Complete sentences are essential to expressing ideas and communicating clearly. Professionals require complete sentences to make sales, provide guidance to employees and staff, and communicate with clients and customers. Students require complete sentences to share their thoughts and earn good grades. Complete sentences are especially necessary to write great essays, from book reports to college admission essays.
Five Parts of a Complete Sentence
- Capital letter
- Subject
- Predicate
- Complete thought
- Terminal Punctuation
Capital Letter
The first word of a complete sentence must start with a capital letter. Even if a sentence has the other four requirements: subject, predicate, complete thought, and terminal punctuation -- it still will not be a complete sentence without a capital letter at the very beginning.
Subject
The subject of a complete sentence is who or what the sentence is about. The subject performs the action, if there is any, in a sentence.
The subject of a sentence is always a noun or a pronoun, however, it is important to note that while the subject is always a noun or pronoun, a noun or pronoun is not always the subject. Nouns and pronouns can be direct objects, indirect objects, or the objects of a preposition.
Traditionally, although not always, the subject is the noun or pronoun closest to the beginning of the sentence.
Sentence fragments and incomplete sentences can lack subjects, as in the following examples:
- Went to the store.
- Drove very quickly.
- Under the stairs.
Predicate
The predicate of a complete sentence is the action or what is going on in the sentence.
The predicate of a sentence is always a verb, however, it is important to note that while the predicate is always a verb, every verb is not the predicate of a complete sentence. The predicate is the main action of the sentence.
Typically, predicates are simplified and explained as the action of a sentence, but it is important to keep the linking verbs in mind: am, are, is, was, were. Linking verbs can be the predicate of a complete sentence. When linking verbs are the predicate, the predicate can be more difficult to find.
Sentence fragments and incomplete sentences can lack predicates:
- The red car quickly.
- Great day today.
- Dress patterns neat and beautiful.
Complete Thought
A sentence is incomplete if it does not contain a complete thought.
"The car drove." is an example of an incomplete sentence because it does not contain a main idea. This example contains a subject - car, a predicate - drove, a capital letter, and terminal punctuation, but without the essential complete thought it is not a complete sentence.
A complete thought can also be thought of as a main idea or logical conclusion. The phrase "I want" begs the question, I want what? This sentence fragment, again, lacks a complete thought and is illogical.
Other examples of sentence fragments lacking complete thoughts:
- I gave him.
- She received the entire.
- Live like crazy.
Terminal Punctuation
A complete sentence is not complete without terminal punctuation.
There are three types of terminal punctuation:
- Period
- Question Mark
- Exclamation Point
Importance of Complete Sentences
Writing complete sentences and using complete sentences is important for earning good grades, expressing ideas, and communicating clearly.
Today's professionals rely more heavily on writing than in the past due to the increasing relevancy of e-mail. Complete sentences allow business people to maintain a professional demeanor when e-mailing colleagues, clients, and customers. Complete sentences are a crucial component of business writing.
Without complete sentences, students earn lower marks and may become frustrated when teachers, parents and friends don't understand the ideas they are trying to express. Complete sentences are absolutely necessary to earn good grades on book reports and essays. Complete sentences are also essential to crafting effective college admission essays.
From elementary school onward, knowing how to write a complete sentence is an essential academic, personal, and professional skill.
Tracey Carter - Tracey holds a B.A. in English from Hood College and is an avid reader, educator, blogger, and aspiring librarian.
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