Chapter 20 Review Write the Word or Words That Best Complete Each Sentence in the Space Provided

2.1 Sentence Writing

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the components of a basic judgement.
2. Identify the four nearly serious writing errors.

Imagine you are reading a book for school. You need to observe of import details that you can use for an assignment. Notwithstanding, when you begin to read, you notice that the book has very trivial punctuation. Sentences fail to form complete paragraphs and instead class i block of text without clear organization. Well-nigh likely, this book would frustrate and confuse you. Without clear and concise sentences, it is hard to find the data you lot demand.

For both students and professionals, clear communication is important. Whether yous are typing an email or writing a study, it is your responsibility to present your thoughts and ideas clearly and precisely. Writing in complete sentences is one manner to ensure that you communicate well. This section covers how to recognize and write basic sentence structures and how to avert some mutual writing errors.

Components of a Sentence

Clearly written, complete sentences require primal information: a subject, a verb and a complete idea. A sentence needs to brand sense on its ain. Sometimes, complete sentences are also called contained clauses. A clause is a group of words that may make upwardly a judgement. An independent clause is a group of words that may stand lonely every bit a complete, grammatically correct thought. The following sentences show independent clauses.

All complete sentences take at to the lowest degree one contained clause. You can identify an independent clause past reading it on its own and looking for the bailiwick and the verb.

Subjects

When y'all read a sentence, you lot may first look for the field of study, or what the sentence is nearly. The subject usually appears at the beginning of a judgement equally a substantive or a pronoun. A noun is a discussion that identifies a person, identify, thing, or idea. A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun. Common pronouns are I, he, she, it, you lot, they, and we. In the following sentences, the subject is underlined in one case.

Malik

is the project director for this project.

He

will give u.s. our assignments.

In these sentences, the subject is a person: Malik. The pronoun He replaces and refers back to Malik.

The

computer lab

is where we will work.

It

volition be open twenty-four hours a solar day.

In the first sentence, the subject is a place: computer lab. In the second sentence, the pronoun It substitutes for computer lab equally the subject.

The

project

will run for iii weeks.

It

will have a quick turnaround.

In the first judgement, the subject is a thing: projection. In the second sentence, the pronoun It stands in for the project.

Tip

In this chapter, please refer to the following grammar primal:

Subjects are underlined one time.

Verbs are underlined twice.

LV means linking verb, HV ways helping verb, and Five ways action verb.

Compound Subjects

A sentence may have more than 1 person, identify, or matter as the subject. These subjects are called compound subjects. Compound subjects are useful when you want to discuss several subjects at one time.

Desmond

and

Maria

have been working on that design for nearly a year.

Books, magazines,

and

online articles

are all good resources.

Prepositional Phrases

Yous volition frequently read a sentence that has more than one noun or pronoun in it. You may meet a group of words that includes a preposition with a noun or a pronoun. Prepositions connect a noun, pronoun, or verb to some other word that describes or modifies that noun, pronoun, or verb. Common prepositions include in, on, under, near, past, with, and nearly. A grouping of words that begin with a preposition is chosen a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and modifies or describes a word. It cannot act as the subject of a judgement. The post-obit circled phrases are examples of prepositional phrases.

Practice 1

Read the post-obit sentences. Underline the subjects, and circle the prepositional phrases.

1. The gym is open until ix o'clock tonight.
2. We went to the store to get some ice.
3. The educatee with the well-nigh extra credit will win a homework pass.
4. Maya and Tia institute an abandoned cat by the side of the road.
5. The driver of that pickup truck skidded on the ice.
6. Anita won the race with time to spare.
7. The people who work for that company were surprised near the merger.
8. Working in haste means that you are more likely to make mistakes.
9. The soundtrack has over 60 songs in languages from around the world.
10. His latest invention does not work, but it has inspired the rest of u.s.a..

