When the telling part is missing
Read this.
“The tall green tree”
You know what the words are about. You never find out anything about it. The telling part is missing, so this is not a sentence yet.
To fix it, add words that tell what happens.
“The tall green tree fell.”
It has to make sense
The telling part has to fit the naming part. Read the whole sentence back and ask whether it could really happen.
Naming part: “The ice cream”
| Telling part | Does it fit? |
|---|---|
| melts in the sun | Yes. Ice cream melts. |
| barks at the truck | No. Ice cream cannot bark. |
| reads a book | No. Ice cream cannot read. |
Watch it work
Naming part: “My little sister”
What could a little sister do? Plenty of things. Any of them works as long as it is really a telling part.
“My little sister sings in the shower.”
Careful with words that only add more about the naming part. “with red hair” tells you which sister. It does not tell what happens, so it cannot be the telling part.
“My little sister with red hair” is still not a sentence, no matter how long it gets.
Do not forget the marks
Once the telling part is in place you have a sentence. Capital letter at the front. Period at the end.
Your turn
Add a telling part that makes sense. Write the whole sentence.
- “My best friend”
- “The three loud birds”
- “Six ducks”
Check your answers
Your telling parts may be different from these and still be right, as long as they make sense.
- “My best friend rides a bike.”
- “The three loud birds sat on the fence.”
- “Six ducks float on the pond.”
Remember
- A group of words with no telling part is not a sentence yet.
- Add words that tell what happens or what something is like.
- More words about the naming part will not fix it.