What is a Sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that has a subject (a noun), a verb, and a complete thought.  This same combination of words is an independent or main clause.  (Note:  Not all groups of words with a noun and a verb are sentences.)

In the sentences below, identify which ones are complete sentences (S) and those that are not (INC).

 _____ 1.  When Columbus left Spain with his three books.

_____ 2.  What he wanted to do most this summer.

_____ 3.  The ringing of the bells woke the whole village.

_____ 4.  Just before the beginning of the war.

_____ 5.  My father fought in Paris during World War II.

_____ 6.  The most important city in the Philippines.

_____ 7.  Keith hurried to the station to catch his train.

_____ 8.  Because we were tired after the journey.

_____ 9.  Grass, vegetables, and berries grow in the garden.

_____ 10.  We all celebrated the end of the war.

In the sentences below, underline the subjects of the sentences once and the verbs of the sentences twice.

_____ 1.  We drove the car to Florida.

_____ 2.  Our vacation lasted ten days.

_____ 3.  The resort prepared great meals.

_____ 4.  Every morning we swam in the ocean.

_____ 5.  My favorite meal was shrimp and mangoes.

_____ 6.  In the evenings we built a fire on the beach.

_____ 7.  My suitcase was filled with shells and postcards.

_____ 8.  Next year we will drive to California.