ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

IDI-228

UNIT I: The Sentence

-In each of these sentences, the subject (the who or what word) is missing. Fill in
your own subject to make the sentence complete.
EXAMPLE: A (n/) fox dashed across the road.

1- The skater dashed across the ice.

2- The student was eager to begin the semester
3- Because of the crowd, the entertainer slipped out unnoticed.
4- For years, clothes piled up in the back of the closet.
5- The slinky black dress looked wonderful on Sheila.
6- papers and pencils were scattered all over the doctor's desk.
7- The dog believed that his owner would return someday.
8- The discotheque was in bad shape. The roof was falling in, and the
tables were all broken.

-Circle the complete subjects in these sentences. REMEMBER: The complete

subject includes the who or what word (the noun or pronoun) and any words that
describe it.
EXAMPLE: The typist became a millionaire.

(1) Bette Nesmith was a good secretary. (2) However, employers constantly
complained about her messy typing. (3) One day, the young office worker had an
inspired idea. (4) She covered her typing errors with dots of white paint. (5) Soon
other secretaries wanted to try her method. (6) Bette's kitchen became a small
factory. (7) A local chemistry teacher helped her improve the formula.
(8) Her son bottled the new product in the garage. (9) Quickly, orders began
pouring in. (10) By 1980, six hundred people worked for the company, Liquid
Paper.

-In these sentences, the subject has been omitted. You must decide where it
belongs and fill in a subject (a who or what word) that makes sense. (You may
have to fill in more than one
subject in a sentence.)
EXAMPLE: Raced down the street
My friend raced down the street.

1. Trained day and night for the big-event.

The wrestler trained day and night for the big-event.

2. Always talks about his childhood after he sees- his sister.

Michael always talks about his childhood after he sees- his sister.
3. Landed in the corn field.
The plane landed in the corn field

4. After the show, applauded and screamed for fifteen minutes.

After the show, the crowd applauded and screamed for fifteen minutes

5: Got out of the large gray van.

the singer got out of the large gray van.

-Here is a list of possible subjects of sentences. If the subject is singular, put a

check in the Singular column; if the subject is plural, put a check in the Plural
column.
⇩ ⇩
Possible Subjects Singular (one) Plural (more than one)
Our cousins X
A saxophone and a X
trumpet
Horace X
Their trophy X
Women X
A rock star and her band
His three pickup trucks X
Pecan pie X

-Circle the complete subjects in these sentences. Then, in the space at the right,
write S if the subject is singular or P if the subject is plural.
EXAMPLE: Spike Lee inspired a new generation
of African-American filmmakers. S .

1. Lee's first it was She's gotta have It in 1986. S

2. Many African-American moviemakers have had success since then. P .

3.These young artists write, direct, and even act in their own movies. P .

4. Often their goal is to combine exciting entertainment with a social message. S ,

5 John Singleton wrote and directed the acclaimed Boyz N the Hood at age twenty-
three. S .

6. Poetic Justice and Higher Learning followed soon after. P .

7. Reading turned another young man into a filmmaker. S .

8. At nineteen, Matty Rich made Straight Out of Brooklyn, after studying more than 250
film books! S .

9. The talented Hudlin brothers produced House Party, Boomerang, and Bebe's
Kids. P .

10. Reginald Hudlin later directed The Great White Hype, a popular satire on the
world of boxing. S .

-The object of a preposition cannot be the subject of a sentence. Therefore,

crossing out prepositional phrases can help you find the real subject.

(1) On summer evenings, girls in white dresses stroll under the trees.
(2) On summer evenings, girls in white dresses stroll under the trees.
(3) From dawn to dusk, we hiked.
(4) The president of the college will speak tonight.

In sentence (1), you may have trouble spotting the subject. However, once the
prepositional phrases are crossed out in (2), the subject, girls, is easy to see.

Cross out the prepositional phrase in sentence (3). What is the subject of the
sentence? We

Cross out the prepositional phrase in sentence (4). What is the subject of the
sentence? The president

Cross out the prepositional phrase or phrases in each sentence. Then circle the
subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE: (Millions of people walk on the Appalachian Trail each year).

1. That famous trail stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount

Katahdin in Maine.
2. One quarter of the trail goes through Virginia.
3. The majority of walkers hike for one day.
4. Of the four million trail users, two hundred people will hike the entire trail every
year.
5. For most hikers, the trip through fourteen states takes four or five months.
6. In the spring, many hardy souls begin their 2,158 mile-long journey.
7. These lovers of the wilderness must reach Mount Katahdin before winter.
8. On the trail, men and women battle heat, humidity, bugs, blisters, muscle
sprains, and food and water shortages.
9. After beautiful-green scenery, the path becomes rocky and mountainous
10. Hikers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire struggle against high winds
11. A pebble from Georgia is sometimes added to the pile of stones at the top of
Mount Katahdin.
12. At the bottom of the mountain, the conquerors of the Appalachian Trail add
their names to the list of successful hikers.

-All of the following are fragments; they lack a subject, a verb, or both. Add a
subject, a verb, or both in order to make the fragments into sentences.

