Anker Susan. Real Essays with Readings with 2009 MLA Update
Подождите немного. Документ загружается.
EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 22 • The Basic Sentence 387
Language Note: Any idea that ends with a period needs a subject
and a verb to be a complete sentence. For a review of subjects and
verbs, see pages 388–94.
If you aren’t sure about the order in which words in a sentence
usually appear, see Chapter 33.
PRACTICE 1 USING THE PARTS OF SPEECH
In the following sentences, fi ll in each blank with a word that is the part of
speech called for in parentheses after the blank. Note: Some verbs may be
in the past tense, and some verbs may use a helping verb such as is or was.
EXAMPLE: The
soccer
(adjective)
coach
(noun), a former
drill ser geant,
demanded
(verb) that
she
(pronoun)
arrive
promptly
(adverb)
for
(preposition) practice.
1. The young (noun), who was new (preposition)
the school, (verb) to join the debating (conjunc-
tion) fencing clubs.
2. (pronoun) dream (verb) to play the
–
(noun) (preposition) the (adjective) band.
3. The (noun) that (adverb) went by
– –
– –
(verb) it diffi cult for the hotel’s (adjective) customers to sleep.
4. The (adjective) (noun), a recent addition
–––– ––––
(preposition) the neighborhood, (verb) the freshest fruit
––– –––
(conjunction) vegetables that (pronoun) had ever
seen.
5. Shaking his head (adverb), (pronoun) looked up
and (verb) to get out (preposition) the car.
■ For answers to
odd-numbered prac-
tice items, see pages
A-1–A-19 at the back
of the book.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 387ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 387 10/29/08 10:15:16 AM10/29/08 10:15:16 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
388 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
The Basic Sentence
A sentence is the basic unit of written communication. A complete sen-
tence written in standard English must have three elements:
• A subject
• A verb
• A complete thought
To edit your writing, you need a clear understanding of what a sen-
tence is and what a sentence is not. You can fi nd out if a group of words
is a complete sentence by checking to see if it has a subject, a verb, and a
complete thought.
Subjects
The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that the sentence
is about. The subject of the sentence can be a noun (a word that names
the person, place, or thing) or a pronoun (a word that replaces the noun,
such as I, you, she, or they).
Language Note: English sentences always have a subject.
INCORRECT Is hot outside.
CORRECT It is hot outside.
If you write sentences without any subject, see page 582.
To fi nd the subject, ask yourself, “Who or what is the sentence about?”
PERSON AS SUBJECT Vivian works for the police department.
[Who is the sentence about? Vivian]
THING AS SUBJECT The tickets cost $65 apiece.
[What is the sentence about? The tickets]
Language Note: The two sentences above use the word the before
the noun (the police department, the tickets). The, a, and an are called
articles. If you have trouble deciding which article to use with which
nouns or if you often forget to use an article, see page 618.
■ For a list of
pronoun types, see
page 496.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 388ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 388 10/29/08 10:15:16 AM10/29/08 10:15:16 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 22 • The Basic Sentence 389
A compound subject consists of two (or more) subjects joined by
and, or, or nor.
TWO SUBJECTS Marty and Kim have a new baby girl.
SEVERAL SUBJECTS The jacket, pants, and sweater match perfectly.
SEVERAL SUBJECTS Kim, Juan, or Melba will bring dessert.
A prepositional phrase is a word group that begins with a prepo-
sition and ends with a noun or pronoun. A preposition is a word that
connects a noun, pronoun, or verb with some other information about it.
The subject of a sentence is never in a prepositional phrase.
Language Note: If you have trouble deciding which prepositions to
use, see page 622.
Preposition
The check is in the mail.
Prepositional phrase
The subject of the sentence is check. The subject can’t be the word mail,
which is in the prepositional phrase in the mail.
Preposition
One of my best friends is a circus clown.
Prepositional phrase
Although the word friends may seem to be the subject of the sentence, it
isn’t. One is the subject. The word friends can’t be the subject because it is
in the prepositional phrase of my best friends.
When you are looking for the subject of a sentence in your writing, it may
help to cross out any prepositional phrases, as in the following sentences.
