Sentence Construction Practice

The main reason we learn grammar is to improve your writing! Read this handout on types of phrases.  (Links to an external site.)Notice the use of commas, and work on using a variety of phrases in your writing. Let's practice!

1- Write a simple sentence that starts with someone's name. This should have ONE independent clause. 

        For example: Sally brought peach pie for dessert. (Don't steal this one.)

2- Add an appositive phrase to your simple sentence. Don't forget to use commas! Refer to this handout Links to an external site.to see what this means.

    Ex: Sally, my favorite cousin, brought peach pie for dessert. 

3- Add any phrase that adds detail. 

    Ex: Sally, my favorite cousin, brought peach pie with brown sugar crumble for dessert. 

Your sentence should now be much more detailed and interesting!

One more time...

1- Write a sentence with a gerund phrase. (See handout.)

2- Add a prepositional phrase to your sentence. (See handout)

3- Add any phrase that adds detail. 

BOOM! Your sentence should be much more interesting. 

Be careful not to use commas incorrectly. For example, commas should not connect two INDEPENDENT clauses. This would make it a run-on sentence. Check out this PowerPoint Links to an external site. on run-ons and notice how to fix them. Below is an example of a run-on and three ways to fix it:

RUN-ON (COMMA SPLICE): Cafe Rio is my favorite restaurant, it has the best quesadillas.

Correct: Cafe Rio is my favorite restaurant; it has the best quesadillas.

Correct: Cafe Rio is my favorite restaurant. It has the best quesadillas.

Correct: Cafe Rio is my favorite restaurant because it has the best quesadillas. 

Correct: Cafe Rio, my favorite restaurant, has the best quesadillas.

     What do you think is the best way to write this sentence?

Now you try! Fix the below commas splice:

I don’t have work today, I’m going to sleep in. ​