Example: Raising onions in the backyard.

Rewrite: Charles was raising onions in the backyard.
1. Laughed loudly at the antics of the clown.
Rewrite: the boy laughed loudly at the antics of the clown
2. Melts easily.
Rewrite: the candle melts easily
3. The two-year-old in the red overalls.
Rewrite: The two-year-old, in the red overalls, was dancing to the song
4. One of the fans.
Rewrite: One of the fans ran into the football field.
5. Manages a Software City store.
Rewrite: the engineer manages a software city store.
6. The tip of her nose.
Rewrite: The tip of her nose was covered in dirt.
7. A VCR with remote control.
Rewrite: Peter has a VCR with remote control
8. Makes me nervous.
Rewrite: The Doctor makes me nervous
9, Tuition and fees
Rewrite: Tuition and fees caused the student to go into debt
10. A person who likes to take risks.
Rewrite: a person who likes to take risks is so adventurous

-Complete each verb in order to make these fragments into sentences.

Example: The children grown taller this year.
Rewrite: The children have grown taller this year
1. The Australian winning the tennis match.
Rewrite: The Australian is winning the tennis match.
2. My friends gone to a dude ranch.
Rewrite: My friends had gone to a dude ranch.
3. Steve's letter published in the Miami Herald.
Rewrite: Steve´s letter was published in the Miami Herald.
4. My physics professor always forgetting the assignment.
Rewrite: My physics professor is always forgetting the assignment.
5. These shirts made in Korea.
Rewrite: These shirts were made in Korea.
6. For two years, Joan working at a computer.
Rewrite: For two years, Joan has been working at a computer.
7. You ever been to San Francisco?
Rewrite: Have you ever been to San Francisco.
8 Yesterday, Ed's wet gloves taken from the radiator.
Rewrite: Yesterday, Ed´s wet gloves were taken from the radiator.

-All of the following are fragments; they lack a subject, and they contain only a
partial verb. Make these fragments into sentences by adding a subject and by
completing the verb.
EXAMPLE: Written by Ray Bradbury
Rewrite: The science fiction thriller was written by Ray Bradbury

1. Forgotten the codeword.

Rewrite: The gamer has forgotten the codeword
2. Now running the copy center.
Rewrite: Now the professor is running the copy center.
3. Making sculpture from old car parts. center
Rewrite: Paul Landowski is making sculpture from old car parts.
4. Been working at the state capitol building
Rewrite: Sarah has been working the state capitol building.
5. Talking about the good old days.
Rewrite: My grandfather was talking about the old good days.
6. Driven that tractor for years.
Rewrite: The farmer has driven that tractor for years.
7. Broken the computer through carelessness.
Rewrite: The student had broken the computer through carelessness.
8. Been to a wrestling match.
Rewrite: My cousin has been to a wrestling match.

-Make these fragments into sentences by adding some idea that completes the
thought.
EXAMPLE:I miss my family, I am going home for the weekend.
1. As May stepped off the elevator, she tripped over a dog.
2. Whenever I vote, I think of the person that is best for everyone.
3: While Kimi studied chemistry, John was watching tv.
4. Because you believe in yourself, you’ll be a winner.
5. Although spiders scare most people, I love my pet spider.
6. Unless the surgery is absolutely necessary, Laura will not have it done.
7. If Ronald sings "True Colors" one more time, the crowd would be screaming.
8. Although these air conditioners are expensive to run, having it on a summer day
is nice.
-Make these fragments into sentences by completing the thought.
EXAMPLE: Kent, who is a good friend of mine, rarely writes to me
1. The horoscopes that appear in the daily papers aren’t true.
2. Couples who never argue are the best.
3. Robert, who is a superb pole-vaulter, injured his leg last week
4. Radio programs that ask listeners to call in are one of the most listening
programs.
5. A person who has overcome great loss cares deeply about others.
6. Potholes, which can cause accidents, are hard to get fixed
7. Doctors who spend a lot of time with their patients, are trying to figure out
what’s going on with their patients .
8. The video that we watched last night was so interesting.
9. A person who becomes upset easily should not be around children
10. A country that I have always wanted to visits is Ireland.

-To each fragment, add a subject, a verb, or whatever is required to complete the
thought.
1. Visiting the Vietnam Memorial.
Rewrite: My friend Jessica was visiting the Vietnam memorial.
2. That digital clock blinking for hours.
Rewrite: That digital clock was blinking for hours.
3. People who can't say no to their children.
Rewrite: Who can’t say no to their children are creating brats
4. Wanted to become a chiropractor.
Rewrite: Edward wanted to become a chiropractor
5. Over the roof and into the garden.
Rewrite: There was a lot of shade over the roof and into the garden.
6. Dave went to camp as a counselor, but back now.
Rewrite: Dave went to camp as a counselor, but back he is back now
7. Chess, which is a difficult game to play.
Rewrite: Chess, which is a difficult game to play is very strategic once you learn
the rules.
8. Whenever Dolly starts to yodel
Rewrite: Whenever Dolly starts to yodel, the kids cover their ears.