Lesson 2-3
The Simple Predicate
Prompt: The most important word or phrase in the complete predicate is the verb or verb
phrase. The verb or verb phrase of the sentence is referred to as the "simple
predicate."
Example: Consider the following: "The infantry moves by its legs." The verb "moves" is the
simple predicate of the sentence.
Directions: Highlight the simple predicate in the following sentences.
1. The army consists of the infantry, armor, and artillery.
2. Tanks move on a stationary track.
3. The main battle tank of the army shoots rockets.
4. Artillery units fire rockets and howitzers.
5. Jet fighter planes give close air support to the army.
6. The Commander-in-Chief is the President.
7. Soldiers wear camouflaged uniforms to blend in with the surrounding
terrain.
8. Marines are given the mission to make amphibious landings.
9. The author was a tank platoon leader in the army.
10. Tanks travel across rugged terrain at nearly fifty miles an hour.
11. Airborne troops parachute into battle from airplanes.
12. Special forces troops operate behind enemy lines.
13. Each officer receives a commission from the President of the United
States.
14. New army recruits must attend basic training.
15. Each soldier shall be assigned to a combat unit.
Note: The simple predicate may be a compound verb. Continue to highlight the
simple predicate.
16. The recruits shall march and shall fire their weapons.
17. A good tank unit communicates, shoots, and moves.
18. The modern army must be trained and prepared for any mission.
19. Helicopters transport and support ground troops.
20. Special forces operate and fight behind enemy lines.
Lesson 2-4
The Complete Subject
Prompt: The other major part of a sentence is the subject. The complete subject is usually
all the words that come before the simple predicate (verb) in the sentence.
Example: Consider the following: "A storm with snow and rain arrived before dark." The
complete subject is underlined.
Directions: Highlight the complete subject in the sentences below.
1. Everyone in the bus was talking about the weather.
2. Blizzards on the Great Plains are dangerous.
3. The heavy snow was being blown by the gale force winds.
4. The large flakes of snow drifted slowly and quietly to the white ground.
5. The ski slopes high in the Rocky Mountains were accumulating several
inches of snow.
6. The ski lifts were transporting hundreds of skiers to the top of the
mountain.
7. The snow-packed roads made driving very dangerous.
8. The small car with no chains skidded on the ice.
9. The deer hunters referred to the storm as a "white-out."
10. The driving snow stung his face and froze to his beard.
11. Certain weather conditions can turn rain into hail.
12. Large hail stones pounded the wheat crop into the ground.
13. Large threatening storm clouds appeared on the horizon.
14. The farmers of the Great Plains prayed for rain.
15. Man has little control of the weather.
16. Years of drought and hot weather caused the crops to fail.
17. The Great Plains during the Great Depression was known as the "dust
bowl."
18. Great dust clouds on the western horizon drifted over the land.
19. Communities closed schools and prepared for the dust storm.
20. Families placed wet towels around the windows to keep the dust out.
Lesson 3-3
Intensifying the Present Tense
Prompt: A present tense verb form may also be used as a verb phrase when
"do","did", and "does" are used to intensify the meaning of the verb.
Example: I do study hard. He does study hard. I did study hard.
Directions: Highlight the present tense verb phrase in the following sentences.
1. The birds do sing beautifully.
2. She does know her mind.
3. The team did score in the first quarter.
4. Do help me!
5. The answer did help us.
Note: When the sentence is a question, the word order is sometimes reversed.
Notice how the noun subject is within the verb phrase in the following
three questions. Continue to highlight the verb phrase.
6. Do you sing on key?
7. Does this jacket come in red?
8. Did you bring your books today?
9. He does desire to be the best.
10. The football team did win on Friday.
11. Does that make us champions?
12. Jan, do sing in our choir.
13. Do you understand the consequences?
14. The principal did make the right decision.
15. Your arrival does improve our chances.
16. Did you arrive on time?
17. I do love to write songs.
18. They did ski all day long.
19. The author does try his best.
Lesson 3-4
The Present Participle as Verbal
Prompt: The "ing" form of a present tense verb is called a present participle.
A participle is a verb form that may serve as an adjective in a
sentence. Such verbs are verbal adjectives.
Example: He wore his running shoes. The "ing" verb "running" is a present
participle used as an adjective modifying "shoes."
Directions: Highlight the "ing" present participles used as adjectives in the
following sentences.
