What is a sentence?
A sentence is a group of words that tells a complete thought. A sentence names who or what the sentence is about and what is happening.
- The dog runs.
- I like apples.
- We read books.
If the words make sense all by themselves, they are probably a sentence.
What makes a sentence complete?
A complete sentence must have two important parts: a subject and a predicate.
- The cat sleeps.
- My friend is kind.
- We are playing.
The subject tells who or what. The predicate tells what the subject does or is.
Sentences must begin and end correctly
A sentence must begin with a capital letter and end with an end mark.
- She runs fast.
- Do you like ice cream?
- Watch out!
End marks include a period (.), a question mark (?), or an exclamation point (!).
Complete sentences vs. incomplete sentences
Some groups of words are not sentences because they do not tell a complete thought.
- Not a sentence: Running fast
- Sentence: The boy is running fast.
- Not a sentence: In the park
- Sentence: We play in the park.
If you feel like something is missing, the sentence may be incomplete.
How to check if a sentence is complete
You can ask yourself simple questions to see if the sentence is complete.
- Who or what is the sentence about?
- What is happening?
- Does it start with a capital letter?
- Does it end with an end mark?
Reading the sentence out loud can help you hear if it sounds complete.