Barraza, A. (2023). Creative Writing for ESL Learners: A textbook for advanced English as a second language learners. EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/introduction_to_crea
Subjects and Predicates
Word
Definition
Example
Subject
The person or thing that does the action of a sentence
The old man wept for joy.
I never remember the time.
Bacon is the most delicious food ever.
Where are you?
Predicate
The action of a sentence
Types of Clauses
When you write a subject and a predicate, you write a complete idea. This complete idea is called a clause. A clause can be independent or dependent. An independent clause can be understood by itself. A dependent clause needs more information to be understood. You can see more information about what makes an independent clause and what makes a dependent clause below.
Independent
A clause containing at least one subject and one predicate that forms an independent idea. This could make its own sentence.
The girl ate the apple.
There was a large, large window in the house.
Dependent
A clause containing at least one subject and one predicate that forms a dependent idea. This idea needs another clause to explain it. A dependent clause can not make its own sentence by itself.
Because the girl ate the apple
Although there was a large, large window in the house
Types of Sentences
What type of sentences you use is your choice as a poet. Which sentences best help you show your meaning?
Sentence Type
Simple
A sentence that has 1 independent clause. There is one subject and one predicate.
I
The beautiful woman danced all evening.
The man and the woman from city in the stars were married last week.
The little girl ran and jumped at the playground.
Compound
A sentence that has 2 independent clauses that are connected with a coordinating conjunction like “and”. There are two subjects and two predicates.
I + I
The beautiful woman danced all evening, but she forgot her shoes.
The man and the woman from city in the stars were married last week, and now they live on Earth.
The little girl ran and jumped at the playground, for she loved to play.
Complex
A sentence that has 1 independent clause and 1 dependent clause that are connected with a subordinating conjunction like “because”. There are two subjects and two predicates.
I + D
or
D + I
The beautiful woman danced all evening because she loved salsa.
Although the parents didn’t like it, the man and the woman from city in the stars were married last week.
As soon as the sun came out, the little girl ran and jumped at the playground
Compound-Complex
A sentence that has at least 2 independent clauses and 1 dependent clause. This type of sentence will use both coordinating conjunctions between the independent clauses and subordinating conjunctions to connect the dependent clause. There are at least three subjects and three predicates
I + I+ D
D + I +I
I+D+I
The beautiful woman danced all evening because she loved salsa, but she forgot her shoes.
Although the parents didn’t like it, the man and the woman from city in the stars were married last week, and now they live on Earth.
As soon as the sun came out, the little girl ran and jumped at the playground, for she loved to play.
Margret: (looking at Nancy) I should go verify he is doing well. He could be hurt.
Nancy: (standing up) I do not think so. You do not need to. I will go.
Margret: (looking at Nancy) I should go check on him. He could be hurt.
Nancy: (standing up) As if. Don't. I'll go.
This chart is based on information from: https://edtechbooks.org/-zPNc. and https://edtechbooks.org/-RaUt
How to Make Contractions
When we speak we naturally shorten what we say. We often leave out some sounds to say things easier or faster. When writing what this sounds like, we remove a few letters and replace them with an apostrophe ' . See some examples of this in the chart below.
*This contraction is based on the 16th century English version, "wonnot"1. The "o" from "wonnot" is removed and replaced with an apostrophe: wonnot - no + ' = won't. This is why the contraction is "won't", not "willn't".
1. https://edtechbooks.org/-weuZ.
How to use phrasal verbs and stand alone verbs in sentences
make up
point out
go beyond
make sense of
make it plain
constitute*
indicate*
exceed*
understand
explain
*Academic Word List word
3 Major Time Frames
How to Make It Positive
base verb + "ed"
change to the irregular past tense verb
liked
walked
ate
We liked cake.
I walked to the store.
He ate an apple.
base verb
base verb + s
for 3rd person singular verbs
like
walk
eat
eats
We like cake.
I walk to the store.
I eat an apple.
He eats an apple.
will like
will walk
will eat
We will like cake.
I will walk to the store.
He will eat an apple.
How to Make It Negative
did not + base verb
did not like
did not walk
did not eat
We did not like cake.
I did not walk to the store.
He did not eat an apple.
do not + base verb
does not + base verb
do not like
do not walk
do not eat
does not eat
We do not like cake.
I do not walk to the store.
I do not ate an apple.
He does not eat an apple.
will not + base verb
will not like
will not walk
will not eat
We will not like cake.
I will not walk to the store.
He will not eat an apple.
Progressive Aspect
was + base verb + "ing"
was walking
was eating
She was walking to the store.