Verbs

One time you lot locate the subject of a judgement, y'all tin motion on to the next part of a consummate sentence: the verb. A verb is frequently an action word that shows what the subject is doing. A verb tin besides link the discipline to a describing word. There are 3 types of verbs that you can utilize in a judgement: action verbs, linking verbs, or helping verbs.

Action Verbs

A verb that connects the subject area to an action is called an action verb. An action verb answers the question what is the subject area doing? In the following sentences, the action verbs are in italics.

The dog barked at the jogger.
He gave a short speech earlier we ate.

Linking Verbs

A verb tin can often connect the subject of the sentence to a describing word. This type of verb is called a linking verb because it links the field of study to a describing word. In the post-obit sentences, the linking verbs are in italics.

The coat was old and dirty.
The clock seemed broken.

If you have problem telling the difference betwixt action verbs and linking verbs, remember that an action verb shows that the subject is doing something, whereas a linking verb simply connects the subject to another word that describes or modifies the field of study. A few verbs can be used as either activeness verbs or linking verbs.

Action Verb: The boy looked for his glove.
Linking Verb: The boy looked tired.

Although both sentences use the same verb, the two sentences have completely dissimilar meanings. In the first sentence, the verb describes the boy's action. In the 2nd sentence, the verb describes the boy's advent.

Helping Verbs

A third type of verb you may use as you write is a helping verb. Helping verbs are verbs that are used with the master verb to describe a mood or tense. Helping verbs are unremarkably a class of exist, do, or have. The discussion can is also used as a helping verb.

The restaurant

is known for its multifariousness of dishes.

She

does speak upward when prompted in class.

We

accept seen that picture show three times.

She

tin tell when someone walks on her lawn.
(is, does, have, and can are helping verbs and known, speak up, seen, and tell are verbs)

Tip

Whenever you write or edit sentences, keep the subject and verb in mind. As you lot write, ask yourself these questions to keep yourself on track:

Bailiwick: Who or what is the sentence almost?

Verb: Which word shows an action or links the field of study to a description?

Exercise 2

Copy each sentence onto your ain canvass of paper and underline the verb(s) twice. Name the type of verb(s) used in the judgement in the infinite provided (LV, HV, or V).

1. The cat sounds ready to come back within. ________
2. Nosotros accept non eaten dinner yet. ________
3. It took four people to move the broken-down car. ________
4. The book was filled with notes from grade. ________
5. We walked from room to room, inspecting for damages. ________
6. Harold was expecting a package in the mail. ________
7. The apparel even so felt damp even though they had been through the dryer twice. ________
8. The teacher who runs the studio is often praised for his restoration work on old masterpieces. ________

Judgement Structure, Including Fragments and Run-ons

Now that you lot know what makes a complete sentence—a subject and a verb—y'all tin can use other parts of speech to build on this basic construction. Good writers utilize a variety of sentence structures to make their work more interesting. This section covers different judgement structures that you can use to make longer, more complex sentences.

Sentence Patterns

Six basic discipline-verb patterns can enhance your writing. A sample judgement is provided for each pattern. As you read each sentence, take note of where each office of the sentence falls. Notice that some sentence patterns use activeness verbs and others employ linking verbs.

Bailiwick–Verb

Computers

(subject) hum (verb)

Subject–Linking Verb–Noun

Computers

(bailiwick) are (linking verb) tool (noun)

Field of study–Linking Verb–Adjective

Computers

(subject field) are (linking verb) expensive (describing word)

Discipline–Verb–Adverb

Computers

(subject) calculate (verb) quickly (adverb)

Subject area–Verb–Direct Object

When you write a sentence with a direct object (DO), brand sure that the Practise receives the action of the verb.

Sally (subject field) rides (verb) a motorbike (direct object)

Subject–Verb–Indirect Object–Direct Object

In this sentence structure, an indirect object explains to whom or to what the action is being done. The indirect object is a noun or pronoun, and information technology comes before the direct object in a sentence.

