sentence elements (ALA)

compound sentences

A compound sentence has two independent clauses or sentences. The independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "for" and "but") or a semicolon. ex:She did not cheat on the test, for it was not the right thing to do. ex: 3rd- 6th http://examples.yourdictionary.com/compound-sentence-examples.html

subordinate clause

A group of words that has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a dependent clause. ex:A musicologist is a man "who can read music but can't hear it". grade:7th-8th http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/subordinate_clause.htm

subject-verb agreement

Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. ex:My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians. grade:3rd http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm

complete sentences

First, it begins with a capital letter. In addition, it includes an end mark—either a period [ . ], question mark [ ? ], or exclamation point [ ! ]. Most importantly, the complete sentence must contain at least one main clause. A main clause contains an independent subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. ex:A bumblebee flew into Peter's open mouth. grade: k http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/completesentence.htm

consistent tense

Generally, writers maintain one tense for the main discourse and indicate changes in time frame by changing tense relative to that primary tense, which is usually either simple past or simple present. Even apparently non-narrative writing should employ verb tenses consistently and clearly. General guideline: Do not shift from one tense to another if the time frame for each action or state is the same. ex:1. The instructor explains the diagram to students who "asked" questions during the lecture. Explains is present tense, referring to a current state; asked is past, but should be present (ask) because the students are currently continuing to ask questions during the lecture period. grade:7th-8th https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/04/

complete subject

It contains the simple subject - the noun that the whole sentence is about - but it also includes all of the words that modify that noun. Most often, the complete subject is the entire first part of a sentence. ex: 'The talented, feminine ballerinas gracefully leaped across the stage.' In this sentence, there are four words that make up the complete subject: the, talented, feminine, and ballerinas. The word 'ballerinas' is the simple subject, but the other three words modify, or describe, the ballerinas. grade:3rd http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/complete-subject-definition-examples-quiz.html

sentence modifiers

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide description in sentences. Modifiers allow writers to take the picture that they have in their heads and transfer it accurately to the heads of their readers. Essentially, modifiers breathe life into sentences. ex:Take a look at this "dead" sentence: Stephen dropped his fork. Now read what several well placed modifiers can do: Poor Stephen, who just wanted a quick meal to get through his three-hour biology lab, quickly dropped his fork on the cafeteria tray, gagging with disgust as a tarantula wiggled out of his cheese omelet, a sight requiring a year of therapy before Stephen could eat eggs again. grade:7th-8th http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/modifier.htm

antecedents

Often, an antecedent is the word, phrase, or clause that you replace with one of these third-person personal pronouns:he, him, his, himself she, her, hers, herself it, its, itself they, them, their, theirs, themselves ex:Adeline bit her lip. Adeline = antecedent; her = personal pronoun. grade:7th-8th http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/antecedent.htm

parallel structures

Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or." ex:Not Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle. Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle. grade:7th-8th https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/623/01/

main clause

a clause that can stand alone as a sentence, containing a subject and a predicate with a finite verb. ex:I was there when he arrived. grade:7th-8th http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/main+clause

complex sentence

contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence and makes a complete thought and a dependent clause can not stand alone, even though it has a subject and a verb. ex:Because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave. grade:7th-8th http://examples.yourdictionary.com/complex-sentence-examples.html

complete predicate

is the main verb (action) along with all of its modifiers. ex:The complete predicate has quotations in these sentences. Each of the seven contestants "will be flying to Los Angeles next week". grade: 3rd- 5th http://www.education.com/reference/article/complete-simple-predicates/

interrogative sentences

sentence that asks a question and uses a question mark : ex: "How can I do that?" grade:2nd http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/interrogative+sentence

declarative sentences

the kind of sentence that makes a statement or "declares" something. ex:"He eats yogurt." grade:2nd http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/declarative+sentence

simple sentences

the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a completed thought. ex:Joe waited for the train. "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb grade: k http://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/eng1001/sentences.htm

subject-verb inversion

the subject and the main verb switch positions, so the verb comes before the subject. ex: Never have I seen such a beautiful rose. grade: 1st http://www.grammaring.com/subject-verb-inversion

passive voice

the subject is acted upon ex: the boy was bitten by the dog. grade: 6th https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/03/

active voice

the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb. ex: The dog bit the boy grade:6th https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/01/