Teaching sentence structure

WORD FOR PHRASE Use a phrase only when the single word will add neither additional information nor desired emphasis

Ordinarily say speedily, not with great speed; the red-brick house, not the house of red brick.

PRACTICE 8 Improving sentences.

A. For each general underlined noun substitute a more specific noun.

1. For dessert we had fruit and cake.

2. In the drawer there were four things

3. At the nursery Dad bought a tree, a shrub, and a flower

4. My brother has three unusual pets.

5. During gym one squad played one game; the second squad played an other

B. Using the suggestions for improving style, make the following sentences more vigorous and concise.

1. The puppy with the brown fur walked unsteadily along the hall

2. During our vacation in Arizona we enjoyed skies of blue and days with sun.

3. Mel was not a cowardly person, but he was very much afraid of injections.

4. In Holland the shoes of wood protect against the fields of mud

5. Modern very tall buildings often look like peaks of glass.

WORD WITH DOUBLE ROLES Some words perform two jobs at the same time.

Have you ever seen my cousin's collection of seashells?

Cousin's plays a double role. It modifies collection like an adjective. It is modified by my like a noun. It performs both jobs at the same time. There are six common groups of words that play double roles.

1. The possessive noun acts like a noun and an adjective. It is diagramed like an adjective.

My young brother's laughter is a happy sound in our house. (Brother `s modifies laughter: my and young modify brother's.).

2. The possessive pronoun acts like a pronoun and an adjective. It is diagramed like an adjective. These are common possessive pronouns: my, our, ours, his-before a noun-her, its, and their.

The old soldiers took off their hats as the flag went by. (Their modifies hats like an adjective; it has an antecedent, soldiers, like a pronoun)

3. The adverbial noun acts like a noun and an adverb. It is a diagramed like an adverbial prepositional phrase.

4. The participle acts like a verb and an adjective.

5. The gerund acts like a verb and a noun.

6. The infinitive acts like a verb and a noun, a verb and an adjective, or a verb and an adverb.

PRACTICE 9 Studying words of Double Function.

Which words in the following sentences play a double role? Explain.

1. My dad waited two years for his present job.

2. An old dog's loyalty is a priceless gift.

3. His father worked in a manufacturing plant.

4. On a quiet Saturday Mr. Parker can match two average days' output of work.

5. Ted fell seven feet from the top of the ladder but was unhurt.

OTHER PARTS OF THE SENTENCE

Every sentence has a back a backbone-the simple subject and the predicate verb. It may also have, as part of the backbone, a complement or completer of the verb. Five complements are the predicate adjective, the predicate noun, the predicate pronoun, the direct object, and the indirect object.

2.2 Subject Verb, Predicate Nominative

PREDICATE NOUN AND PREDICATE PRONOUN A predicate noun or predicate pronoun answer the question «Who?» or «What?» after a linking verb.

The predicate noun or predicate pronoun, except after a negative, means the same as the subject. (Predicate nouns and predicate pronouns are also called «predicate nominatives.»)

The area within five hundred miles of Kansas City is the tornado incubator of the United States. (Area=incubator)

A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other. - Samuel Johnson (fishing rod=stick)

Four of our first five Presidents were Virginians.

Virginians, the predicate noun, answers the question «What?» after the verb and means the same as the subject. The line slants toward the subject.

Certain verbs in the passive voice become linking verbs and may take predicate nouns or predicate pronouns.

Examples: are appoint, call, choose, consider, elect, name, and vote.

The Spanish colonies have been called the head quarters for a treasure hunt.

2.3 Subject, Verb, Predicate Adjective

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE A predicate adjective completes a linking verb and describes the subject.

Predicate adjectives are frequently used after forms of the verb be, become, grow, taste, seem, appear, look, feel, smell and sound.

The Zuni Indians of the New Mexico are famous for their rain dances. Because of the Indian drums the settlers grew more and more uneasy.

The predicate adjective uneasy completes the predicate and describes the subject. The conjunction and joins the two adverbs more and more.

Not every adjective in the predicate is a predicate adjective.

Our coach is a keen student of baseball (Keen modifies the predicate noun student and is not a predicate adjective.)

