Sentence Sleuths
"The neighbors watched the sky."
What type of sentence is this?
A simple sentence
In the sentence “Charlie blamed his neighbors,” what is the subject?
Charlie
Add the missing comma:
“When the power failed the neighbors went outside.”
When the power failed, the neighbors went outside.
Combine these two sentences into one compound sentence:
“The lights went out. The neighbors panicked.”
Sample Answer: The lights went out, and the neighbors panicked.
What unusual event begins the trouble on Maple Street?
The residents witness a bright flash and hear a tremendous roar overhead. Shortly afterward, the electricity, telephones, and other devices stop working.
“The power failed, and the street became dark.”
What type of sentence is this?
Compound Sentence
In the sentence “Because the lights went out,” why is this a sentence fragment?
It is a dependent clause that does not express a complete thought by itself. The reader needs additional information.
Add the missing comma:
“Steve tried to calm the crowd but Charlie became angry.”
Steve tried to calm the crowd, but Charlie became angry.
Write a simple sentence about the neighbors on Maple Street.
Your sentence must contain a subject and a predicate.
Sample Answer: The neighbors watched the street.
What does Tommy warn Steve Brand about when Steve prepares to leave the neighborhood?
Tommy warns Steve that he should not leave because the mysterious beings do not want the residents to leave.
“When the lights went out, the neighbors gathered outside.”
What type of sentence is this?
Complex Sentence
Identify the dependent clause in this sentence:
“The neighbors panicked when the car started by itself.”
"when the car started by itself."
Add the missing comma:
“The neighbors panicked when the lights went out.”
Combine these ideas into a complex sentence using a subordinating conjunction.
The neighbors suspected Les.
His car started by itself.
Sample Answer: The neighbors suspected Les because his car started by itself.
Why do the neighbors begin to suspect Les Goodman?
Les's car starts by itself after he has been unable to start it. The neighbors interpret this unusual event, along with his behavior, as suspicious.
“Steve wanted to calm the neighbors, but Charlie blamed Les.”
What type of sentence is this, and what type of clauses does it have?
Compound Sentence; two independent clauses.
In the sentence “Steve tried to calm the crowd, but Charlie refused to listen,” identify both predicates.
"tried to calm the crowd" & "Charlie refused to listen”
Write a compound sentence with correct comma usage.
Sample Answer: Steve remained calm, but Tommy made the neighbors panic.
Revise this fragment into a complete complex sentence:
“Although Steve tried to remain calm.”
Sample Answer: Although Steve tried to remain calm, the neighbors continued to argue.
Why does Charlie shoot Pete Van Horn?
Charlie mistakes Pete, who approaches from the darkness, for a possible monster and shoots him out of fear.
“Although the street was dark, the neighbors remained outside.”
What type of sentence is this? Identify the independent and dependent clauses.
Complex sentence; dependent first, independent second
A student says that “Although the neighbors were frightened” is an independent clause because it has a subject and a verb. Explain why the student is incorrect.
Example: Having a subject and verb does not automatically make a clause independent. The word “although” introduces a dependent clause. The reader expects another thought explaining what happened despite the neighbors' fear.
Write a complex sentence that has a comma.
Sample Answer: Because he shot Pete, Charlie was blamed by neighbors.
Write a complex sentence about Charlie that includes:
An independent clause.
A dependent clause beginning with “when.”
Correct comma placement (if needed).
Sample Answer: When the lights came on, Charlie became nervous.
At the end of the play, what do the two figures from the spacecraft reveal about their plan?
The figures explain that they deliberately disrupted the residents' machines and communication. They expected the residents to turn against one another.