simple Sentences

You must know how to find the verbs and subjects in the sentences you write because …

This will help you know whether you have a complete sentence.

To identify the verb and subject of a sentence, you will need to go through a two-step procedure.

Simple Sentences

Step One:

Look for the word that shows mental or physical action or a state of being. (Look for the action verb or a linking verb) Write a “V” above it.

Kevin reported the theft.

Simple Sentences

Step Two:

Ask yourself who or what about the verb you have found.

Kevin reported the theft.

Paula is an astronaut.

ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE ACTION OR LINKING VERB FIRST, AND THEN ASK YOURSELF THE

“WHO/WHAT QUESTION” TO FIND THE SUBJECT.

Simple Sentences

1. Jane went to the pool.

2. Paul is a very nice guy

3. Cakes lined the store window.

4. I love chocolate ice cream.

5. Bikes are very expensive.

6. Dad is strict.

7. Bananas taste good.

8. Kathy has a son named Jimmy.

9. Raccoons raid out garbage cans every night.

10. Flowers are in bloom everywhere.

Simple Sentences

Sometimes two or more words are used for the subject.

When several words are used together like that they are called a noun phrase.

The old gray mare limped down the lane.

What is the verb? What is the noun phrase? What is the main subject?

Simple Sentences

1. The old gray mare limped down the lane.

2. The silver-winged plane soared.

3. Johnny’s baby sister cried for hours.

4. The first three girls giggled.

5. Fourteen good pilots died in the war.

6. The chairman of the meeting left early.

7. The chrome-plated motorcycles glistened in the sun.

8. The pioneers in our family fled from England.

9. The dog’s buried bones rotted in the ground.

10. Carol’s best china plate broke in a hundred places.

Simple Sentences

Just like several words can form the subject of a sentence, the verb can consist of two or more words. This is called a verb phrase.

The bus must have gone by now.

Draw an arch above the three words and mark them with a “V”

These three words form the complete verb.

What is the main verb?

Simple Sentences

Verb phrases are formed by putting one or more helping verbs in front of a main verb.

Simple Sentences

Helping Verbs Am is Are

Can May Could Might

Be MustDo BeingDoes Been ShallDid Should

Has WasHave WereHad Will

Would

Simple Sentences

Any time that you are asked to indentify the verb of a sentence you should indentify the helping verb or verbs and the main verb in any sentence that has a verb phrase.

After finding the action verb, always check to see if there are one or more helping verbs to the left of the action verb. Make an arch above the helping verbs and the main verb and write a ‘V’ above the arch.

Simple Sentences

The bus must have gone by now.

My best friend could not work tonight.

The light green grapes have been eaten.

The committee of environmentalist is working to solve the problem.

Steven’s aunt is not following her new diet.

Simple Sentences

The old rickety wagon should not have been filled to the top.

The merry pied piper would have played a happy tune.

A stray sunbeam could have pierced through the clouds.

The paint of the old gray house was peeling.

The peace treaty might have been signed today.

Simple Sentences

In some simple sentences the verb comes before the subject of the sentence.

Down the street moved the bulls.

What is the action word? Who or what moved?

Will you go to the movie tonight?

What is the action word? Is there a helping verb? Who or what will go?

Simple Sentences

Sometimes words in a sentence show action without being the main verb of the sentence.

Chad hoped to go sledding.

In this sentence, several words represent things you can do. What are they?

Which one is the main verb of the sentence?

Any verb that has the word to in front of it is an infinitive; it is not the main action verb of the sentence. When you have a

sentence with many action words in it, check for the word ‘to’. Never identify the main verb as a word that had ‘to’ in front of

it.

Simple Sentences

A second kind of simple sentence contains two or more subjects. We call two or more subjects in a simple sentence a compound subject.

Bill and Sue want to go to the movies.

What is the verb? What is the subject?

Simple Sentences

Bill and Sue want to go to the movies.

Jason and his friends work together.

Are the car and truck parked outside?

The park and sidewalks were covered with snow.

Hiding and seeking are fun activities.

Simple Sentences

The old man and his black cat have lived long lives.

The station and its surrounding parking lot become dangerous after 9:00 p.m..

Arnie, Karen, and Ty went to buy a new van.

Peace and war are direct opposites.

Did Marty and Kathy travel 500 miles just to speak at the conference?

Simple Sentences

Just like simple sentences can have a compound subject, they can also have a compound verb.

Sally swam and played all afternoon.

The dogs had barked all night and slept all day.

Michelle came home yesterday and did not work all day long.

The basketball team rode on a bus and flew in a plane to attend the game.

Simple Sentences

The park is dark and spooky at night and can be delightful on sunny days.

Did Jane call her father and tell him the news?

I miss my sister and want to see her again soon.

Children should not be allowed to watch T.V. and should be encouraged to play.

Will you sit by the sea and paint the ships?

Simple Sentences

Some simple sentences have both a compound subject and a compound verb.

The ponies and calves scampered and played in the field.

What are the subjects/ verbs?

Simple Sentences

Kathy and her father do not like to play tennis and hate to jog.

The Army and the Navy had a football game and filled the stadium.

The two boys and their fathers were sick and did not attend the Father Son banquet.

Parties and dances are usually fun and can be thrilling.

Radio towers and tall buildings must have lights and must be visible at night.

Simple Sentences

We have talked about four different kinds of simple sentences:

1. S V

2. SS V

3. S VV

4. SS VV

What do the S and V represent in each of the formulas?

Sentence Writing Strategy

Pick a formula

Explore words to fit the formula

Note the words

Search and check

Search: - Look for the action or state of being word(s) to find the verb(s).

- Ask the “Who or What Questions” to find the subject(s).

Check: Capital Letter End punctuation Makes sense

Create Formula Card

Simple Sentences

S VSS VS VVSS VV