ADJECTIVE POSITION Most adjectives readily fit into three common positions in the sentence.

Normal position: An English chemist provided the first funds for the Smithsonian Institution. (The italicized adjectives precede the nouns they modify.)

Predicate position: The Smithsonian Institution is unique in the diversity of its collections (the italicized adjective follows the linking verb see)

Appositive position: Its American gold-coin collection, outstanding for its completeness, fascinates many visitors.

PRACTICE 10 Using Complements in Sentences.

Put each of the following verbs into a sentence with a predicate adjective, a predicate noun, or a predicate pronoun, Label each complement p.a., p.n., or p.pr.

am became looks tasted were elected

is felt smells has been appointed was named

will be grew sounded are considered were voted

2.4 Subject, Verb, Object

The direct object answers the question «Who?» or «What?» after an action verb.

Samuel Slater introduced the cotton mill to the United States. (Introduced what? Cotton mill.)

Like the English mill owners, Slater employed children in his factory. (Employed whom? Children.)

1. For his workers he built the first Sunday school in New England.

Sunday School, the direct object, is separated from the verb by a short vertical line.

2. The course of study included reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion.

Notice the compound direct object on horizontal lines.

PRACTICE 11 Recognizing Other Parts of the Sentence.

Diagram the following sentences.

OR Copy following sentences, skipping every other line. Underline the simple or compound subject once and every predicate verb twice. Put parentheses around prepositional phrases. Write p.a. (predicate adjective), p, n.) Predicate noun), d.o. (direct object) above every word used in one of these ways.

(In 1900) an obscure writer created a work (of lasting fame).

THE WIZARD OF OZ

A. 1. (After failures in several different fields,) L. Frank Baum wrote. The Wizard of Oz.

B. 1. Twice Baum announced the end (of the series)

2.5 Subject Verb, Indirect Object, Direct Object

When a direct object (answering the question «What?» or «Whom?») is used, an indirect object is sometimes used also, answering the question «To whom?» or «For whom?».

The indirect object usually comes between the verb and the direct object. Placing to or for before an indirect object does not usually change the sense.

The Scarecrow gave Dorothy directions. (Gave to whom? Dorothy.)

Dad built me a pigeon coop. (Build for? Me)

At the statue of Emmeline Labiche, Aunt Sally told Shirley and me the legend of Evangeline.

Shirley and me, the compound indirect object of told, are diagramed like the compound object of a preposition. Shirley and me answer the question «Told to whom?»

PRACTICE 12. Picking Out Direct and Indirect Objects

Read each sentence aloud. Identify direct and indirect objects.

WHAT'S IN NAME?

1. After an accident, John Smith dutifully offered the policeman his services as a witness.

2. «Tell me your name.»

3. Smith gave the officer his name.

4. The officer groaned. «Do me a favor. Give me your real name.

5. «I've told you the truth.»

6. After three futile tries Smith told the officer, Napoleon Bonaparte.»

7. «That's better,» said the policeman. «People have given me that Smith nonsense too often.»

PRACTICE 13 Using Direct and Indirect Objects Effectively

By using indirect objects and eliminating useless words, combine each pair of sentences into one good sentence.

Example: Yankee peddlers sold tin ware, pins, gingham, and ribbons. They sold these to housewives.

Yankee peddlers sold housewives tin ware pins, gingham, and ribbons.

1. Uncle Ted sent a carved chess set from the Black Forest. He sent it to me.

2. In shop I am making bookcase. I am making it for my brother.

3. Aunt Pauline wanted me to have a seed necklace. She sent it to me from Puerto Rico.

4. Send the directions. Please let me have them before Saturday.

5. Dad built three new birdhouses. He built them for the wrens.

6. Can you make a poster? Will you make one for us for Book Week?

PRACTICE 14. Using Direct and Indirect Objects in Sentences W

Select five of the following and in good sentences use each as a direct object and as an indirect object

Example: Sally and him

We invited Sally and him to the Bob Cummings Play at the summer playhouse. (Direct object)

We sent Sally and him tickets for the third row. (Indirect object)

him them her and her friend

her him and Sandy my sister and him

us her and him her and Alice

me Mother and me her and me

APPOSITIVE An appositive is a word or expression which explains the noun or pronoun it follows and names the same person, place, or thing.

