Complete sentences and paragraphs

From sentences to paragraphs

Writing is like building with blocks. Sentences are the blocks. A paragraph is what you build when you put sentences together about one idea. Good writers know how to make strong sentences and how to put them together into clear paragraphs.

Part 1: Complete sentences

A complete sentence tells a whole idea. It has two parts:

1. The subject: who or what the sentence is about.
2. The predicate: what the subject does or is. The predicate has the verb.

A complete sentence also starts with a capital letter and ends with punctuation ( . ? ! ).

Fragments

A fragment is a piece of a sentence. It is missing a subject or a verb, so it does not tell a whole idea.

• Ran to the bus. (Who ran? Missing subject.)
• The tall giraffe. (What did it do? Missing predicate.)
• Because it was raining. (What happened because it was raining?)

Fix fragments by adding the missing part:

• Ben ran to the bus.
• The tall giraffe ate leaves.
• We stayed inside because it was raining.

Making sentences interesting

A complete sentence can be short: Dogs bark. But you can add details to make it more interesting. Ask who, what, where, when, why and how.

Dogs bark. →
My neighbour’s dog barks loudly at the mail carrier every morning.

Part 2: Paragraphs

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea. Paragraphs help readers. They show where one idea ends and a new one starts.

The parts of a paragraph

Think of a paragraph like a hamburger:

• Top bun: the topic sentence. It tells what the paragraph is about.
• The fillings: detail sentences. They tell more about the topic. Use at least three.
• Bottom bun: the closing sentence. It wraps up the paragraph.

Example paragraph

Fall is my favourite season. The leaves turn red, orange and yellow. I love jumping in big piles of crunchy leaves. We also pick apples and bake an apple pie. Fall is full of fun things to do!

• Topic sentence: Fall is my favourite season.
• Details: colourful leaves, jumping in leaves, picking apples and baking pie.
• Closing sentence: Fall is full of fun things to do!

How a paragraph looks

• Indent the first line. That means you start it a little to the right, about two fingers in.
• Write the sentences one after another, not on separate lines like a list.
• Start a new paragraph when you start a new idea.

How to write a paragraph, step by step

1. Choose your topic. My dog.
2. Write a topic sentence. My dog Max is a silly pup.
3. Plan three details. He chases his tail. He wears socks on his ears. He sleeps upside down.
4. Turn each detail into a complete sentence.
5. Use linking words to connect them: also, another, first, next, then, finally.
6. Write a closing sentence. Max always makes me laugh.
7. Check: Are all sentences about the topic? Are they all complete?

Stay on topic

Every sentence in a paragraph should be about the main idea. Read this:

Penguins are amazing swimmers. They can dive deep into the ocean. They use their wings like flippers. My favourite colour is blue. Penguins can swim very fast.

My favourite colour is blue does not belong. It is off topic. Take it out.

Let’s try some examples

Example 1: Fragment or sentence? Under the bed.
Fragment. Fix: The cat is hiding under the bed.

Example 2: Add details. The girl ran.
The girl in the red jacket ran across the playground to catch the ball.

Example 3: Write a topic sentence for these details. Lions hunt in groups. Eagles have sharp eyes. Sharks can smell blood from far away.
Topic sentence: Many animals are skilled hunters.

Common mistakes

• Fragments. Check that every sentence has a subject and a verb.
• Run-on sentences. I went to the park and I played and I swung and I slid. Break it up into separate sentences.
• No topic sentence. Tell the reader what the paragraph is about.
• Going off topic. Every detail should support the main idea.
• Forgetting to indent.

Try it yourself

1. Fix the fragment: Jumped over the puddle.
2. Fix the fragment: The shiny red bike.
3. Write a topic sentence about your favourite food.
4. Write three detail sentences and a closing sentence to finish your paragraph.

Possible answers: 1. Mia jumped over the puddle. 2. The shiny red bike was a birthday gift. 3. Pizza is the best food in the world. 4. Answers will vary.

Tip for families

When your child writes, ask “Who or what is this sentence about? What did they do?” to check for complete sentences. For paragraphs, draw a quick hamburger on paper and fill in each layer together before writing.

Quick recap

• A complete sentence has a subject and a predicate and tells a whole idea.
• A fragment is missing part of a sentence.
• A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea.
• Paragraphs have a topic sentence, details and a closing sentence.
• Indent the first line and stay on topic.