Is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not expresses a complete thought it is not a sentence?

A background knowledge about several types of clauses is not only essential for determining when to use commas, but also for the construction of effective and grammatically accurate sentences. Here are a few quick, key terms to look for, as defined by the Purdue OWL:

Independent Clause: A group of words that contain a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause also could be called a complete sentence.

Dependent Clause: A group of words that contain a subject and verb but does NOT express a complete thought. A dependent clause is marked by one of these words: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though.

Parenthetical Clause: A group of words that provides additional information tha is not essential to the structure of the sentence. If the clause can be ommitted from the sentence and the structure of the sentence is the same, then it is parenthetical.

Introductory Clause: A dependent clause that provides background information before the independent clause.

Conjunction: Words used as connecting word at the beginning of an independent clause. Some examples are and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet.

Commas

These five handy tips adapted from the Hamilton University Writing Center can help guide your usage of commas:

Use a comma after an introductory clause.

According to Smith, the review session is tomorrow at seven.

Use commas before and after a parenthetical clause.

Smith, the new teaching assistant, was not at class yesterday.

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses linked by a conjunction.

Smith promised to share the notes on Brightspace, but he has not posted them yet.

Use a comma to spearate items in a list.

Watching sports, dancing, and studying are Smith's favorite activities.

Use a comma before a quotation when a word like 'say' precedes the quotation.

Smith exclaimed, "That's a lot of homework!"

Adapted from: Hamilton University WC & Purdue OWL

https://hamilton.edu/academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/comma-rules

Presentation on theme: " Sentence: a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Sentences contain a subject and a predicate. ◦ Subject:"— Presentation transcript:

1  Sentence: a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Sentences contain a subject and a predicate. ◦ Subject: names the person place, thing, or idea spoken about in the rest of the sentence ◦ Predicate: says something about the subject Americans | have made quilts. Subject Predicate The people in the auditorium | applauded. Subject Predicate  Fragment: any group of words that is punctuated as a sentence, but does not have a subject or complete verb. ◦ Running in the hall. When we lost. Saw a bear. The girl. ◦ What are these missing?

2  The simple subject is the main word or group of words within the complete subject.  The simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or group of words within the complete predicate.  Find the simple subject and simple predicate in the following sentences: ◦ Her new car suffered damage in the storm. ◦ The first day of the class went very quickly. ◦ No one who did not type the homework will receive any credit.

3  A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction and have the same verb ◦ Either Josh or Mac will win the race. ◦ Hector and Joe went to the creek to fish for bream.  A compound verb consists of two or more verbs that are joined by a conjunction and have the same subject. ◦ Michael Phelps entered and won eight events in the Beijing Olympics. ◦ No one wanted or wished to have homework over the weekend.  A compound sentence has two or more complete sentences. ◦ We walked slowly down the path, and our minds wandered over happy thoughts.

4  Find the verb, and ask “Who?” or “What?”  The subject of a verb is never part of a prepositional phrase. ◦ A few [of the deer] jumped the fence.  Sentences that ask questions ◦ Are you ready to go to the mall?  Turn the question into a statement ◦ You are ready to go to the mall.

5  “There” is never the subject of a sentence. ◦ There are three cats in the window.  Find the verb and ask “Who” or “What” ◦ Who/What are in the window? ◦ The subject of this sentence is cats  Imperative sentences make a request or command. ◦ Go to the board.  The subject of imperative sentences is you understood. ◦ Hector, go to the field.

6  A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of the predicate. ◦ A complement is never part of a prepositional phrase.  Objects are complements that do not refer back to the subject. They are used with action verbs.  Direct object: a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb or shows the result of the action. It answers the question “Whom?” or “What?” after an action verb. ◦ The cat dropped the yarn. S V DO ◦ In about one hour, we will finish the lesson S V DO  Direct objects, like simple subjects, are never part of a prepositional phrase.

7  Indirect object: a noun or pronoun that precedes (comes before) the direct object and usually tells to whom or for whom (or to what or for what) the action of the verb is done. ◦ My little sister sang me a song. S V I.D.O. D.O. ◦ My sister sang what? song (direct object) ◦ My sister sang a song to whom? me (indirect object)  Indirect objects, like simple subjects and direct objects, are never part of prepositional phrases.

8  Subject complement: a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb. It describes or identifies the subject.  The two kinds of subject complements are predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives.  A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun in the predicate that explains or identifies the subject of a sentence. ◦ The prizewinners are Jennifer and Marcus. ◦ Be a winner! ◦ Is Darnell the treasurer?  A predicate adjective: an adjective in the predicate (following a linking verb) that modifies the subject of a sentence. ◦ The corn tastes sweet and buttery.

What is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought?

What is the group of words that do not express a complete thought?

What is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb?

Is a group of words that expresses a complete thought it has a subject and verb?