6 English Grammar Demystifi ed
Then what will happen? Possible completions include the following:
When the new product arrives, we’ll call our advertisers.When the new product arrives, we’ll send a special introductory offer to our
best customers.When the new product arrives, we’ll have to stay late to pack it for shipping.Groups of words may seem to be sentences because they contain subject and verb-
type words, but beware of incomplete thoughts! In the initial example (When the
new product arrives.), product seems to be the subject and arrives seems to be the
verb, yet the example is still an incomplete thought.
As you read the following examples, decide if each has the subject and verb it
needs:
- Looking at the job market from a new perspective. (Hint: Beware of
sentences that start with -ing ending words.) - My friend who teaches a wellness course.
- Heading for the West Coast for a fi ve-day vacation.
- Your doctor’s appointment scheduled for Tuesday.
5. When the man waiting to see you.
Let’s take a look at what’s missing. In the fi rst example, who is looking at the job
market? The subject is missing. The second example is tricky. My friend is the sub-
ject. The words who teaches a wellness course describe the friend. Still there is no
verb. What does your friend do? Try this: My friend who teaches a wellness course
drives 100 miles a day to get to her class. The verb is drives. In the third example,
who was heading for the West Coast? The subject is missing. In the fourth example,
the verb is missing. The fi fth example needs an action to complete it.
Written Practice 1-
Finish the following statements to make them complete sentences. There are
several possible ways to complete the sentences; just be sure that each sentence
has a subject and verb.
- Before I leave for California.
- As soon as the rain stops.