Simple Steps to Sentence Sense Step One

Charlene Tess

25 Jul 201206:20

Summary

TLDRIn this educational video, Charlene Tess, author of 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense', introduces an eight-step method for English sentence analysis, starting with identifying prepositional phrases. She explains that by eliminating these modifiers, the core sentence structure becomes apparent, making it easier to find the subject and verb. Tess provides a list of common prepositions and demonstrates how to bracket and label prepositional phrases in sentences, simplifying the analysis process. Her book offers complete lessons on sentence analysis, available at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Takeaways

📚 The speaker, Charlene Tess, is the author of 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense'.
📝 The video aims to demonstrate the ease of English sentence analysis by following eight simple steps.
🔍 Step one involves identifying prepositional phrases as they can simplify the process of finding the subject and verb.
👀 Prepositional phrases are modifiers and can be either adjective or adverb phrases.
📖 The book 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense' includes complete lesson notes on prepositional phrases.
📋 A list of commonly used prepositions is provided on the back of the stamp sheet that comes with the book.
📝 Compound prepositions, such as 'because of' and 'in spite of', are also discussed and do not need to be memorized.
📑 Prepositional phrases are marked in exercises by enclosing them in brackets for analysis.
🔑 The first word in a prepositional phrase is the preposition, and the last word is the object of the preposition.
🔍 Words in between the preposition and its object are typically adjectives or adverbs.
📚 The process of finding prepositional phrases makes it easier to identify other sentence elements like the subject, verb, and complement.
🛒 The book can be found on Teachers Pay Teachers website by searching for Charlene Tess's name.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video presented by Charlene Tess?
-The main topic of the video is sentence analysis, specifically how to analyze English sentences by following eight simple steps.
What is the first step in the eight-step process that Charlene Tess introduces for sentence analysis?
-The first step in the process is finding the prepositional phrases in a sentence.
Why are prepositional phrases important to identify during sentence analysis?
-Prepositional phrases are important to identify because they are used as modifiers and can be either adjective or adverb phrases, which can complicate the identification of the subject and verb if not recognized.
According to Charlene Tess, where are prepositional phrases typically found in a sentence structure?
-Prepositional phrases are typically found as modifiers in a sentence and will not contain the main subject and verb.
What is the purpose of eliminating prepositional phrases when analyzing a sentence?
-Eliminating prepositional phrases simplifies the sentence, making it easier to identify the subject, verb, and other important elements.
What is the role of prepositions in identifying prepositional phrases?
-Prepositions are the starting point of a prepositional phrase, and recognizing them helps in identifying the beginning of such a phrase.
What are some examples of commonly used prepositions that Charlene Tess mentions in the script?
-Some examples of commonly used prepositions mentioned are 'in', 'of', 'at', 'around', and 'for'.
What is the significance of the object of the preposition in a prepositional phrase?
-The object of the preposition is the last word in a prepositional phrase and helps to complete the meaning of the phrase.
How does Charlene Tess suggest marking prepositional phrases during sentence analysis exercises?
-Charlene Tess suggests enclosing prepositional phrases in brackets to visually distinguish them from the rest of the sentence.
What resource does Charlene Tess recommend for further learning about sentence analysis?
-Charlene Tess recommends her book 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense' for complete lesson notes on prepositional phrases and other aspects of sentence analysis.
Where can viewers find Charlene Tess's book for purchase?
-Viewers can find Charlene Tess's book at Teachers Pay Teachers' website by searching for her name in the store.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Mastering Sentence Analysis with Prepositional Phrases

In this educational video segment, Charlene Tess, the author of 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense,' introduces viewers to the fundamental process of sentence analysis focusing on identifying prepositional phrases. She emphasizes the simplicity of the task when following a structured eight-step method. The first step involves recognizing and eliminating prepositional phrases to simplify the sentence structure, making it easier to identify the subject and verb. Tess explains that prepositional phrases function as modifiers and can be either adjective or adverb phrases. She provides a comprehensive guide in her book, including a list of common prepositions and compound prepositions, which are essential for quickly identifying the start of a prepositional phrase. The video illustrates the process with examples, showing how to enclose identified phrases in brackets and simplifying complex sentences to their core elements. The segment concludes with an invitation to find her book for further lessons on sentence analysis.