1. The barking dogs could be heard.
2. We went to the driving range.
3. Please turn off the running water.
4. The students went on a fishing trip.
5. May I have some chewing gum?
6. Please buy me some writing pens.
7. Number thirty-three is the pitching coach.
8. Your singing lesson is at 3:00 P.M.
9. The rotating fan is loud.
10. She was his dancing partner.
11. The group was part of a traveling club.
12. The ringing bells were loud.
13. She bought gardening tools.
14. They left for the riding stables.
15. She was a shining example.
16. We saw the migrating birds.
17. The storm brought freezing rain.
18. We felt the blowing wind.
19. Our purring cat likes to sleep.
20. The shouting crowd gathered around.
Expanding with Specific Details
Consider the differences between the following sentence.
Example:
The uncle bought a gift for his niece.
Rewritten:
Uncle Tanoose bought Jessica a tic-tac-toe game for her fourth
birthday.
Exercise 1:
Expand the following sentences by replacing the journalistic
questions with details that answer those questions. ANSWER ON
PAPER.
1. The (what kind) man hobbled (how) toward the emergency room.
(why)
2. (when) The lights flickered on and off, and the (what kind) children
hid.
3. (how) The (what kind) umpire shouted, "Play ball!"
4. Bobbi flew her (what kind) kite. (where)
5. Chester fixed the flat tire and (how) threw the jack. (where)
6. The (what kind) wind blew (where) and bent Ray's boatlift.
7. The (what kind) bird chirped. (how) (why)
8. Isaiah (how) ate the (what kind) pizza and (how) complimented the
(what kind) chef.
9. Cecily paused (how) and walked (how) from the stage. (why)
10. My sister (how) picked up the broken glass and threw it. (where)
Exercise 2: Expand the following sentences in the same way you did in Exercise
1. ANSWER ON PAPER.
1. The teacher talked about student behavior.
What teacher?
What kind of student behavior?
Where?
2. The little boy is going to have a good time.
Who is the little boy?
Why is he going to have a good time?
3. The game was exciting.
What kind of game?
Where was the game played?
Why was it exciting?
4. The dog hates being chained.
What kind of dog?
Why does he hate being chained?
5. Robert cleaned James' room.
When did Robert clean the room?
6. The cat eyed the bird.
What kind of cat?
How did the cat eye the bird?
7. The robber peeked into the window.
When did the robber peek into the window?
How did he peek?
8. The bee stung the baby.
What kind of bee?
How did it sting the baby?
What did the baby do?
9. People complained about the increase in prices.
Who are the people who are complaining?
What kind of increase in prices did they complain about?
10. The child loves practice.
Who is the child?
What kind of practice does he love?
Why does he love practice?
INSERT QUOTATION MARKS AND ANY OTHER PUNCTUATION MARKS WHERE
NEEDED. SOME SENTENCES MAY BE CORRECT AS IS.
Punctuation Sheet 5: Other Uses for Quotation Marks
Rule 4: Use quotation marks around the titles of works within a larger work, such as
song titles, book chapters, short story titles, and poem titles, as well as episodes of TV
programs (the name of the program is underlined).
1. At this time Justin will sing for us The Wind Beneath My Wings.
2. After that, Nikki will recite for us her poem Why Beethoven Decomposed.
3. Then Nichola will read her story entitled Don’t Send Roses.
4. However she would rather be at home watching Home Improvement.
5. What she should do instead of that is read the Newsweek article China Takeover, for
Current Events.
Rule 5: Use quotation marks to show that a word is being discussed in a special way, or
that it is slang, or that it is being used as the word itself apart from its meaning.
6. You have used the word thus too many times in this essay!
7. Where did the expression cool ever come from?
8. The term OK originated sometime around 1847 and now is used worldwide.
9. When Jason called me Your Majesty, I could tell he was being sarcastic.
10. In the ‘70’s, if something was really wonderful, you called it totally tubular.
Rules 4 and 5
11. What musical is the song Music of the Night from?
12. I’m writing a story for English class called Same to You and More of It!
13. Why has Mr. Brodis nicknamed me The Grim Reaper?
14. Please tell what is meant by the suffix ment.
15. I’m watching a TV documentary on Indians called Home of the Brave.
16. What is the difference between the terms nerd and geek ?
17. Why did you call me Jack the Ripper just then?
18. My favorite poem is called The Yippiuk.
19. I’ve been trying to look up the word fantasia in the dictionary, but it doesn’t seem to
be there.
20. My talk today is entitled, Manage Your Parents Before They Manage You !