My coworker

(bailiwick) gave (verb) me (indirect object) the reports (straight object)

Practise 3

Employ what y'all accept learned so far to bring variety in your writing. Utilise the following lines or your own sheet of paper to write half dozen sentences that practice each basic sentence pattern. When you have finished, characterization each role of the sentence (South, V, LV, N, Adj, Adv, DO, IO).

1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________________

Collaboration

Detect an article in a newspaper, a magazine, or online that interests y'all. Bring it to grade or post information technology online. And then, looking at a classmate'south article, identify i example of each office of a sentence (Due south, V, LV, N, Adj, Adv, Practise, IO). Please share or post your results.

Fragments

The sentences you have encountered so far have been independent clauses. As y'all look more than closely at your by writing assignments, yous may notice that some of your sentences are not complete. A sentence that is missing a subject or a verb is called a fragment. A fragment may include a description or may express part of an thought, but it does non express a complete thought.

Fragment: Children helping in the kitchen.

Complete judgement: Children helping in the kitchen oftentimes brand a mess.

Y'all tin can easily gear up a fragment by adding the missing subject or verb. In the example, the sentence was missing a verb. Adding often brand a mess creates an South-V-Due north sentence structure.

Figure ii.1 Editing Fragments That Are Missing a Subject or a Verb

See whether you can place what is missing in the following fragments.

Fragment: Told her about the broken vase.

Complete judgement: I told her virtually the broken vase.

Fragment: The store down on Main Street.

Complete sentence: The store down on Master Street sells music.

Common Sentence Errors

Fragments often occur because of some common error, such equally starting a judgement with a preposition, a dependent word, an infinitive, or a gerund. If you lot utilise the six bones judgement patterns when you write, you should exist able to avoid these errors and thus avert writing fragments.

When y'all come across a preposition, check to encounter that information technology is role of a sentence containing a subject and a verb. If information technology is not connected to a complete judgement, it is a fragment, and you lot will demand to prepare this blazon of fragment by combining it with another judgement. You can add the prepositional phrase to the finish of the sentence. If you add together it to the beginning of the other sentence, insert a comma later the prepositional phrase.

Figure two.2 Editing Fragments That Brainstorm with a Preposition

Example A

Incorrect: After walking over two miles. John remembered his wallet.
Correct: Afterward walking over two miles, John remembered his wallet.
Correct: John remembered his wallet Afterwards after walking over ii miles.

Example B

Incorrect: The domestic dog growled at the vacuum cleaner. When information technology was switched on.
Correct: When the vacuum cleaner was switched on, the dog growled.
Right: The dog growled at the vacuum cleaner When when it was switched on.

Clauses that start with a dependent word—such as since, considering, without, or unless—are similar to prepositional phrases. Similar prepositional phrases, these clauses can be fragments if they are non continued to an contained clause containing a bailiwick and a verb. To set the trouble, you lot can add such a fragment to the beginning or end of a sentence. If the fragment is added at the beginning of a judgement, add a comma.

Incorrect: Because we lost power. The unabridged family overslept.
Correct: Considering we lost ability, the unabridged family overslept.
Right: The entire family overslept Because considering we lost power.

Incorrect: He has been seeing a concrete therapist. Since his accident.
Correct: Since his blow, he has been seeing a physical therapist.
Correct: He has been seeing a concrete therapist Since since his accident.

When you encounter a give-and-take ending in -ing in a sentence, place whether or not this word is used as a verb in the sentence. Y'all may also look for a helping verb. If the discussion is non used every bit a verb or if no helping verb is used with the -ing verb form, the verb is being used as a noun. An -ing verb grade used as a noun is called a gerund.

Verb: I was (helping verb) working (verb) on homework until midnight.
Noun:

Working

until midnight makes me tired the adjacent morning.

