What are the 5 things that make a complete sentence?

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What’s an incomplete sentence?
Complete sentence examples and context
About This Article
This article can be found in the category:
What makes complete sentences?
What are the 4 requirements for a complete sentence?
What are 3 things a complete sentence?
What are 5 examples of sentence?

A complete sentence has to have a subject and a verb, and the verb has to be a "finite":

A sentence with its main verb in an -ing form will not be a complete sentence
*Marge swimming.
A sentence with its main verb in an infinitive form ("to" + verb) will not be a complete sentence.
*Homer to swim.

Complete sentences must be combined correctly if they are to continue to be complete sentences. The following methods will make two or more complete sentences into another complete sentence:

Use the coordinating conjunctions (connecting words) listed below with a comma.

Complete Sentence ,

and

but

for

nor

yet

Complete Sentence.

Use a semicolon between two complete sentences.

Complete Sentence

;

Complete Sentence.

Use the conjunctive adverbs (connecting words) listed below with a semicolon and a comma.

Complete Sentence ;

accordingly

also

besides

consequently

furthermore

however

moreover

nevertheless

otherwise

then

therefore

thus

still

, Complete Sentence.

Use subordinating conjunctions (connecting words) listed below, but remember, subordinating conjunction + Complete Sentence = Dependent Clause/Incomplete Sentence

Basic Sentence Patterns

1. "Simple Sentence" straight through

2. "Simple Sentence" linked with a semi-colon and transition

Subject + Predicate

;

Subject + Predicate.

3. "Simple Sentence" added info

Subject,

Added Information

, Predicate

4. "Simple Sentence" with series

Subject + Predicate

W, X, Y, and Z.

5. "Simple Sentence" with intro element

Introductory Element

Subject + Predicate.

6. "Compound Sentence"

Subject + Predicate,

and

but

for

nor

yet

Subject + Predicate.

6. "Complex Sentence" with a leading dependent clause

se the subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the first clause and use a comma:

After

AlthoughEven thoughThoughAs As ifAs thoughAs long asBecauseBeforeIf In order thatSo thatSinceSo (meaning so that)UnlessUntilWhateverWhenWheneverWhereWhereverWhether

While

Sentence ,

(without the subordinating conjunction this sentence would be a Complete Sentence; with the subordinating conjunction it is now a Dependent Clause)

Complete Sentence.

6. "Complex Sentence" with a following dependent clause

se the subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the second clause without a comma:

Complete Sentence

After

AlthoughEven thoughThoughAs As ifAs thoughAs long asBecauseBeforeIf In order thatSo thatSinceSo (meaning so that)UnlessUntilWhateverWhenWheneverWhereWhereverWhether

While

Sentence

(without the subordinating conjunction this sentence would be a Complete Sentence; with the subordinating conjunction it is now a Dependent Clause)

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Learning to write in complete sentences is a necessary skill. In order to fully understand the construction of a complete sentence, we need to define what a sentence actually is.

Sentences serve as a framework for people to clearly express their ideas in writing. There are several characteristics that must be met in order for a written thought to be considered a complete sentence. A complete sentence must: begin with a capital letter, end with a punctuation mark (period, question mark, or exclamation point), and contain at least one main clause. A main clause includes an independent subject and verb to express a complete thought.

As any English grammar teacher will tell you, a complete sentence has at least one main clause, or subject-verb pair. They’re a pair because they match. They match because, well, they work smoothly as a team. One half of the pair (the verb) expresses action or being, and the other half (the subject) is whatever or whoever does the action or exists in the state of being. Here are subject-verb pairs that match:

Eggworthy scrambled.

Ms. Drydock has repaired.

Just for comparison, here is one mismatch:

Eggworthy scrambling

When you’re texting or IMing (instant messaging), space is tight. Every character counts, including spaces. Therefore, many people opt for “sentences” that contain only verbs, when the meaning is clear. Check out this text: Went home. Fed cow. Cleaned barn.

Complete sentences may also include more than one subject-verb pair:

Dorothy fiddled while the orchestra pit burned. (Dorothy = subject of the verb fiddled, orchestra pit = subject of the verb burned)

Not only did George swim, but he also sipped the pool water. (George = subject of the verb did swim, he = subject of the verb sipped)

Complete sentences may also match one subject with more than one verb, and vice versa:

The lizard with a British accent appeared in three commercials but sang in only two. (lizard = subject of verbs appeared, sang)

Alice and Archie will fight endlessly over a single birdseed. (Alice, Archie = subjects of the verb will fight)

Complete sentences that give commands may match an understood subject (you) with the verb:

Visit Grandma, you little creep! (you-understood = subject of the verb visit)

What’s an incomplete sentence?

Simply put, an incomplete sentence is one that does not express a full thought (also referred to as sentence fragments which usually do not include both a subject and a verb). It’s the moment in the television show just before the last commercial. You know what I mean. The hero slowly edges the door open a few inches, peeks in, gasps, and . . . FADE TO DANCING DETERGENT BOTTLE. You were planning to change the channel, but instead you wait to see if the villain’s cobra is going to bite the hero’s nose. You haven’t gotten to the end, and you don’t know what’s happening.

A complete sentence is the opposite of that moment in a television show. You have gotten to the end, and you do know what’s happening. In other words, a complete sentence must express a complete thought.

Complete sentence examples and context

Check out these complete sentences. Notice how they express complete thoughts:

Despite Eggworthy’s fragile appearance, he proved to be a tough opponent.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to ride on top of a Zamboni.

Did Lola apply for a job as a Zamboni driver?

For comparison, here are a few incompletethoughts:

The reason I wanted a divorce was

Because I said so

Yes, in context those incomplete thoughts may indeed express a complete thought:

Sydney: So the topic of conversation was the Rangers’ season opener?

Alice: No! “The reason I wanted a divorce” was!

and

Sydney: Why do I have to do this dumb homework?

Alice: Because I said so.

Fair enough. You can pull a complete thought out of the examples. However, the context of a conversation is not enough to satisfy the complete thought/complete sentence rule. To be “legal,” your sentence must express a complete thought.

In deciding whether you have a complete sentence or not, you may be led astray by words that resemble questions. Consider these three words: who knits well. A complete thought? Maybe yes, maybe no. Suppose those three words form a question:

Who knits well?

This question is understandable and its thought is complete. Verdict: legal. Suppose these three words form a statement:

Who knits well.

Now they don’t make sense. This incomplete sentence needs more words to make a complete thought:

The honor of making Fido’s sweater will go to the person who knits well.

About This Article

This article can be found in the category:

Grammar & Vocabulary ,

What makes complete sentences?

Answer: It must have a subject and a predicate. An example of a simple, complete sentence is “She sleeps.” She is the subject; sleeps is the predicate. In this instance, the complete predicate is the verb sleeps.

What are the 4 requirements for a complete sentence?

The Complete Sentence.

First, it begins with a capital letter..

In addition, it includes an end mark—either a period ( . ), question mark ( ? ), or exclamation point ( ! )..

Most importantly, the complete sentence has at least one main clause. Each main clause contains a subject and a verb..

What are 3 things a complete sentence?

Within a sentence, there are three main parts that make up a sentence: the subject, the verb, and the complement. 1. Subject. The subject is either a noun or pronoun and answers the question "Who?" or “What?" before the verb.