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Sentence Structure5th Grade |
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Florida - Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking: ELA.5.C.3.1 |
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Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level |
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5th Grade Writing - Sentence Structure Lesson
Sentence Structure
Complete sentences always have a subject and a predicate.
- Simple Subject
A simple subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that is performing the action or state of being of the main verb.
Complete Subject
A complete subject of a sentence includes the simple subject and all the words that help describe it.
| Example: |
The man who delivered the roses works at the flower shop down the street.
The man who delivered the roses works at the flower shop down the street.
- Simple Predicate
The simple predicate of a sentence is the main verb of the sentence.
Complete Predicate
The complete predicate is the simple predicate, or main verb, and all of the words and phrases that help describe it.
| Example: |
The man who delivered the roses works at the flower shop down the street.
The man who delivered the roses works at the flower shop down the street.
A simple predicate always agrees with the simple subject.
| Example: |
The words of complete predicates are not always grouped together.
| Example: |
Are you and Jenna going to the swim meet on Saturday?
Are you and Jenna going to the swim meet on Saturday?
| To make it easier to identify the complete subject and predicate of a question, turn it into a statement. |
You and Jenna are going to the swim meet on Saturday.
You and Jenna are going to the swim meet on Saturday.
You and Jenna are going to the swim meet on Saturday.
Some sentences have more than one complete subject and predicate.
Compound sentences have two or more clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions like and, but, or, nor, for, yet, or so.
| Example: |
Freddy and Vernon went to the party, but they arrived very late.
Freddy and Vernon went to the party, but they arrived very late.
Freddy and Vernon went to the party, but they arrived very late.
Freddy and Vernon went to the party, but they arrived very late.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs in a sentence must agree.
Singular subjects agree with singular verbs, and plural subjects agree with plural verbs.
| Example: |
The cheerleader practices her jumps and lifts every day.
⚜ TIP #1: Many indefinite pronouns agree with singular verbs.
| Example: |
⚜ TIP #2: Collective nouns usually agree with singular verbs.
| Example: |
⚜ TIP #3: Know how to handle compound subjects.
Compound subjects are those that have more than one simple subject in a single clause or sentence.
- Compound subjects joined by and are plural. They agree with plural verbs.
- Compound subjects joined by or, nor, either/or, or neither/nor take verbs that agree with the subjects closest to the verbs.
| Example: |
Either Georgie or Bob is selling his bicycle.
Neither Bob nor his friends are selling their bicycles.
⚜ TIP #4: Know how to handle compound predicates.
Compound predicates have more than one main verb per subject in a clause or sentence.
- All the main verbs must agree with the subject of a clause or sentence.
| Example: |
⚜ TIP #5: The words "there" and "here" are never the subjects of sentences.
- When looking for the subject of a sentence that begins with Here or There, look right after the verb.
| Example: |
Sentence Structure Errors
⚜ ERROR #1: Sentence Fragments
Every sentence needs a subject and a verb that work together to make a complete thought. If either the subject or the verb is missing, the sentence is incomplete. It is a sentence fragment.
| Example: |
Who or what dominated the conversation?
| Example: |
What about the twins and their dog?
CORRECTION: The identical twins and their dog Jester sniffed out the clues.
⚜ ERROR #2: Run-on Sentences
Run-on sentences have two or more independent clauses that are not correctly connected by punctuation and/or conjunctions.
| Example: |
Sheila went outside in the blizzard she soon hurried back inside to the warmth of the lodge.
CORRECTION: Sheila went outside in the blizzard. She soon hurried back inside to the warmth of the lodge.
CORRECTION: Sheila went outside in the blizzard, but she soon hurried back inside to the warmth of the lodge.
⚜ ERROR #3: Comma Splices
Comma splices are a special type of run-on sentence. They have two or more
independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by only a comma.
| Example: |
The miniature horse was Joe's best friend, they went everywhere together.
CORRECTION: The miniature horse was Joe's best friend. They went everywhere together.
CORRECTION: The miniature horse was Joe's best friend, and they went everywhere together.
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