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The Simple Sentence

Understanding the sentence can

help you avoid many common

grammar errors.

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Lets start with the basics

Word: basic unit of language

car, dog, sun

Phrase: a group of related words

shiny new car, cute fuzzy dog, the

bright sun

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Lets start with the basics

Clause: a group of words that includes

a subject and a verb

the shiny new car is hersif the cute fuzzy dog barks

the bright sun shines

A clause that makes sense on its ownis called an independent clause.

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Lets start with the basics

Sentence: a group of words thatincludes a subject, a verb, endpunctuation, and makes sense all by

itselfThe shiny new car is hers.

If the cute fuzzy dog barks, I wont want

to take him home.The bright sun shines.

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Lets start with the basics

A sentence needs to include a verb.but, whats

a verb?

Verbs are words that express action or

beingAction: We walk to the store. The children

ran to the playground.

Being: My mother is a good cook. The boy

seems unhappy. The soup smells delicious.

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Lets start with the basics

To find an action verblook for thething thats being done in the sentence.

To find a being verbtry substituting inone of the be verbs. If the sentence stillmeans the same thing, the verb is a

being verb.be verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being,

been

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Just one more example

The little girl smells the flowers. Is it an action or being verb?

Try substituting in one of the be verbs.

The little girl is the flowers.Does it mean essentially the same thing?

No, so smells is not a being verb in this

sentence!

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Now onto subjects

Once youve found the verb, you need to identify

the subject.The subject is the person/thing doing the action or

being in the sentence.The truck stalled on the highway.

Who or what stalled?

Truck (Subject!)

Nathan is my husband?

Who or what is? Nathan (Subject!)

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More on subjects

Just like verbs, subjects can be made up

of more than one word.David and Leslie planned the surprise party.

Who or what planned? David and Leslie (Subject!)

My dad and I worked in the yard.

Who or what worked? Dad and I (Subject!)

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Lets practice

Page 402Exercise 3 (underline

subjects once and verbs twice)

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One more thing

Preposition: shows the position ofsomething in spaceSee list on page 402

Prepositional Phrase: preposition +object + any describing wordsNOTHING IN A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

CAN EVER BE PART OF THE SUBJECTOR THE VERB!So, try eliminating them first