Simple Sentence Rules

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
 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.
 Example Set 2 (con’t)
S V
6. The chairman of the meeting left early.
S V
7. The chrome-plated motorcycles glistened in the
sun.
S V
8. The pioneers in our family fled from England.
S V
9. The dog’s buried bones rotted in the ground.
S V
10. Carol’s best china plate broke into a hundred
pieces.
 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
(remember Mr. Morton?)
 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.
 Example Set 3 (con’t)
S V
6. The old rickety wagon should not have been filled
to the top.
S V
7. The merry pied piper would have played a happy
tune.
S V
8. A stray sunbeam could have pierced the clouds.
S V
9. The paint on the old gray house was peeling.
S V
10. The peace treaty might have been signed today.
 Exceptions
V S
Down the street moved the bulls.
V
Will you go to the movies tonight?
S
 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.
 Example Set 4 (con’t)
V
S S
6. The old man and his black cat have lived long lives.
S S V
7. The station and its surrounding parking lot have
become dangerous after 9:00 pm.
S S S V
8. Arnie, Karen, and Ty went to buy a new van.
S S V
9. Peace and war are direct opposites.
S S V
10. Did Marty and Kathy travel 500 miles just to speak
at the conference?
 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.
 Example Set V con’t
V
S V
6. Did Jane call her father and tell him the news?
S V V
7. I miss my sister and want to see her again soon.
S V
8. Children should not be allowed to watch T.V. and should
V be encouraged to play.
V V
S
9. Will you sit by the sea and paint the ships?
S V V
10. The books were stacked on the floor and were ruined by
the flood.
 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
2. Kathy and her father do not like to play tennis
V
and hate to jog.
S S V
3. The Army and the Navy had a football game and
V
filled the stadium.
 Example Set VI con’t
S S V
4. The two boys and their fathers were sick and
V
did not attend the father-son banquet.
S S V
5. Parties and dances are usually fun and
V
can be thrilling.
S V
S
6. Cards and dice were used at the party and
V
have been scattered everywhere.
 Example Set VI con’t
S S V
7. Radio towers and tall buildings must have lights
V
and must be visible at night.
S V
S
8. Candles and flowers can brighten the table and
V
can make a guest feel special.
V
S S
9. Tape and string are needed to secure packages
V
and can be used for other things.
 Example Set VI con’t
S S
10. The graduates and their parents
V V
posed for pictures and celebrated with
a party.
 Simple Sentence formulas
1. S V
2. SS V
3. S VV
4. SS VV