Sentence Parts
Lesson 4
Essential Question
What two things do we need to build a complete sentence?
Grammar in the World
What Do I Know?
What do you already know about how to build a sentence? Use this interactive to find out.
Part 1
photo courtesy of Canva
Part 2
Read each question and choose the best answer.
Building Blocks
Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:
Learn About Sentence Parts
As a writer and communicator, it’s up to you to decide how to design your sentences. As you can learn in our simple, compound, and complex sentences modules, mixing types of sentences helps you create variety, hold others’ attention, and create interest in your message.
No matter what type of sentence you create, though, it will have two main parts—a subject and a predicate. There are some exceptions, of course, and we will cover those, as well.
TIPS
Here are a few things to keep in mind when determining how to use subjects and predicates in sentences.
Exceptions
Complete subjects and predicates are used in formal and standard writing. In other words, for the most part, you’ll want to use complete sentences. As always, there are some exceptions to the rules.
INTERJECTIONS
Interjections are words or phrases that express strong emotion. Often, they don’t have a subject or verb, or the subject is implied.
Stop that! (The subject “you” is implied.)
Hi!
Wow!
Oh, no!
Ouch!
Wheeeeee!
Ugh.
DIALOGUE
We often speak in incomplete sentences when having a conversation. It would sound awkward and unnatural if we always spoke in full sentences.
For instance, look at the difference between these two short conversations. Notice how the second conversation flows more naturally even though it uses incomplete sentences.
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What’s your dog’s name? My dog’s name is Bea. What kind of dog is she? She is a Havanese. How old is she? Bea is 11 years old. She sounds cute! She is very cute. Her barking can be annoying, though. |
What’s your dog’s name? Bea. What kind of dog is she? She is a Havanese. How old is she? About 11 years old. She sounds cute! She is! Except for her annoying barking. |
Knowing how to form complete subjects and predicates when you communicate helps you create the best messages for your audience. They allow you to use sentence variety to help you keep listeners interested in what you’re saying.
image source Links to an external site.
Havanese dogs
Do I Get It?
Check your knowledge of sentence parts in this short quiz.
Which term best describes the part of the sentence in bold?