The Structure of a Sentence

Brooklyn Technical High SchoolFreshman CompositionMr. Williams

Learning Objective: To construct sentences and edit fragmentsTo use the process of composition with an emphasis on editing

CCS: W.9.5: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by editing what is important for a specific purpose and audience

Motivational Activity: Draft a paragraph about someone who did something.

Identify a topic or summary sentence.Prepare to share what you wrote.

The Structure of a Sentence

Someone who did something.

Someone is the Subject of the Sentence: Who or What is performing the action.

Did is the Predicate/Verb of the Sentence: The Action that is being performed.

Something is the Complement of the Sentence: The phrase that completes the idea.

“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.” – William

Zinsser

“Secret” is The Subject of the Sentence:

Who or What is performing the action.

“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.” – William

Zinsser

“Is to strip” is The Predicate/Verb (Phrase)

of the Sentence: The Action

that is being performed.

“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.” – William

Zinsser

“Every sentence to its cleanest components.” is the Complement of the

Sentence: The phrase that

completes the idea.

The Complement

The Direct Object: The person place, or thing that identifies who receives the action.

According to Zinsser, a muddy thinker cannot write good English.She bought a beautiful home in sunny California.

The Complement

The Indirect Object: The person place, or thing that precedes the direct object and tell for whom the action is done.Zinsser gave all writers some great advice.

She bought her father a beautiful home in sunny California.

The Complement

The Predicate Nominative: The person, place or thing that identifies or refers to the subject and completes the linking verb.“Writing is hard work.” – William Zinsser

His daughter became a millionaire.

The Complement

The Predicate Adjective: The word that works with a linking verb to describe the subject.“Perhaps a sentence is so excessively cluttered that the reader doesn’t know what it means.” –William ZinsserHis daughter is rich.

The FragmentDefinition: A group of words void of a subject, verb, and/or a complete idea.

Common Occurrence: Fragments usually appear next to complete sentences.

Celia took two electives. AP Physics and Calculus BC.

Roger enjoyed the play. Because the actors were very talented.

Missing Subject FragmentsJohnny Depp starred in Pirates

of the Caribbean. And also starred in the sequels.

Johnny Depp starred in Pirates of the Caribbean, and he also starred in the sequels.

Johnny Depp starred in Pirates of the Caribbean. He also starred in the sequels.

Appositive Fragments

A balanced diet should include high fiber foods. Such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grain bread.A balanced diet should include high fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grain bread.A balanced diet should include high fiber foods. Vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grain bread are all high in fiber.

Prepositional Fragments

She promised to stand by him. In sickness and in health.

She promised to stand by him, in sickness and in health.

Common Prepositions: about, at, by, against, for, from, among, between, in, until, since, of, on, with, to, through

Participle Fragments

Participle: Verbs that need a linking verb.

The twins are full of mischief. Always looking for trouble.

The twins are full of mischief and are always looking for trouble.The twins are full of mischief. They are always looking for trouble.

Infinitive Fragments

Infinitive: consists of “to” plus the base form of a verb

Eric considered dropping out of school. To start his own business.Eric considered dropping out of school to start his own business.

Eric considered dropping out of school. He wanted to start his own business.

Dependent Clause Fragments“If you find that writing is

hard.”

Although Marisol had always dreamed of coming to America, she chose to stay in Spain to take care of her sick mother.

“If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.” – William ZinsserAlthough Marisol had always dreamed of coming to America.

The Structure of a Sentence

Sentence structure is incredibly important. But it’s also incredibly hard to understand and analyze. Most of us don’t think about the structure of our sentences when we speak and write; we construct them unconsciously. But if we want to improve our sentence structure and learn from other writers, we have to become conscious of how sentences are put together.

-Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc.