BASIC LANGUAGE SKILLSPacket #

COMMUNICATION

Everyone uses sentences for communication purposes.

The sentence is the basic unit of communication. College applications Emails Research papers

Grammar’s practical value is in the formation of a sentence that is used for communication purposes.

SUBJECTS AND VERBSThe Make-up of a Sentence

INTRODUCTION I

A sentence standing by itself, makes sense. Someone, or something, does something or

is something. The boy smiles. The girl swam. We are leaving. That movie was terrible. They endured.

INTRODUCTION II

Sentences, in either a phase or clause form, are composed of subjects and verbs.

In the following examples, identify the subjects and verbs. (Who is doing the action (verb)?) The phone is ringing. Could you please answer it? Don’t tell anyone where I am! Mom and Dad will not ground me; however, I will

grind you up into little pieces in about two more minutes.

Having a little sister tries my patience.

SUBJECT

The subject is always some form of a noun. Person Place Thing Abstraction

Examples The desk seems old. Running can be good for you. The future remains a mystery. To laugh is to survive.

SUBJECT II

The subject may consist of two or more separate “actors.”

Examples Kevin and I fought constantly. Eating and sleeping were his favorite activities. Men, women and children cried at this movie.

THE VERB

A verb is a word that shows action. It indicates what the subject does or is or

feels.

VERB II

A single verb may be composed of more than one word. Jill was running.

Negatives are NOT part of the verb. I will not buy that paper.

When a subject performs two or more separate actions, one has a compound verb. Joyce hacked and slashed her way out of the

forest.

CHECKING VERB CHOICE

If you are not sure about your choice for the verb, try putting I, you, she, it or they before it and see if a sentence is formed.

If anyone of those words fits, you have picked a verb!

Example Being in pain isolates you.

TYPES OF SENTENCES

DECLARATIVE SENTENCE

You can make a statement. I like my class.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE

You can ask a question. Is Abigail your sister?

IMPERATIVE SENTENCE

You can give a command. Sign the petition.

EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE

You can express surprise or strong emotion. What a day I had!

WORD ORDER

In statements, commands and exclamations, the subject usually comes before the verb. The crowd was on its feet. Stop right there. How thrilled I am to see you!

In questions, the verb—or part of the verb—usually comes first. Is Jason at home? May I see him?

CLAUSE VS. PHRASES

CLAUSE

CLAUSE

A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb.

There are two types of clauses: - Independent Dependent

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Contains both a subject & verb and can stand on its own The ocean roared. Allison woke up.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Contains both a subject & verb but cannot stand on its own.

Dependent clauses normally will have one of the following words to begin the sentence: - After; Although; As; Because; Before; How; In

order that; Since; When; Where; Which; Who; Whom; Whose

DEPENDENT CLAUSE II

Example: - Independent Clause

Rosie called her mother Dependent Clause

If Rosie called her mother. Even though Rosie called her mother. Since Rosie called her mother. Because Rosie called her mother.

PHASE

PHASE I

A phase is a group of related words that does not have a subject and a verb. It might have one, or the other, but it will not

have both. Examples: -

On the table Tall, dark and handsome The funniest girl Faster than a speeding bullet To sing out loud Who was so kind

PREPOSITIONAL PHASES

The most common phase is the prepositional phase. A preposition is used to show the relationship

between two things. Example: -

The dish is on the table. She crawled under the picket fence. He sits across from me. The tree grew between two houses. She waited for her trip to Mexico.

LIST OF PREPOSITIONS Aboard About Above Across After Against Along Among Around At Before Behind Below

Beneath Beside (at the side of) Between Beyond By Down During Except For From

Always different from another Not to/than

In Shows position in one place

Inside Into

Movement from one place to another

PREPOSITIONS II

Near Of Off On Onto Opposite Over Past Since Through Till To

Toward Under Until Up Upon With Within Without

PREPOSITIONAL PHASES

The subject of a sentence is NEVER in a prepositional phase.

Example: - From the back of the freezing room in the old

school, Cher, under three sweaters, sneezed into the tissue in her right hand.

*Cross out the prepositional phases*

PREPOSITIONAL PHASES II

From the back of the freezing room in the old school, Cher, under three sweaters, sneezed into the tissue in her right hand.

COMMON SENTENCE PROBLEMS

FRAGMENTS

A sentence fragment is a piece of a sentence, either a phase or a dependent clause.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Rashid offered to buy the books. Since he was going to the bookstore.

Before you sit down. Would you get me a cup of coffee?

USE –ING AND TO PHASES

Jerry refused to give up the resource. Insisting it was his.

Jasmeka left a note on the kitchen counter. To remind her husband to feed the cat.

SUPPLYING ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Beginning sentences incorrectly with words such as: Also Including In addition Such as For example

Especially Except

Example: - Everybody criticized

my screenplay. Except the actor in the leading role.

Sam liked to try new foods. For example, sushi and pickled plums.

RUN-ON

A run-on sentence is one in which two independent clauses are run together without adequate signals (punctuation) to notify the reader.

Example: - The movie is good

the book is better. The girls played

baseball, the boys went swimming.