Grammar

= = =// **> Sentence Elements** //=


 * //**Subjects and Predicates**//

// **Sentences are composed of two essentials elements: __Subjects and predicates__. The subject of a sentence is the person or thing being talked about; the predicate tells what the subject is, what the subject is doing, or what is being done to the subject.** //

// **Study the following sentence:** //

// ** The new __manager__ of the office __received__ our co-operation .** // //**complete subject complete predicate**//

**The** // **complete subject** // **of the preceding sentence includes the subject (in this case a noun) plus all the words** **that describe or limit the subject (its modifiers). The //complete predicate// includes the verb plus its modifiers** // **.** //

// **The heart of the complete subject is the simple subject ( ** ** manager), ** **and the heart of the predicate is the simple predicate, or verb** ** (received). ** **The following sentences are divided into complete subjects and complete predicates. The simple subjects are highlighted in red, and the verbs (simple predicates) are highlighted in blue.** //

Our largest department store An Alberta pilot program Chain store executives ||  are linked by computer. will be having a sale. will be launched next month. conduct traffic counts. ||
 * < __ Complete Subjects __ || __ **Complete Predicates** __ ||
 * All branches of the company

**Notice in the previous sentences that the verbs may consist of one word or several. In a verb phrase the principal verb is the final one; the other verbs are helping or auxillary verbs. For example, in the verb phrase __//will be having//__, //__having__// is the principal verb and __//will//__ and //__be__// are the helping verbs. The most frequently used helping verbs are //am, is, are, was, were, been, be have, has, had, must, ought, might, can, could, would, should, will, do, does, and did.// **

= **> SENTENCE SENSE** =

= In addition to a subject and a predicate, a group of words must possess one additional element to qualify as a sentence: the group of words must make sense. Observe that two of the groups of words that follow express complete thoughts and make sense; the third does not. =


 * 1) Bradley built the business through personal contacts. (Subject plus predicate making sense = sentence.)
 * 2) Efficient service ensured return business. (Subject plus predicate making sense = sentence.)
 * 3) When Bradley started his own business (Subject plus predicate but NOT making sense = no sentence.)


 * === Fragments ===

=== Fragments are most often groups of words that are broken off from nearby sentences. They cannot function as complete sentences. Avoid fragments by making certain that each sentence contains a subject and a verb and makes sense by itself. In the following examples the fragments are italicized. Notice how they can be revised to make complete sentences. ===

= **Another basic sentence fault is the run-on (or fused) sentence, which joins two or more complete thought without punctuation. Notice how the run-on sentences below can be corrected.** =
 * = **RUN-ON-SENTENCES** =

** Revision : Gift certificates for courses are available. Prices range from $40 to $159.**
= =
 * = COMMA SPLICES =


 * === **Pattern No. 1: Subject-Verb** ===

**__Subject__ __Verb__**

 * 1) == We worked. ==
 * 2) == **Everyone is studying.** ==
 * 3) == **She might have called.** ==
 * 4) == **All the employeeds should have been informed.** ==

= In this kind of sentence, the subject is followed by an action verb and its direct object. = = The object usually answers the question //What//? or //Whom//? = = = = __Subject__ __Action Verb__ __Object__ = = = = This basic sentence pattern may also employ an indirect object that usually answers the question //to whom?// = = = = //__Subject__ __Action Verb__ __Indirect Object__ __Direct Object__// =
 * = Pattern No. 2: Subject-Action Verb -Object =
 * 1) = Most students brought supplies.  =
 * 2) = The manager praised the employees. =
 * 3) = Mrs. Chartrand supervised them. =
 * 4) = All proceeds support volunteers. =
 * 1) = Our company offers employees excellent benefits. =
 * 2) = Tiffany gave him the book. =
 * 3) = We lent the neighbour our cat. =
 * 4) = Wendy bought her assistant a gift. =


 * = Pattern No. 3: Subject-Linking Verb-Complement =

= In the third kind of sentence, the subject is followed by a linking verb and its complement. A complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject. A complement completes the meaning of the subject. = = __Subject__ __Linking Verb__ __Complement__ = = 1. The author was Ms. Arnold = = //(Noun Complements)// = = 2. Our customers are friends = = = = 3. Your supervisor is she. = = (//Pronoun Complements)// = = 4. The callers might have been they. = = = = 5. These date are accurate. = = //(Adjective Complements)// = = 6. His report is excellent. = = = = The sentences shown here have been kept simple so that their patterns can be recognized easily. Although most speakers and writers expand these basic patterns with additional phrases and clauses, the basic sentence structure remains the same. Despite its length the following sentence follows the basic subject-action-verb-object order: = = = = Many large companies, as well as small companies with sizable real estavte holdings, employ specialized risk managers to handle their insurance problems. (The simple subject is companies, the action verb is employ, and the object is managers.) =


 * = Inverted Order =


 * 1) == __Sitting__ in front __is Doreen__. ==
 * 2) == Last __came__ the school __choir__. ==

= In questions the verb or a helping verb usually precedes the subject. =


 * 1) == What __is__ the shipment __number__? ==
 * 2) == __Have__ the __bills__ been __sent__? ==

= In sentences beginning with the adverbs here or there, the word order is also inverted. =
 * 1) == Here __are__ the __applications__. ==
 * 2) == There __is__ a __demand__ for accountants. ==

= To locate the true subject in any inverted sentence, mentally rearrange the words. Place them in the normal subject-verb order. =


 * 1) == __Doreen is sitting__ in front. ==
 * 2) == The shipment __number is__ what ? ==
 * 3) == The __applications__ __are__ here. ==

= > PUNCTUATING FOUR SENTENCE TYPES = = The end punctuation used for a sentence depends on whether it is a statement, question, command, or exclamation. = = = = Statements make assertions and end with periods. = = =
 * = Statements =
 * 1) = Laws require truth in advertising. =
 * 2) = Manufacturers today must label the contents of packages. =


 * = Questions =

// Direct questions are followed by question marks. //

 * 1) === // How many e-mail messages do you receive in a day? // ===
 * 2) === // What employee benefits will you receive? // ===

= Commands end with periods or, occasionally, with exclamation points. Although both statements and commands end with periods, the two sentence types differ in purpose and in form. We see or hear the subject of a statement but not the subject of a command. Note that the subject in all commands is understood to be you. The subject you is not normally stated in command. =
 * = Commands =
 * 1) == Shut the door. ({__You}__ shut the door.) ==
 * 2) == Insure your home against fire loss. ({__You}__ insure your home....) ==

= Showing surprise, disbelief, or strong feelings, exclamations may or may not be expressed as complete thoughts. Both subject and predicate may be implied. =
 * = Exclamations =

= = =Reinforcement Exercises:= = = =Indicate whether the following statements are true (T) or Fales (F)=
 * 1) == Oh! Static electricity gave me a shock! ==
 * 2) == What a remarkable employee she is! ==
 * 3) == How extraordinary(that is)! ==
 * 1) =The verbs are, may, and have are examples of auxillary or helping verbs.=
 * 2) =A group of words with a subject and a predicate is automatically a complete sentence.=
 * 3) =The complete subject of a sentence includes a noun or pronoun and all its modifiers.=
 * 4) =Two sentences joined only by a comma create a comma splice=
 * 5) =In questions the verb may appear before the subject.=
 * 6) =The complete predicate of a sentence tells what the subject is, what the subject is doing, or what is done to the subject.=
 * 7) =Sentences that show strong feelings are usually concluded with question marks.=
 * 8) =The verb phrase could have been is considered to be a linking verb.=
 * 9) =Complements may follow either action verbs or linking verbs.=