One time you lot know whether the -ing word is acting every bit a noun or a verb, look at the rest of the judgement. Does the entire sentence make sense on its ain? If not, what yous are looking at is a fragment. Yous volition need to either add the parts of speech that are missing or combine the fragment with a nearby judgement.

Figure 2.3 Editing Fragments That Begin with Gerunds

Incorrect: Taking deep breaths. Saul prepared for his presentation.

Correct: Taking deep breaths, Saul prepared for his presentation.

Correct: Saul prepared for his presentation. He was taking deep breaths.

Incorrect: Congratulating the entire squad. Sarah raised her glass to toast their success.

Right: She was congratulating the entire team. Sarah raised her drinking glass to toast their success.

Correct: Congratulating the unabridged team, Sarah raised her glass to toast their success.

Another mistake in sentence construction is a fragment that begins with an infinitive. An infinitive is a verb paired with the word to; for instance, to run, to write, or to reach. Although infinitives are verbs, they tin can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. You can correct a fragment that begins with an infinitive by either combining information technology with some other sentence or calculation the parts of speech that are missing.

Incorrect: We needed to make 3 hundred more newspaper cranes. To reach the i thousand mark.

Correct: We needed to brand three hundred more paper cranes to reach the 1 thou mark.

Correct: We needed to make three hundred more newspaper cranes. Nosotros wanted to reach the one thousand mark.

Exercise four

Copy the following sentences onto your own canvass of paper and circle the fragments. So combine the fragment with the contained clause to create a complete sentence.

1. Working without taking a break. We try to get as much piece of work done equally we can in an hour.
2. I needed to bring work home. In order to meet the deadline.
3. Unless the ground thaws before spring intermission. We won't be planting whatsoever tulips this year.
4. Turning the lights off after he was done in the kitchen. Robert tries to conserve energy whenever possible.
5. You'll find what y'all need if you look. On the shelf next to the potted institute.
6. To find the perfect apartment. Deidre scoured the classifieds each day.

Run-on Sentences

But as short, incomplete sentences can be problematic, lengthy sentences tin be problematic too. Sentences with two or more than independent clauses that have been incorrectly combined are known as run-on sentences. A run-on sentence may be either a fused judgement or a comma splice.

Fused sentence: A family of foxes lived under our shed immature foxes played all over the m.

Comma splice: Nosotros looked outside, the kids were hopping on the trampoline.

When two complete sentences are combined into one without any punctuation, the result is a fused sentence. When two complete sentences are joined past a comma, the result is a comma splice. Both errors tin can hands be stock-still.

Punctuation

I way to right run-on sentences is to correct the punctuation. For example, calculation a period will correct the run-on by creating ii separate sentences.

Run-on: There were no seats left, we had to stand up in the dorsum.
Right: In that location were no seats left. we We had to stand in the back.

Using a semicolon between the two complete sentences will as well correct the mistake. A semicolon allows you to proceed the ii closely related ideas together in one sentence. When you punctuate with a semicolon, make sure that both parts of the sentence are independent clauses. For more data on semicolons, encounter Department 2.iv.2 "Capitalize Proper Nouns".

Run-on: The accident closed both lanes of traffic we waited an hour for the wreckage to exist cleared.

Consummate sentence: The blow airtight both lanes of traffic; we waited an hr for the wreckage to exist cleared.

When you use a semicolon to dissever two independent clauses, you may wish to add a transition give-and-take to testify the connection between the two thoughts. After the semicolon, add the transition give-and-take and follow it with a comma. For more information on transition words, meet Chapter 8 "The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?".

Run-on: The project was put on hold we didn't accept time to deadening downwardly, then we kept working.

Complete sentence: The projection was put on hold; all the same, nosotros didn't have time to boring down, so we kept working.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Y'all tin besides fix run-on sentences by calculation a comma and a analogous conjunction. A coordinating conjunction acts equally a link between two independent clauses.

