Rule #1:
A noun is a person, place, thing or idea. A verb is an action word.
Example: The bird flew.
Rule #2:
A complete sentence must include a subject and a predicate.
Example: The angry bird flew quickly across the sky.
Rule #3:
The only exception to the above rules is the imperative sentence by a verb.
Example: Go away!
Rule #4:
Adjectives can go directly before the noun they describe, or after it, if separated by a verb.
Example:
- The angry bird flew.
- The bird is angry.
Rule #5:
A compound subject includes two or more simple subjects.
Example: The bird and the plane flew.
Rule #6:
A compound predicate includes tw0 or more predicates.
Example: The bird flew and sang.
Rule #7:
A compound sentence includes more than one subject or predicate.
Example: The bird sang and the plane flew.
Rule #8:
An independent clause consists of a subject and a predicate, like a complete sentence.
Example: The plane flew.
Rule #9:
A dependent clause cannot form a complete sentence without additional words.
Example: The plane flew when the bird sang.
Rule #10:
The direct object is the noun being acted on by the verb.
Example: The bird ate seeds.
Rule #11:
The indirect object is the noun which receives the direct object.
Example: The bird gave the seeds to me.
Rule #12:
When written in passive voice, the object of the verb becomes the subject of the sentence.
Example:
- The bird ate seeds.
- The seeds were eaten by the bird.
Rule #13:
Conjugations of the verb to be are essential to passive voice.
Example: The seeds are being eaten by the bird.
Rule #14:
Sentences written in passive voice can omit the subject of the acting verb.
Example: The seeds were eaten.
Rule #15:
In passive voice, the subject of the acting verb is connected by a prepositional phrase.
Example: The bird ate seeds after lunchtime.
Rule #16:
Prepositional phrases are sometimes separated by commas.
Example: The bird, which belonged to my mother, ate seeds.
Rule #17:
Adverbs function like prepositions.
Example: The bird ate seeds quickly.
Rule #18:
A subject complement describes the subject of the sentence.
Example: The bird is green.