The rules about smoking are posted everywhere.
The sound of lightning striking a tree is like gunfi re.
Many of the students work part-time.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 389ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 389 10/29/08 10:15:16 AM10/29/08 10:15:16 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
390 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
PRACTICE 2 IDENTIFYING SUBJECTS
AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
In each of the following sentences, cross out any prepositional phrases, and
underline the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE: For several months, Ronald has been raising a guide dog
for the blind.
1. Many other people around the country are raising guide dog puppies.
2. However, Ronald’s situation is unusual because he is in prison.
3. Ronald is participating in a program called Puppies Behind Bars.
4. The dog he is raising, a black Labrador puppy named Cooper, lives with
Ronald twenty-four hours a day.
5. Whenever Ronald’s cell is locked, Cooper stays in the cell with him.
6. In the cell, Ronald plays with the dog, rolling on the fl oor with him and
talking to him in a high voice.
Common Prepositions
about beneath like to
above beside near toward
across between next to under
after by of until
against down off up
along during on upon
among except out with
around for outside within
at from over without
before in past
behind inside since
below into through
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 390ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 390 10/29/08 10:15:16 AM10/29/08 10:15:16 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 22 • The Basic Sentence 391
7. Ronald teaches Cooper manners and obedience before the start of Cooper’s
formal guide dog training.
8. In return, Ronald gains a sense of responsibility.
9. When he fi nishes his formal training, Cooper will be matched with a blind
person.
10. Ronald believes that he and Cooper are contributing an important service
to society.
Verbs
Every sentence has a main verb, the word or words that tell what the sub-
ject does or that link the subject to another word that describes it. Verbs
do not always immediately follow the subject: Other words may come
between the subject and the verb.
There are three kinds of verbs — action verbs, linking verbs, and help-
ing verbs.
Language Note: Be careful with -ing and to forms of verbs
(reading, to read ).
INCORRECT Terence loves to be reading.
CORRECT Terence loves reading. or Terence loves to read.
If you make errors like this, see page 610.
Action Verbs
An action verb tells what action the subject performs.
To fi nd the main action verb in a sentence, ask yourself, “What action
does the subject perform?”
ACTION VERBS
The baby cried all night.
The building collapsed around midnight.
■ For more practice,
visit Exercise Central
at bedfordstmartins
.com/realessays.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 391ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 391 10/29/08 10:15:16 AM10/29/08 10:15:16 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
392 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
After work, we often go to Tallie’s.
My aunt and uncle train service dogs.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb connects (links) the subject to a word or group of words
that describe the subject. Linking verbs show no action. The most com-
mon linking verb is be, along with all its forms (am, is, are, and so on).
Other linking verbs, such as seem and become, can usually be replaced by
the corresponding form of be, and the sentence will still make sense.
To fi nd linking verbs, ask yourself, “What word joins the subject and
the words that describe the subject?”
LINKING VERBS
The dinner is delicious.
I felt great this morning.
This lasagna tastes just like my mother’s.
The doctor looks extremely tired.
Some words can be either action verbs or linking verbs, depending on
how they are used in a particular sentence.
ACTION VERB The dog smelled Jake’s shoes.
LINKING VERB The dog smelled terrible.
Common Linking Verbs
FORMS OF BECOME FORMS OF
FORMS OF BE AND SEEM SENSE VERBS
am become, becomes appear, appears
are became appeared
is seem, seems feel, feels, felt
was seemed look, looks
were looked
smell, smells
smelled
taste, tastes, tasted
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 392ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 392 10/29/08 10:15:17 AM10/29/08 10:15:17 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 22 • The Basic Sentence 393
Language Note: The verb be cannot be left out of sentences
in English.
INCORRECT Tonya well now.
CORRECT Tonya is well now.
Helping Verbs
A helping verb joins with the main verb in the sentence to form the com-
plete verb. The helping verb is often a form of the verb be, have, or do. A
sentence may have more than one helping verb along with the main verb.
Helping verb
+
Main verb
=
Complete verb
HELPING VERBS + MAIN VERBS
Sunil was talking on his cell phone.
