Effective Sentences

Meredith Johnson2 minutes read

A sentence must contain a subject, verb, and convey a complete thought; sentence fragments lack one of these components. Phrases and clauses enhance sentences, with independent clauses functioning as complete sentences while subordinate clauses require attachment to an independent clause.

Insights

  • Understanding the components of a complete sentence is crucial: it must contain a subject, a verb, and convey a complete thought.
  • Differentiate between sentence fragments and independent clauses: fragments lack a complete thought, while independent clauses can stand alone as sentences.

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Recent questions

  • What are the components of a complete sentence?

    Subject, verb, complete thought.

  • How can you identify a sentence fragment?

    Find the verb first, then determine the subject and action.

  • What is the purpose of phrases and clauses in a sentence?

    Enhance sentences; provide additional information.

  • How can you fix a subordinate clause in a sentence?

    Attach it to an independent clause.

  • What is the role of commas when inserting a phrase in a sentence?

    Separate it from the main sentence; avoid run-on sentences.

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Summary

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Essential Elements of Complete Sentences

  • A complete sentence must have a subject (noun or pronoun), a verb indicating action or state, and a complete thought.
  • To identify a sentence fragment, find the verb first, then determine the subject and what they are doing.
  • Phrases and clauses are used to enhance sentences; an independent clause is a complete sentence on its own.
  • Subordinate clauses lack completeness and can be fixed by attaching them to an independent clause.
  • Phrases like prepositional, participial, and appositive add detail to sentences without a subject or verb.
  • When inserting a phrase, use commas to separate it from the main sentence and ensure it doesn't create a run-on sentence.
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