Simple sentences

Now that you've seen a bunch of different sentence patterns, see how you go breaking up these simple sentences. For each one, ask yourself:

What elements are included in the sentence?
Does the sentence fit one of the patterns we already looked at?
What question is the sentence answering? (e.g. who did what, what happened when, how did they do it...)
And, most importantly, keep asking yourself the most basic question: does the sentence only have one action or process?

They were all contributing generously.

Tomorrow, When the War BeganJohn MarsdenSource

On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed.

The Polar ExpressChris Van AllsburgSource

Neither my mother nor my father could come see the play on opening night.

WonderR.J. PalacioSource

Before the war, I found summer storms exciting.

Burning for RevengeJohn MarsdenSource

For three days and three nights this waiting-game went on.

The Fantastic Mr FoxRoald DahlSource

Like conger eel it is usually poached in a strong ale.

Shakespeare's London on 5 Groats a DayRichard TamesSource

Snookle was delivered one morning with the milk.

Unbelievable!Paul JenningsSource

"With the milk". Quality, time or place?

How did you go? There are so many possible combinations of elements! But hopefully you feel a bit more confident identifying what's in a sentence.

Your turn

Write your own simple sentence, using whatever combination of elements you like (but remember to only use one action!)

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