What Makes a
Sentence?
The Sentence Jingle
 A sentence, sentence, sentence is
complete, complete, complete, when 5
simple rules, it meets, meets, meets. It has
a subject, subject, subject, and a verb, verb,
verb. It makes sense, sense, sense with
every word, word, word. Add a capital
letter, letter, and an end mark, mark. Now
we’re finished, and aren’t we smart! Now
our sentence has all its parts! REMEMBER:
subject, verb, complete sense, capital letter,
and an end mark, too. That’s what a
sentence is all about!
Rule 1: It has a Subject
 Where have you heard the word subject
before?
 In a sentence, a subject is the person or thing
(noun) that is doing something.

Ex 1: The cat caught the mouse.
In this sentence, the cat is the subject, because the cat
is doing the catching.

Yesterday morning Matt went for a run. In this sentence, Matt is the subject because he went
running.

5.LA.5.3.1 Identify complex sentences with subject and verb agreement.
Subject Practice




Try to find the subject in these sentences.
Frogs jump up and down.
The dog jumped off the Shuttlecraft.
The big lamp fell to the ground.
Subject Practice
 Let’s check your answers.
 Frogs jump up and down.
 The dog jumped off the Shuttlecraft.
 The big lamp fell to the ground.
Rule 2: It Has a Verb
(Predicate)

Remember, a verb is one of the eight parts of speech. When we put a
verb in a sentence, it is called a predicate. Action verbs are the easiest
types of predicates to locate.

The man ate a hot dog. In this sentence, ate is the verb/predicate.

Le Bron James shot a basket. Shot is the verb/predicate in this sentence.

Justin Bieber sings songs. The predicate in this sentence is sings.

5.LA.5.3.1 Identify complex sentences with subject and verb agreement.
Rule 2: It Has a Verb
(Predicate)
 Sometimes an action verb needs a little
help, and two words become the
predicate in a sentence. Here are
examples of sentences that have both a
helping and action verb making up a
predicate.
 The t.v. is sitting on a stand.
 The ducks are quaking really loudly.
Rule 2: It Has a Verb
(Predicate)
 The predicate in a sentence is not always an action verb.
Sometimes it is a linking verb. A linking verb does not show any
action. Here are some examples of sentences that have linking
verbs for predicates.
 The New York Giants are talented. In this sentence, are is the
predicate. The New York Giants are not doing anything, they are
simply “being.”
 Maxim is a nice guy. Is is the predicate in this sentence.
Predicate Practice
 Can you find the verbs/predicates in the
following sentences.
 The horse ran to the trough.
 Allie is reading a book.
 Tigers are ferocious.
Predicate Practice
Did you choose the following answers?
 The horse ran to the trough.
 Allie is reading a book.
 Tigers are ferocious.
Subjects and Predicates
 At times, you will be asked to find the simple or complete subject
and predicate. We have been finding simple subjects and simple
predicates so far in this lesson.
For example:
 The large cat ate a small mouse. In this sentence cat is the simple
subject and ate is the simple predicate.
 To find the complete predicate, underline the simple predicate and
everything that comes after it.
 The large cat ate a small mouse.
 Whatever is left over in your sentence is your complete subject.
 The large cat ate a small mouse
Complete Subjects
 Let’s find the complete subjects in these
sentences.
 The young actress Miley Cyrus has made a lot of money in a short
time.
 Last season Derek Jeter played for the New York Yankees.
 Double check to make sure your complete subject contains all the
words before the predicate.
Complete Predicates
 Let’s take the same sentences now and find the
complete predicates.
 The young actress Miley Cyrus has made a lot of
money in a short time.
 Last season Derek Jeter played for the New York
Yankees.
Rule #3: It makes sense!
 This is an easy rule. All you have to do is
make sure what you are writing or saying
makes sense!
Rule #4: Add a Capital
Letter
 This is another easy one. Make sure to capitalize all of
your sentences!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5.LA.5.4.1 Apply capitalization correctly in writing.
Rule #5: Add an End Mark

This is an EASY rule, but people often get in a hurry and forget to put an end mark
on their sentences.
 There are three types of end marks that can be used:
 A period (.)
 An exclamation mark (!)
 A question mark (?)

5.LA.5.4.2 Identify a colon to introduce a list and in a greeting. Identify quotation marks to punctuate dialogue. (see content limit)
Types of Sentences
 Depending on whether you use a period,
question mark, or exclamation point will
change what we call a sentence.

5.LA.5.3.1 Identify complex sentences with subject and verb agreement. (see content limit)
Exclamatory Sentences
 Perhaps the exclamatory sentence is the easiest to remember.
 When a sentence shows great excitement or shouting, you should
put an exclamation mark at the end of it. All sentences with
exclamation marks are called exclamatory sentences.
 Here are some examples of exclamatory sentences:
There is a snake in the bath tub!
Ouch! Tommy pulled my hair!
Tomorrow is my birthday, and I can’t wait!
Interrogative Sentences
 Interrogative sentences are also easy to identify, but perhaps hard
to say. There is a simple rule to identify these sentences. If
someone is asking a question, it is an interrogative sentence.
Here are some examples of interrogative sentences:
Will you buy me a grilled cheese sandwich?
Did you go to bed late last night?
Is the sky purple or orange?
Imperative Sentences
 It gets a little more tricky when trying to identify sentences that end
with a period. But have no fear! You can do it.
 Sentences that give a command, you know bossy sentences, are
called imperative sentences.
 Here are some examples of imperative sentences:
 Sit down and be quiet.
 Go to bed right now.
 Take out the trash when you get home from school.
Declarative Sentences
 Not all sentences that end in periods are considered imperative.
They can also be considered declarative sentences.
 Declarative sentences are sentences that simple tell you
information. They do not exclaim, ask a question, or give a
command.
 Here are some examples of declarative sentences:
 I like to drink diet coke and eat fries with fry sauce.
 Taylor Swift is a very successful singer.
 Fifth graders are good a writing sentences.
Types of Sentences
 Now it’s your turn to practice. What type of mark should you place
at the end of these sentences. What type of sentences are they?
 Orange is Miss Feely’s favorite color
 There is a shark in the water
 What subject does Mr. William’s teach
 Do not run in the halls
How did you do?
 Orange is Miss Feely’s favorite color. Declarative
 There is a shark in the water! Exclamatory
 What subject does Mr. William’s teach? Interrogative
 Do not run in the halls. Imperative
Put It All Together
 A sentence, sentence, sentence is
complete, complete, complete, when 5
simple rules, it meets, meets, meets. It has
a subject, subject, subject, and a verb, verb,
verb. It makes sense, sense, sense with
every word, word, word. Add a capital
letter, letter, and an end mark, mark. Now
we’re finished, and aren’t we smart! Now
our sentence has all its parts! REMEMBER:
subject, verb, complete sense, capital letter,
and an end mark, too. That’s what a
sentence is all about!
More Practice
 Subjects and Predicates:
 http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html
 Types of Sentences:
 http://www.quia.com/quiz/106467.html
Picture References
 http://blogs.federaltimes.com/federal-timesblog/2010/07/08/former-sec-lawyer-sues-lebron-james-for-4mclaims-hes-his-dad-wait-what/
 http://www.bsckids.com/2010/03/justin-bieber-on-the-view-twice/
 http://khairilhusni.blogmas.com/2009/11/10/taylor-swift-jump-thenfall-lyrics/
 http://www.bsckids.com/2010/05/miley-cyrus-promo-ofmuchmusic-video-awards-on-june-20th/
 http://www.zillow.com/blog/yankee-derek-jeter-building-hugemansion-in-tampa/2009/07/16/