Simple Sentence Rules

Susiyanti Rusyan
 What is a simple sentence?

A sentence that has one independent clause.

What is an independent clause?

A group of words that:

(1) Makes a complete statement

(2) Has a subject and a verb

 The subject of a sentence

• The subject is the

– Person
– Place Nouns
– Thing
– Quality or ideas
 Examples
• John went for a walk. (Person)
• Towns are quiet after a snow fall. (Place)
• Eggs roll on a counter. (Thing)
• Silence is golden. (Quality)
• Peace is at hand. (Idea)
 Verb

A verb is a word that shows the action or

state-of-being of the subject of the sentence.

Examples:
•Sally sneezed. (Physical action)
• John thinks. (Mental action)
•Jesse is my friend. (State of being)
Verb-Subject Identification Procedure
• Step 1: Look for the action or state-of-being
word to find the verb.
Example: Kevin reported the theft.
• Step 2: Ask yourself, “Who or what (verb)?” to
find the subject.
Example: Paula is an astronaut.
 Example set 1
S V
1. Jane went to the pool.
S V
2. Paul is a very nice guy.
S V
3. Cakes lined the store window.
S V
4. I love chocolate ice cream.
S V
5. Bikes are very expensive.
 Example Set 1 (con’t)
S V
6. Dad is strict.
S V
7. Bananas taste good.
S V
8. Kathy has a son named Jimmy.
S V
9. Raccoons raid our garbage cans every night.
S V
10. Flowers are in bloom everywhere.
 Noun Phrase
A noun phrase includes several nouns linked
together that are used in the subject.
The red delicious apple tastes good.

Noun phrase: red delicious apple

Subject: apple
Sentence Patterns
 Example Set 2
S V
1. The old gray mare limped down the lane.
S V
2. The silver-winged plane soared.
S V
3. Johnny’s baby sister cried for hours.
S V
4. The first three girls giggled.
S V
5. Fourteen good pilots died in the war.
 Verb Phrase
A verb phrase is a group of verbs that describe
one action.

Jim must have gone.

Verb Phrase: must have gone

Sometimes this is called the predicate
 Helping Verbs

am is may
are
might
can must
could
shall
do should
does
did was
be
has were
been will
have
had being would
 Example Set 3
S V
1. The bus must have gone by now.
S V
2. My best friend could not work tonight.
S V
3. The light green grapes have been eaten.
S V
4. The committee of environmentalists is working to solve
the smog problem.
S V
5. Steven’s aunt is not following her new diet.
 Compound Subject
A simple sentence may contain two or more
subjects.

S S
Example: Bill and Sue want to go to the movies.
 Example Set 4

S S V
1. Bill and Sue want to go to the movies.
S S V
2. Jason and his friends work together.
S S V
3. Are the car and truck parked outside?
S S V
4. The park and sidewalks were covered with snow.
S S V
5. Hiding and seeking are fun activities.
 Compound Verb
Just like subjects, sentences can have two or
more words that represent the action.

Jill ran and sang down the street.

 Example Set V

S V V
1. Sally swam and played all afternoon.
S V V
2. The dogs had barked all night and slept all day.
S V V
3. Michelle came home yesterday and did not work all day.
S V V
4. The basketball team rode on a bus and flew in a plane to attend the
game.
V
S V
5. The park is dark and spooky at night and can be delightful on sunny
days.
 Compound Subjects and Verbs
Some sentences have both a compound subject
and a compound verb.

What is a compound subject?

What is a compound verb?
 Example Set VI

S S V V
1. The ponies and calves scampered and played in the field.
S S V V
2. Kathy and her father do not like to play tennis and hate
to jog.
S S V V
3. The Army and the Navy had a football game and filled
the stadium.
 Simple Sentence formulas
1. S V
2. SS V
3. S VV
4. SS VV
 Cue card

• P Pick a formula.
• E Explore words to fit the formula.
• N Note the words.
• S Search and check your
sentence.