I was eating an apple.
is + base verb + "ing"
am + base verb + "ing"
for 1st person singular verbs
are + base verb + "ing"
for plural verbs
is walking
is eating
am eating
are eating
She is walking to the store.
She is eating an apple.
I am eating an apple.
We are eating a pizza.
will be walking
will be eating
She will be walking to the store.
I will be eating an apple.
was not + base verb + "ing"
was not walking
was not eating
She was not walking to the store.
I was not eating an apple.
is not + base verb +"ing"
am not + base verb + "ing"
is not walking
is not eating
am not eating
She is not walking to the store.
She is not eating an apple.
I am not eating an apple.
will not be + base verb +"ing"
will not be walking
will not be eating
She will not be walking to the store.
I will not be eating an apple.
Perfect Aspect
had + past participle verb
had liked
had walked
had eaten
We had liked cake back then, but now we don't like it.
I had walked to the store when I realized I left my wallet at home.
He had eaten an apple when his mom said dinner was ready.
have + past participle verb
has + past participle verb
have liked
have walked
have eaten
has eaten
We have liked cake since we were children.
I have walked to the store before.
I have eaten an apple sometime today.
He has eaten an apple sometime today.
will have liked
will have walked
will have eaten
We will have liked each other for five years as of our anniversary tomorrow.
I will have walked two miles by this evening.
He will have eaten seven apples by Saturday because he eats an apple every day.
had not + past participle verb
had not liked
had not walked
had not eaten
We had not liked cake back then, but now we do like it.
I had not walked to the store when I realized I left my wallet at home.
He had not eaten an apple when his mom said dinner was ready.
has not + past participle verb
have not liked
have not walked
have not eaten
has not eaten
We have not liked cake since we were children.
I have not walked to the store before.
I have not eaten an apple sometime today.
He has not eaten an apple sometime today.
will not have liked
will not have walked
will not have eaten
We will not have liked each other for five years as of the anniversary of our breakup tomorrow.
I will not have walked two miles by this evening because I have been sitting all day.
He will not have eaten seven apples by Saturday because he skipped eating an apple two days this week.
Perfect Progressive Aspect
had been + base verb + "ing"
had been walking
had been eating
I had been walking to the store when I realized I left my wallet at home.
He had been eating an apple when his mom said dinner was ready.
have been + base verb + "ing"
has been + base verb + "ing"
for 1st person singular
have been walking
have been eating
has been eating
I have been walking to the store for ten minutes now.
I have been eating the apple pie for a while now.
He has been eating the apple pie for a while now.
will have been + base verb + "ing"
will have been walking
will have been eating
I will have been walking for an hour by the time I get there.
He will have been eating the apple pie for ten minutes by three o'clock.
had not been + base verb + "ing"
had not been walking
had not been eating
I had not been walking to the store when I realized I didn't have my wallet.
He had not been eating an apple when his mom said dinner was ready.
have not been + base verb + "ing"
has not been + base verb + "ing"
have not been walking
have not been eating
has not been eating
I have not been walking for three months since I broke my leg.
I have not been eating much lately because I have been sick.
He has not been eating much lately because he has been sick.
will not have been + base verb + "ing"
will not have been walking
will not have been eating
I will not have been walking for three months as of next Wednesday since I broke my leg.
He will not have been eating the apple pie for ten minutes by 3:00 because he started at 2:55.
Combinations of Tense and Aspect
Past
Past Progressive
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Progressive
Present
Present Progressive
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Progressive
Future
Future Progressive
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Progressive
Parallel Structure
Explanation
Stress can affect students personally, in their academic lives, and in their professional lives.
Subject + Verb + Object +
Adverb + Prepositional phrase + Prepositional phrase
Stress can affect students in their personal lives, in their academic lives, and in their professional lives.
Prepositional phrase + Prepositional phrase + Prepositional phrase
Types of Parallel Structure
The structure of a sentence is made up of many pieces. Any of these pieces can be used to create parallelism with a sentence. You can also create parallelism within a paragraph.
Over time, we can find joy, hope, and wonder.
The poverty, famine, and hardship found in the world can bring us low, but we can lift each other up.
We can give of our time, our expertise, our effort, and our hearts.
The solutions of tomorrow can be found in the classrooms of today, in the minds of the children of today.
The future of housing is undecided. The future of transportation is unknown. The future of infrastructure is in flux.
This new airport will bring thousands of new visitors to our area who will need transportation into our city, who will need hotels to stay at and conference spaces to meet at, who will need restaurants to eat at, and who will need experiences to fill their leisure time. The new visitors this airport will bring to our area will bring many opportunities for growth to our local economy.
There is no better time to make this change than now; there are no better people to make this change than us.
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