Writing a complete sentence is fundamental to clear and effective communication, whether in writing essays, reports, or everyday correspondence. A complete sentence must have at least one independent clause, which includes a subject, a predicate, and a complete thought. Here’s a guide to help you master the art of writing complete sentences.
1. Understand the Basic Components
- Subject: The subject of a sentence is who or what the sentence is about. It can be a noun (person, place, thing, or idea) or a pronoun (he, she, it, they, etc.).
- Predicate: The predicate tells something about the subject, usually containing a verb that describes action or being. It may also include objects, complements, and other modifiers.
2. Ensure a Complete Thought
A complete sentence expresses a complete thought. It doesn’t leave the reader hanging with questions about what’s being said. An independent clause stands alone as a sentence because it conveys a complete idea.
3. Check for Subject-Verb Agreement
Ensure that your subject and verb agree in number (singular or plural). If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
4. Use Correct Punctuation
A complete sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point. The punctuation helps to define the sentence’s tone and intention.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes
- Fragments: These are incomplete sentences that lack either a subject, a predicate, or a complete thought.
- Run-on Sentences: Avoid running two or more independent clauses together without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
6. Practice with Examples
Incorrect: Running late. Correct: She is running late for the meeting.
Incorrect: Reads every day. Correct: He reads a new book every day.
Incorrect: Because she was tired. Correct: She went to bed early because she was tired.
7. Edit and Revise
After writing, review your sentences to ensure they are complete. Look for missing components, check subject-verb agreement, and adjust punctuation as needed.
8. Read Widely
Reading books, articles, and other written materials can help you understand how complete sentences are constructed. Pay attention to how authors express complete thoughts and handle complex ideas within individual sentences.
Conclusion
Writing complete sentences is essential for clear communication. By understanding and applying the basic components of a sentence, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and using correct punctuation, you can effectively convey your thoughts and ideas. Practice, editing, and exposure to well-written content will improve your ability to write complete sentences over time.
Matt Pierce 
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