Tip

These are the seven coordinating conjunctions that you can employ: for, and, nor, only, or, nevertheless, and and then. Utilise these words appropriately when you want to link the two independent clauses. The acronym FANBOYS will help you remember this grouping of coordinating conjunctions.

Run-on: The new printer was installed, no 1 knew how to use it.

Complete sentence: The new printer was installed, but no one knew how to use it.

Dependent Words

Adding dependent words is some other style to link independent clauses. Like the coordinating conjunctions, dependent words show a human relationship betwixt two independent clauses.

Run-on: Nosotros took the elevator, the others nevertheless got there before us.

Complete judgement: Although nosotros took the elevator, the others got in that location before us.

Run-on: Cobwebs covered the furniture, the room hadn't been used in years.

Complete sentence: Cobwebs covered the furniture because the room hadn't been used in years.

Writing at Piece of work

Figure 2.4 Sample e-mail service

Isabelle's email opens with two fragments and 2 run-on sentences containing comma splices. The e-postal service ends with another fragment. What issue would this electronic mail take on Mr. Blankenship or other readers? Mr. Blankenship or other readers may not remember highly of Isaebelle'south advice skills or—worse—may not empathize the message at all! Communications written in precise, complete sentences are not only more professional merely also easier to empathise. Before you hit the "send" button, read your e-mail carefully to make sure that the sentences are consummate, are not run together, and are correctly punctuated.

Exercise v

A reader can get lost or lose interest in material that is too dense and rambling. Use what you have learned virtually run-on sentences to correct the post-obit passages:

1. The report is due on Wednesday only we're flying dorsum from Miami that morning. I told the project manager that nosotros would be able to get the report to her afterwards that day she suggested that we come back a day early on to get the study done and I told her we had meetings until our flight took off. We e-mailed our contact who said that they would check with his boss, she said that the project could afford a delay as long as they wouldn't have to brand whatsoever edits or changes to the file our new deadline is adjacent Fri.
2. Anna tried getting a reservation at the restaurant, but when she chosen they said that at that place was a waiting list so she put our names downwards on the list when the day of our reservation arrived nosotros only had to wait xxx minutes because a table opened upwards unexpectedly which was skillful because nosotros were able to catch a motion-picture show after dinner in the fourth dimension nosotros'd expected to look to exist seated.
3. Without a doubt, my favorite creative person is Leonardo da Vinci, not considering of his paintings but because of his fascinating designs, models, and sketches, including plans for scuba gear, a flight machine, and a life-size mechanical lion that actually walked and moved its head. His paintings are beautiful also, especially when you come across the calculator enhanced versions researchers employ a diversity of methods to observe and enhance the paintings' original colors, the event of which are stunningly vibrant and yet delicate displays of the man's genius.

Central Takeaways

• A judgement is complete when it contains both a subject and verb. A complete sentence makes sense on its own.
• Every sentence must have a bailiwick, which usually appears at the commencement of the sentence. A bailiwick may be a noun (a person, place, or thing) or a pronoun.
• A compound field of study contains more than than one substantive.
• A prepositional phrase describes, or modifies, another word in the sentence but cannot be the subject of a sentence.
• A verb is ofttimes an activity word that indicates what the subject is doing. Verbs may be action verbs, linking verbs, or helping verbs.
• Diversity in sentence construction and length improves writing by making it more than interesting and more than circuitous.
• Focusing on the six bones sentence patterns will enhance your writing.
• Fragments and run-on sentences are 2 common errors in sentence construction.
• Fragments can be corrected past adding a missing subject or verb. Fragments that brainstorm with a preposition or a dependent word can be corrected by combining the fragment with some other sentence.
• Run-on sentences tin be corrected by adding appropriate punctuation or calculation a analogous conjunction.

Writing Application

Using the six basic sentence structures, write one of the following:

1. A work eastward-mail to a coworker about a presentation.
2. A business letter to a potential employer.
3. A condition report about your current project.
4. A job description for your résumé.

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Source: https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/2-1-sentence-writing/

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