When the naming part is missing
Read this.
“digs in the sand”
You know what happens. You do not know who does it. The naming part is missing, so this is not a sentence yet.
To fix it, add words that tell who or what.
“My brother digs in the sand.”
It has to make sense
Not just any naming part will do. The naming part and the telling part have to fit together.
Look at this group of words: “melts in the sun”
| Naming part | Does it fit? |
|---|---|
| The ice cream | Yes. Ice cream melts. |
| My shoes | No. Shoes do not melt. |
| The chair | No. Chairs do not melt. |
Before you pick, read the whole sentence back to yourself and see whether it could really happen.
Watch it work
Group of words: “barks at the mail truck”
What happens? Barking. Who barks? Not a cup. Not a song. A dog barks.
“My dog barks at the mail truck.”
Group of words: “float on the water”
What floats? Ducks can. Walls cannot.
“Six ducks float on the water.”
Do not forget the marks
Once the naming part is in place you have a sentence, so write it like one. Capital letter at the front. Period at the end.
Your turn
Add a naming part that makes sense. Write the whole sentence.
- “waits by the door”
- “fell out of the tree”
- “is too hot to eat”
Check your answers
Your naming parts may be different from these and still be right, as long as they make sense.
- “My cat waits by the door.”
- “Two apples fell out of the tree.”
- “The soup is too hot to eat.”
Remember
- A group of words with no naming part is not a sentence yet.
- Add words that tell who or what.
- Read it back and check that it could really happen.