What are we trying to do when

we are writing descriptively?

WHAT DO WORDS DO?

Noun

A person, place, thing, or idea

NounsThe Theater

Mr. KHugeGrass

PronounA pronoun takes the place of a noun or another pronoun.

PronounsWriting

ItShe

They

AdjectiveA word that Describes a noun

AdjectivesBright

TeacherSoft

quick

Verb A word used to indicate

action or a state of being. 3 types of verbs:

Action VerbsLinking VerbsHelping Verbs

VerbsScreamLaughLoudly

sit

AdverbA word that describes a verb.

AdverbsspokeSlowly

Awkwardlysadly

What kind of words are most

important in descriptive

writing?

Verbs!!Powerful verbs!

Lightning fired his fiercest bolt straight at Shrek’s head. Shrek just gobbled it, belched some smoke, and grinned.

John Henry sang and he hammered and the air danced. The rainbow shimmered and Earth shook and rolled from the blows of the hammer.

He went to the store.

Went is booooring! Pick a better verb!

Skipped Hauled Tip-toed Galloped Bolted crawled

The mean teacher yelled, “What do you think your doing?”

Yelled is a boring verb.

How about: Roared Scolded Growled Spit

The whole class laughed at me. Try to find the right word, always!

Did they laugh, or: Giggle Crack up Squeal Roar Thunder Chuckle

What is the difference between action, linking, and helping verbs?

Action Verbs: Express action; something that a person, animal, thing can do. Run Laugh Jump Play Think Sleep

Linking Verbs

Do not show action. Connects the subject of the verb to

additional information about the subject Ex. Mr. K is a history buff.

Am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been, become, and seem.

Helping Verbs

Always appear with an action verb in a sentence. Ex. I had hoped to get an A in this class.

May, might, must Do, does, did Should, could, would Will, can, shall Have, had, has Am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been.

Interjection A word added to a sentence to convey

emotion.

Examples: Ouch, that hurt! Oh no, I forgot that the exam was today. Hey! Put that down!

Conjunction Links words, phrases, and clauses

Example: I ate the pizza and the pasta. Call the movers when you are ready.

Preposition A preposition links nouns, pronouns, and

phrases to other words in a sentence. Example:

The book is on the table. The book is beneath the table. The book is leaning against the table. The book is beside the table. She read the book during class.

Every Sentence Must have a…

Subject and a Predicate (Main verb)

SubjectWho or what the sentence is about.

Complete Subject: all words that tell who or what the sentence is about

Simple Subject: Main word in complete subject.

Find the complete subject and the simple subject:

The study of space travel has brought us many new inventions.

Complete subject: The study of space travel

Simple subject: study

PredicateTells about the subject.Complete predicate: all the words that state the action or condition of the subject.

Simple predicate: main Verb of the sentence

Find the complete and simple predicate in the following sentence:The study of space travel has brought us many new inventions.

Complete predicate: has brought us many new inventions.

Simple predicate: has brought.

Direct ObjectTells who or what receives the action of the verb.

Find the direct object in the following sentence:

The study of space travel has brought us many new inventions.

Direct Object: Inventions

Indirect objecttells to whom or for whom an action is done.

(to have an I.o., sentence must have a d.o.)

Find the Indirect object in the following sentence:

The study of space travel has brought us many new inventions.

Indirect Object: Us

Clause

A group of words containing a subject and a predicate

Independent Clause

A clause that expresses a complete thought

Can stand alone as a sentence. Ex. The weather is nice in spring.

Dependent Clause

A clause that does not express a complete thought. (fragment)

Has a subject and verb but relies on other words being added Ex. Before the trial ended. Ex. When I get home. Ex. Because we couldn’t find the theater.

Subordinating Conjunctions(signal dependent clauses)

After Although As Because Before If Since

Though Unless Until When Whenever Where Wherever

Coordinating Conjunctions

And But So Or For Yet Nor

Compound Sentence

A sentence containing at least two independent clauses Usually connected by the conjunctions:

and, but, so, or, for, yet

Ex. I like to dance, but Jim likes to sing.

Complex Sentence

A sentence containing an independent and a dependent clause.

Ex. When the fire alarm wailed, everyone left the building.

Ex. We went for a walk because the sun came out.

Simple Sentences

A sentence containing only one clause

What kind of clause do you think it needs to be?

INDEPENDENT!!! Now you’re getting it

What kind of sentence?

The book was heavy, but I could lift it easily. Everyone was feeling tired from the long night. Everyone left the building when the drill started. I studied all night because I knew the test would

be hard. The class came in and sat down quietly. When the coach called my name, I got off the

bench, and I went into the game. I was very nervous, yet I didn’t let anyone know.

Gerund

The -ing form of a verb when it is functioning as a noun.

Ex. Writing is easy.

Gerund = writing

Prepositional Phrase

A phrase consisting of a preposition, its object, and any other modifiers Ex. I slept under the bridge.

Prepositional phrase = under the bridge.

HW - List of prepositions.