05:01

🔍 Simplifying Sentences by Identifying Prepositional Phrases

This paragraph continues the tutorial on sentence analysis by delving deeper into the identification and labeling of prepositional phrases. Charlene Tess demonstrates how recognizing these phrases can drastically reduce the length of a sentence, making it simpler to pinpoint other sentence elements such as the subject, verb, and complement. She provides a method to label prepositional phrases with abbreviations for clarity. Tess also explains the structure of prepositional phrases, identifying the preposition, adjectives, and the object of the preposition within the phrase. The video includes examples with commas following introductory prepositional phrases, highlighting the grammatical significance of these elements. The segment wraps up by directing viewers to Tess's book on Teachers Pay Teachers for a more in-depth understanding of sentence analysis, promising a helpful resource for those looking to improve their language skills.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sentence Analysis

Sentence analysis refers to the process of breaking down a sentence into its grammatical components to understand its structure and meaning. In the video, sentence analysis is the central theme, with the author emphasizing the importance of following a sequence of steps to simplify the process. For example, the script mentions finding the subject and verb as part of the analysis, which is crucial for understanding the core message of a sentence.

💡Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with an object of the preposition, often including modifiers in between. In the script, prepositional phrases are highlighted as key elements to identify and eliminate when simplifying sentence analysis. The author provides examples such as 'in the yellow vase' and 'in spite of his good intentions,' illustrating how removing these phrases can make it easier to find the subject and verb.

💡Subject

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action or is being described. The script explains that identifying the subject is an essential step in sentence analysis. For instance, in the sentence 'The cow laid in the barn,' 'cow' is identified as the subject because it is the one performing the action of laying.

💡Verb

A verb indicates an action, occurrence, or state of being. The script emphasizes the importance of finding the verb in a sentence to understand what action is taking place. In the provided example 'We danced,' 'danced' is the verb, showing the action performed by the subject 'we'.

💡Adjective

An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In the script, adjectives are mentioned as words that can be found within prepositional phrases, providing additional information about the noun they modify. For example, 'yellow' in 'the yellow vase' is an adjective describing the color of the vase.

💡Adverb

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, providing more information about the action or state being described. Although not extensively discussed in the script, adverbs are mentioned as sometimes being part of prepositional phrases, adding detail to the sentence.

💡Modifier

A modifier is a word or phrase that adds information to another word or phrase, often providing details about its characteristics or circumstances. In the video, modifiers are discussed in the context of prepositional phrases, such as adjectives that describe the object of a preposition, like 'Li' and 'yellow' modifying 'vase' in the example sentence.

💡Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions are combinations of words that function together as a single preposition. The script mentions 'because of' and 'in spite of' as examples of compound prepositions, which are important to recognize when identifying the start of a prepositional phrase.

💡Punctuation

Punctuation refers to the use of symbols like commas and periods to organize and clarify written language. In the script, punctuation is noted as a clue for identifying introductory prepositional phrases, which are often followed by a comma, such as in 'After the play, the teacher praised Gary.'

💡Book Reference

The script references the author's book 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense,' which provides complete lessons and notes on sentence analysis, including how to find and recognize prepositional phrases. The book is mentioned as a resource for those interested in learning more about the topic, and it is available at the author's Teachers Pay Teachers store.

💡Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers is an online marketplace where teachers can buy and sell original educational materials. In the script, the author guides viewers to find her book 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense' by searching for her name on the Teachers Pay Teachers website, indicating it as a platform for accessing educational resources.

Highlights

Sentence analysis is simple if you follow the correct sequence.

Finding the prepositional phrases is the first step in analyzing a sentence.

Subjects and verbs are easier to identify once prepositional phrases are eliminated.

Prepositional phrases never contain the subject or the verb of the sentence.

Prepositional phrases function as modifiers, either as adjective or adverb phrases.

Common prepositions include words like 'in', 'of', 'at', and 'around'.

Compound prepositions include phrases like 'because of', 'by way of', and 'in spite of'.

You can refer to a list of common prepositions to identify prepositional phrases easily.

In exercises, enclose prepositional phrases in brackets for clarity.

The first word in a prepositional phrase is the preposition, and the last word is its object.

Adjectives and sometimes adverbs can be found between the preposition and its object.

Introductory prepositional phrases are often followed by a comma.

Labeling prepositional phrases can help in analyzing the rest of the sentence elements.

Once prepositional phrases are identified, finding the subject, verb, and complement becomes easier.

Detailed instructions and examples can be found in the book 'Simple Steps to Sentence Sense'.