DAY 1

SENTENCE
A sentence is made up of words and expresses a complete. In order to express
a complete thought, a sentence must contain a subject and a predicate.

The subject is the person, place, thing or idea doing or being something. The predicate
describes the subject. In the following examples, the subjects are italics while
predicates are not.

Julius Caesar conquered Gaul.

Magellan discovered Mactan.
He is ill.
Lindbergh was the first to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic.
Birds fly.

Our first rule in this book will guard you against using sentence fragments. A sentence
fragment is not a complete sentence. It lacks the subject or the predicate, or even both
the subject and the predicate.

Rule 1. For a sentence to express a complete thought, it must have a subject

and predicate.

Received your notice this morning. (Subject is missing).

Will first deposit check. (Subject is missing).
Hoping this meets your approval. (no subject or predicate)

Kinds of sentence
The sentence that makes a statement is called a declarative sentence. It ends in
a period.

We seem very close to a major discovery.

An interrogative sentence asks a question. It ends with a question mark. In such

a sentence, the predicate or part of predicate usually comes before the subject.

Where do you live?

An imperative sentence asks, requests, or commands someone to do something.

It ends either with a period or an exclamation point. In an imperative sentence, the
subject is usually left out and is understood to be you.

Clear the road at once! (You clear the road at once!).

 Please bring my book tomorrow.

An exclamatory sentence conveys a strong feeling or sudden emotion. It ends with

an exclamation point.

He is the thief!
That is wonderful!

Rule 2. If a noun in direct address is used in an imperative or interrogative

sentence, a comma to show
its independence separates it.

Niel , please bring my books tomorrow.

Niel is a noun in direct address because it names the person spoken to directly. It is not
the subject of the sentence. The subject on an imperative sentence is understood to be
you. The word Niel is separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma to show that
it is used independently. The noun in direct address can also be situated at the end or at
the middle of the sentence.

Please bring my books tomorrow, Niel.

Please come tomorrow, Niel, and bring my books.

A noun in direct address can also seen in an interrogative sentence.

Niel, did you bring my book?