A simple declarative sentence is the building block of all composition.
Simple Sentence Maps, Sample Set 2.
Monday, February 6, 2017.
Mr. Putter wanted a cat.
1. There isn’t a preposition.
2. Find the verb and put a red heart around it. The finite verb is the heart of every clause (sentence). (A finite verb has properties expressed such as tense.)
3. Now find the subject of the verb by asking: Who / What wanted? The answer is the subject; underline it with green. (Notice the period used with the abbreviation Mr.; notice the capitalization of a proper noun/name.) Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate.
4. Ask “Wanted what / whom?” The answer (cat) is the direct object of the verb, receiving the action of the verb. Put a D.O. above cat.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017.
Mr. Putter went to the pet store.
1. Find preposition and circle it; then loop around its object to form a pin (safety pin). Use blue, our linking color.
2. Find the verb and put a red heart around it. The finite verb is the heart of every clause (sentence). (A finite verb has properties expressed such as tense.)
3. Now find the subject of the verb by asking: Who / What went? The answer is the subject; underline it with green. (Notice the period used with the abbreviation Mr.; notice the capitalization of a proper noun/name.) Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate.
4. Ask the modifier questions– and mark with arrows.
Find the adverbial modifiers for went: Went where? (when, how, why)
Find the adjectival modifiers for store: What kind of a store?
Quick notes about prepositions.
A preposition will always have an object; in fact, it must have an object to be a preposition.
The function of the preposition is to join its object to something else in the sentence.
The object of the preposition will be a noun or pronoun or something functioning as a noun and is the final word in the prepositional phrase.
The prepositional phrase can be called an adverb phrase if it answers an adverb question (How? When? Where? Why?) or an adjective phrase if it answers an adjective question (Which one? What kind of… ?).
Wednesday, February 8, 2017.
Tabby loved Mr. Putter’s tulips.
1. No prepositions.
2. Find the verb and put a red heart around it. The finite verb is the heart of every clause (sentence). (A finite verb has properties expressed such as tense.)
3. Now find the subject of the verb by asking: Who / What loved? The answer is the subject; underline it with green. Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate.
4. Ask “Loved what / whom?” The answer (tulips) is the direct object of the verb, receiving the action of the verb. Put a D.O. above tulips.
4. Ask the modifier questions– and mark with arrows.
Find the adjectival modifiers for tulips: Which tulips? (Mr. Putter’s, notice the possessive form; notice the period used with the abbreviation Mr.; notice the capitalization of a proper noun/name.)
Quick notes about possessive forms.
“Mr. Putter’s tulips” means the same thing as “Mr. Putter has tulips.” You can think of the ‘s as holding the meaning “has” (have).
Thursday, February 9, 2017.
Tabby ate hers with cream cheese.
1. Find preposition and circle it; then loop around its object to form a pin (safety pin). Use blue, our linking color.
2. Find the verb and put a red heart around it. The finite verb is the heart of every clause (sentence). (A finite verb has properties expressed such as tense.)
3. Now find the subject of the verb by asking: Who / What ate? The answer is the subject; underline it with green. Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate.
4. Ask “Ate what / whom?” The answer (hers) is the direct object of the verb, receiving the action of the verb. Put a D.O. above hers. Hers is a personal possessive pronoun. To fully understand this sentence, you must read the prior sentences to find the antecedent of hers. (I’ve provided a copy of the text below.)
4. Ask the modifier questions– and mark with arrows.
Find the adverbial modifiers for ate: Ate (when, where, why) how? (with cream cheese)
Context of the sentence (the way it appears in the book).
“In the mornings
Mr. Putter and Tabby liked to share
an English muffin.
Mr. Putter ate his with jam.
Tabby ate hers with cream cheese.”
Quick notes on compound words.
Compound nouns take one of three forms: closed, such as mailbox; hyphenated, such as merry-go-round; open, such as ice cream. A compound word is made up of two words that retain their meaning and are of equal importance in the meaning of the new word created.
Sentences are from Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant
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