[The helping verb is was, and the main verb is talking. The complete verb is was
talking.]
Charisse is taking three courses this semester.
Tomas has missed the last four meetings.
My brother might have passed the test.
Common Helping Verbs
FORMS OF BE FORMS OF HAVE FORMS OF DO OTHER
am have do can
are has does could
been had did may
being might
is must
was should
were will
would
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 393ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 393 10/29/08 10:15:17 AM10/29/08 10:15:17 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
394 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
Language Note: The verb be cannot be left out of sentences in
English.
INCORRECT Greg studying tonight.
CORRECT Greg is studying tonight.
PRACTICE 3 IDENTIFYING THE VERB
(ACTION, LINKING, OR HELPING + MAIN)
In the following sentences, underline each subject and double-underline each
verb. Then, identify each verb as an action verb, a linking verb, or a helping
verb + a main verb.
EXAMPLE: At fi rst, Miguel did not want to attend his high school
reunion. helping verb + main verb
1. Miguel’s family moved to Ohio from Guatemala ten years ago.
2. He was the new kid at his high school that fall.
3. Miguel was learning English at that time.
4. The football players teased small, quiet boys like him.
5. After graduation, he was delighted to leave that part of his life behind.
6. Recently, the planning committee sent Miguel an invitation to his high
school reunion.
7. His original plan had been to throw the invitation in the trash.
8. Instead, he is going to the reunion to satisfy his curiosity.
9. His family is proud of Miguel’s college degree and his new career as a
graphic artist.
10. Perhaps some of the other students at the reunion will fi nally get to know
the real Miguel.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 394ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 394 10/29/08 10:15:17 AM10/29/08 10:15:17 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 22 • The Basic Sentence 395
Complete Thoughts
A complete thought is an idea that is expressed in a sentence and that
makes sense by itself, without other sentences. An incomplete thought
leaves readers wondering what’s going on.
INCOMPLETE THOUGHT as I was leaving [What’s going on?]
COMPLETE THOUGHT The phone rang as I was leaving.
INCOMPLETE THOUGHT the people selling the car [What’s going on?]
COMPLETE THOUGHT The people selling the car placed the ad.
To identify a complete thought, ask yourself, “Do I know what’s going on,
or do I have to ask a question to understand?”
INCOMPLETE THOUGHT in the apartment next door
[Do I know what’s going on, or do I have to ask a question to understand? You
would have to ask a question, so this is not a complete thought.]
COMPLETE THOUGHT Carlos lives in the apartment next door.
PRACTICE 4 IDENTIFYING COMPLETE THOUGHTS
Some of the following items contain complete thoughts, and others do not.
In the space to the left of each item, write either “C” for complete thought or
“I” for incomplete thought. If you write “I,” add words to make a sentence.
, he or she must return it in good condition.
EXAMPLE:
I
If someone wants to borrow the club’s bike.
/
^
1. Although some prefer classic rock.
2. Eager to see the movie from its beginning.
3. Richard’s late.
4. The arriving train.
5. There are apples.
6. Do not run.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 395ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 395 10/29/08 10:15:17 AM10/29/08 10:15:17 AM
EDITING ESSAYS
396 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
7. Playing loud music at a bus stop.
8. They’re right.
9. Even with too many people signed up for the softball team.
10. Instead of wearing a traditional tie.
Six Basic Sentence Patterns
In English, there are six basic sentence patterns, some of which you have
already worked with in this chapter. Although there are other patterns,
they build on these six.
1. Subject-Verb (S-V)
This is the most basic pattern, as you have already seen.
S V
Airplanes pollute.
2. Subject-Linking Verb-Noun (S-LV-N)
S LV N
Fuel is a pollutant.
3. Subject-Linking Verb-Adjective (S-LV-ADJ)
S LV ADJ
Travel seems cheap.
4. Subject-Verb-Adverb (S-V-ADV)
S V ADV
Pollution costs dearly.
ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 396ANK_47574_22_ch22_pp383-400 r5 ko.indd 396 10/29/08 10:15:17 AM10/29/08 10:15:17 AM