The Structure
of a Sentence
Brooklyn Technical High School
Freshman Composition
Mr. Williams
Learning Objective:
To construct sentences and edit fragments
To 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
“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 Zinsser
His daughter is rich.
The Fragment
Definition: 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 Fragments
Johnny 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.”
“If you find that writing is hard, it’s
because it is hard.” – William Zinsser
Although Marisol had always
dreamed of coming to America.
Although Marisol had always
dreamed of coming to America, she
chose to stay in Spain to take care of
her sick mother.
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.