How to Structure a Sentence Properly

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If you have a point to make, using proper sentence structure and grammar will make your stance clearer.

Step 1: Choose a noun and a verb
A proper sentence contains a subject and a predicate that complete a thought.

Step 2: Choose a subject
Use a noun or pronoun as the subject – the person, place, or the thing doing the action. In the sentence "A cat ate dinner in the park," the cat is the subject.

Tip
In a command, a subject can be implied. For example, in the sentence "Sit down," "you" is the implied subject.

Step 3: Choose a predicate
Use a verb in the predicate of the sentence, describing the action. The predicate modifies the subject.

Tip
The verb can also express being or existence. For example, in the sentence "I am hungry," "am" is the verb.

Step 4: Distinguish between a dependent and independent clause
A sentence is an independent clause, but an independent clause is not a complete sentence. Make sure the thought is complete.

Did You Know?
In the early 17th century, writers used colons, semicolons, and commas interchangeably.