AP - Model Sentence 1

Now that you've completed Sentence Basics Lessons 1 to 5, let's put your skills to work modeling good sentence structure.

Click here for a video lesson explaining Model 1.

In Holden’s dream of becoming the catcher in the rye, he is creating, on an unconscious level, the ultimate fantasy symbol of his inability to cope with the evil in his world. (Model 1: Two introductory prepositional phrases)

To view a student sample of Model 1, click here for a video by Steve Bafaro, Saint John's '21.
For another student example, view this video by Rithik Reddy, Saint John's '21.

Click here for a link to a slide show with the rules for Model Sentences.

Credit for this Model Sentence goes to Mr. Vincent Vanston, originator of the Core Sentence writing program.

Sentence Basics: Nouns, Modifiers, Connectors (Lesson 2)

In the last lesson, we reviewed verbs. Now let's look at the other three main types of words that are used with verbs to form thoughts.

For a video version of this lesson, click here.

Nouns (and pronouns)

Nouns are words that name people, places, things, and ideas. Pronouns are stock words that replace nouns to help us avoid repetition.

Nouns (and pronouns) perform the verb’s action or receive something from the verb’s action, and a whole bunch of other things in a sentence, too.

Modifiers

A modifier is word that adds detail to a verb or noun (or pronoun). It changes a noun or verb or makes it more specific.

Example: Dress is a noun. If I want to refer to a specific dress and I say, "This red dress is my favorite." Red is a modifier.

Example: Run is a verb. If I want to say how someone ran, I might say, "Joe runs quickly." Quickly is a modifier.

Connectors

Connectors join words together to make pairs or lists or to show relationships between people, places, things, ideas, or actions.

There are many connectors, but two common types are conjunctions and prepositions.

Conjunctions join words and ideas (and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor, because, either…or, neither…nor, whether…or). To learn more about conjunctions, watch this short video from Schoolhouse Rocks.

Prepositions are short words that show relationships. Common prepositions are to, in, of, for, out, and on.

We’ll talk more about prepositions a little bit later.

Move on to Lesson 3