4.20.B* 4.20.C*

Forming Sentences 4th Grade

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 4.20.B*
use the complete subject and the complete predicate in a sentence; and
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 4.20.C*
use complete simple and compound sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.

Complete sentences: Complete sentences have at least one subject and one verb and form a complete thought.

SIMPLE VS COMPLETE SUBJECT

The simple subject is the noun or pronoun that a sentence is about. The simple subject performs the action or state of being of the verb.

The complete subject includes the simple subject, as well as all descriptive words and phrases that tell who or what the sentence is about. This includes adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases.

Example:

The simple subject is lumberjack.

The complete subject of the sentence is The burly lumberjack with the handlebar mustache.

SIMPLE VS COMPLETE PREDICATE

The simple predicate is the main verb. The main verb shows action or being in a sentence.

The complete predicate includes the simple predicate, or verb, and all descriptive words that tell what happened in a sentence. This includes adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases.

Example:

The simple predicate, or verb, is floated.

The complete predicate is floated gently over the yellow daffodil.

Sometimes the complete predicate in a sentence is split up.

Are you going to the store after soccer practice today?

Are you going to the store after soccer practice today?

Change a question into a statement to more easily see the complete predicate:

You are going to the store after soccer practice today.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Subjects and verbs must agree with each other in sentences.

Singular subjects go with singular verbs, and plural subjects go with plural verbs.

Example:

The subject of the sentence, "invention," is singular, so the singular verb, "astounds," is used.

The new inventions astound the crowd at the convention.

The subject of the sentence, "inventions," is plural, so the plural verb, "astound," is used.

Subjects and verbs agree differently in different times.

Example:

The verb, is, is used with singular subjects.

Last week's newspaper is on the front porch.
The writer is currently trying to meet the deadline for his book.

The verb, am, is used when the pronoun, I, is the subject.

I am going to the beach with my grandparents.
Right now, I am in the fourth grade.

The verb, are, is used with plural subjects and the pronoun, you.

The ovens at the store are all on sale right now.
You are going to be sick if you keep eating so quickly.

Example:

The verb, was, is used with singular subjects.

The flash of lightning was the only thing we saw.
She was finally finished with the chapter book from the library.

The verb, were, is used with plural subjects and the pronoun, you.

The days were growing longer as it got colder.
You were swimming faster than anyone else at the pool.

Simple sentence: A simple sentence has at least one subject and one verb and expresses one complete thought. This is also known as an independent clause.

Example:

The regal horse trotted daintily around the fenced area.

The subject of the sentence is horse, and the verb is trotted.

Miss Fisher and Mr. Robinson will show you to your room and answer all your questions.

Simple sentences can sometimes have more than one subject or verb.

The compound subject of the sentence is Miss Fisher and Mr. Robinson, while the verbs in the sentence are will show and answer.

Compound sentence: A compound sentence is a sentence made up of two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

Example:

Darlene finished all of her math homework yesterday, but she still needs to do her reading homework.

The first independent clause is Darlene finished all her math homework yesterday.

The second independent clause is she still needs to do her reading homework.

They are connected by a comma and the coordinating conjunction, but.

Is Angeline still coming over tonight, or did she decide to go home instead?

The first independent clause is Is Angeline still coming over tonight.

The second independent clause is did she decide to go home instead?

They are connected by a comma and the coordinating conjunction, or.

Forming Sentences

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 4.20.B*

use the complete subject and the complete predicate in a sentence; and

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 4.20.C*

use complete simple and compound sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.

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