Baseball, a popular American game, developed from One Old Cat, a favorite in colonial times. (Baseball= game; One Old Cat=Favorite)

An appositive and a predicate noun are similar. The difference is that a verb connects the subject and the predicate noun, while an appositive follows a word directly and is generally set off by commas.

Appositive: The Homestake, this country's largest gold mine, is in Lead, South Dakota.

Predicate noun: The Homestake is this country's largest gold mine.

Bloody Basin, the locate of several Zane Grey novels, is still a primitive area.

Locale is in apposition with Bloody Basin. An appositive is placed after the word it explains and is enclosed in parentheses. The and of several Zane Grey novels modify locale.

ADVERBIAL NOUN Nouns which indicate distance, time, weight, or value are often used as adverbs.

The ill-fated Shenandoah was almost three city blocks long. (How 25000 long? Blocks.)

Before its crash in 1925 this famous dirigible had flown 25,000 miles. (How much? Miles.)

1. Last Summer Paul, Chris, and I rode a mule-drawn barge on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Summer, a noun used as an adverb, modified the verb rode. It is diagramed like the object of a preposition.

2. The square, wooden houses of prosperous New England sea captains were usually three stories high.

Stories, a noun used as an adverb, modify the predicate adjective high.

PRACTICE 15. Identifying Parts of the Simple Sentence

Diagram the following sentences.

OR Copy the following sentences, Skipping every other line. Underline every simple or compound subject once and every predicate verb twice. Enclose every prepositional phrase in parentheses. Identify all forms listed below. Write the abbreviation above the word.

p.a.-predicate i.o.-indirect adjective

p.n.-predicate noun o.p.-object of preposition

p.pr.-predicate pronoun ap.-appositive

d.o.-direct object a.n.-adverbial noun

HE FIGHT FOR PURE FOODS AND DRUGS

A. 1. The medicine man is a stock character (in many Western movies and novels)

2. (According to the salesman) his «snake oil» could cure any ailment.

3. His comical behavior has given modern movie-goers many laughs.

4. (In a serious vein) he symbolizes the lack (of protection) (for the citizens) (of yesterday)

5. Lack (of uniform legislation) and inadequate protection endangered the heals (of all Americans) sixty years ago.

6. Foods and drugs were not regulated (for the welfare) (of all)

7. Sellers (of medicines) made impossible claims.

8. Foods were packaged (under unsanitary conditions.)

9. Weights were dishonest.

10. Narcotics (in medicines) caused drug addiction.

B. 1. Expensive foods were adulterated (with cheaper substitutes)

2. (For proof) (of the genuineness) (of his product) one manufacturer put a dead bee (in every jar) (of artificial «honey»)

3. Harmful chemical preservatives were indiscriminately added (to foods)

4. Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, chief chemist (of the Department of Agriculture), was a crusader (for regulation)

5. His stand was un popular (with many groups) (of people)

6. Each year new opponents attacked Dr. Wiley.

7. He had a powerful ally, President Theodore Roosevelt.

8. (After many difficulties) a bill was passed and was sent (To the President)

9. (In 1906) the bill became a low and opened a new era (in public health)

10. (IN 1956) (on the fiftieth anniversary) (of the law's passage) Dr. Wiley's portrait was placed (on a commemorative stamp)

MASTERY TEST 1B Parts of the Simple Sentence

MEDIAN 16.8

Copy the italicized words s a column and number them 1 to 25. Then, using the following abbreviations, indicate the use in the sentence of each word. Write the abbreviations in a column to the right of the words.

s.s.-simple subject d.o.-direct object

v.-verb i.o.-indirect object

p.a.-predicate adjective o.p.-object of preposition

p.n.-predicate noun ap.-appositive

p.pr.-predicate pronoun a.n.-adverbial noun

1. The chief source of lead is galena, a gray mineral.

2. Were elephants ever native to America?

3. The next week Ralph, an excellent pitcher, became a member of the team.

4. Is that frisky hamster a pet of yours?

5. A few minutes later the sky was growing red and purple and just a little darker.

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