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Grammar Tech | Technical/Professional Writing Program | English Department

Simple Sentences


A simple sentence can have one subject and one verb, two subjects and one verb, one subject and two verbs, or two subjects and two verbs. No matter how many subjects and verbs it has, a simple sentence usually needs only a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence and a period at the end.

Example of a simple sentence with one subject and one verb:
Students in manufacturing engineering take a course in manufacturing graphics.

Subject Verb
Students take

In a simple sentence with one subject and one verb, the only punctuation is usually a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence and a period at the end.


Example of a simple sentence with two subjects and one verb:
3D CAD and rapid prototyping are taught in the manufacturing graphics course.

Subject 1 Coordinating
Conjunction
Subject 2 Verb
3D CAD and rapid prototyping are taught

Two subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) are called a compound subject. In a simple sentence with a compound subject and one verb, the only punctuation is usually a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end.


Example of a simple sentence with one subject and two verbs:
Students in the advanced CAD course design and draw mold cavities.

Subject 1 Verb 1 Coordinating
Conjunction
Verb 2
Students design and draw

Two verbs joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) are called a compound verb. In a simple sentence with one subject and a compound verb, the only punctuation in the sentence is usually a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end.


Example of a simple sentence with two subjects and two verbs:
Heat treated alloys and non-heat treated alloys are tested and evaluated in the metallurgy course.

Subject 1 Coordinating
Conjunction
Subject 2 Verb 1 Coordinating
Conjunction
Verb 2
heat treated alloys and non-heat treated alloys are tested and evaluated

In a simple sentence with a compound subject and a compound verb, the only punctuation in the sentence is usually a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end.


Exercise: Indicate whether the punctuation in each sentence is correct or incorrect.

1. The course in dimensional metrology, requires an open laboratory.

Correct
Incorrect

2. Geometric dimensioning and tolerance are covered in the course.

Correct
Incorrect

3. Measurement tools and systems are taught, and are related to quality control.

Correct
Incorrect

4. The tool design course emphasizes jigs and fixtures and enables students to develop their ideas into practical applications.

Correct
Incorrect

Back to Introduction to Sentences | Forward to Compound Sentences

 
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