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Lesson 4

Inverted Order in Sentences

In some sentences, the complete subject does not come before the complete predicate. In most sentences the subject comes before the predicate. Sometimes, as in interrogative sentences, part or all of the verb comes before the subject. This kind of sentence is said to be in inverted order. Study these examples. Has the detective solved the case? Is he an employee of the store? One helpful way to find the subject in sentences like these is to turn the question into a statement. The detective has solved the case. He is an employee of the store. Other kinds of inverted sentences begin with the complete predicate and end with the complete subject. These sentences can also be put into natural order to find their subjects. On a shelf above my desk are several models. Several models are on a shelf above my desk. Nearby is my dictionary. My dictionary is nearby. Sentences that begin with Here or There are often in inverted order. To find the subject, first find the verb. Then ask who or what is doing the action. Here comes my train. (What comes? train) There goes my allowance for the next month. (What goes? allowance)
Exercise A

Circle the simple subject in each sentence. 1. Near the stream in our pasture stands a huge tree. 2. Have you noticed its golden branches in the springtime? 4. Was Tom in the basement during that last storm?
Exercise B
Scott, Foresman and Company

3. There was mud all around it after the recent heavy rains.

Underline the simple subject once and the verb or verb phrase twice. Example: Did you see todays assignment? Answer: Did you see todays assignment? 1. Is your homework on the desk? 2. Did you get the assignment from Dan?
152 Grade Seven SkillBook, Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

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3. Is it difficult work? 4. Will you help me? 5. Do you want a snack? 6. Are the apples sweet and juicy? 7. Are they studying hard? 8. Can you discuss the assignment? 9. Have you finished already? 10. Have the others left?
Exercise C

Write S above the subject and V above the verb in each sentence below. Example: There are my grandparents. V S Answer: There are my grandparents. 1. Here is Uncle Chet in his sports car. 2. Here is a birthday present. 3. There are many other great gifts as well. 4. Here is my favorite one. 5. There is my second choice. 6. Here is my new baseball glove from Mom and Dad. 7. There is the baseball. 8. Here is the camera. 9. There are several pictures of the guests. 10. Here is the best one.
Exercise D

Underline the subject once and the verb twice in each sentence below.
Scott, Foresman and Company

Example: Into the hole jumped the rabbit. Answer: Into the hole jumped the rabbit. 1. Into the hall went my two cousins with their dog. 2. Under the shade trees sat my aunts and uncles. 3. Above them floated fat, puffy clouds. 4. Beyond the tree flowed the river. 5. Over the rocks gushed cool, clear water.

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Lesson 5

Sentence Fragments
A group of words punctuated like a sentence but not expressing a complete thought is called a sentence fragment. A sentence contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought. A sentence fragment is a group of words punctuated like a sentence but not expressing a complete thought. Sentence: The outfielder ran to the fence. Fragment: Caught the ball with ease. Some fragments can be corrected by adding words. Remember that a complete sentence must have a subject and a verb. Fragment: Corrected: V Arrived early this morning. S V The builder arrived early this morning.

Some fragments are parts broken off from complete sentences. To correct these, attach them to the sentences they belong with. You must also correct capitalization and punctuation. Sentence and fragment: Luis felt energized. After his workout. Corrected: Luis felt energized after his workout. Some fragments are more difficult to spot because they do contain a subject and verb. Fragments like these must also be corrected by attaching them to the sentences they belong with. Sentence and fragment: Emma received the vase. That Hal sent. Corrected: Emma received the vase that Hal sent.
Exercise A

Write how you would correct each fragment below. Example: Left the tools out at the end of the day. Answer: Add a subject.
Scott, Foresman and Company

1. No one touched the electrical tools. Because they had warned us not to.

2. Work on the kitchen went fast. Once the cabinets arrived. 3. Carpenters measure things carefully. To avoid mistakes. 4. Will be done by the end of next week.
Exercise B

Correct the sentence fragments on the next page. Attach each one to the sentence next to it. Change capitalization and punctuation as necessary.
154 Grade Seven SkillBook, Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics