Instructions
Welcome to the Sentence Structure Workshop! Your mission is to use capitalization, punctuation, and proper spacing to turn messy word strings into clear, professional sentences. Read the instructions for each section carefully.
Section 1: The Spacing Check (Clarity First)
Words need space to breathe! If words are squished together, it's difficult to read. Rewrite each crowded sentence below, making sure you leave exactly one space between every word.
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Example: thedogranfastinthepark
Correction: __
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ourteachergaveusahomeworkassignment
Correction: __
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theywenttothebeachlastweekend
Correction: __
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iwillbuyanewbookformybirthday
Correction: __
Section 2: Capitalization and Punctuation Conversion
Every sentence must start with a capital letter and end with appropriate terminal punctuation (period ., question mark ?, or exclamation point !). Rewrite the following lowercase sentences correctly. Determine the correct ending punctuation based on the sentence meaning.
| Sentence (Lowercase) | Correct Sentence (Capitalized & Punctuated) |
|---|---|
| 1. where did john put the map | |
| 2. the rocket launched perfectly | |
| 3. look out for that giant spider |
Section 3: The Capital Letter Hunt
Identify the word in each sentence that requires a capital letter but is currently missing one. Write the correct capitalized word in the column on the right. Remember to check sentence beginnings and proper nouns (names, places, specific things).
| Sentence | Word that Needs Capitalization |
|---|---|
| 1. my favorite city is london. | |
| 2. i am visiting aunt sally this summer. | |
| 3. the class read the book charlotte's web. | |
| 4. the month of october is the best. | |
| 5. did you see the movie last night? | |
| 6. we bought a new car on tuesday. | |
| 7. i think mr. davis is the principal. | |
| 8. my birthday is in november. |
Section 4: The Proofreader's Desk (Advanced Editing)
Each of the sentences below contains three different mistakes: spacing errors, missing capitalization, and/or missing punctuation. Correct all errors in the space provided. (Hint: Look closely at the start, the spaces, and the end!)
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mydog is named spot and he lovestennisballs
Corrected Sentence: __
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last week we visited mount rushmore
Corrected Sentence: __
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why is the skyblue today
Corrected Sentence: __
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the concert startsat eight o clock
Corrected Sentence: __
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we went swimming on a hotjuly day
Corrected Sentence: __
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i enjoyed reading that book by jk rowling
Corrected Sentence: __
Extension Challenge: Real-World Scavenger Hunt
Look around your learning environment (a textbook, a newspaper, a sign outside, etc.). Find three clear sentences. Write them below. Then, use a colored pencil to circle the capital letter at the start of the sentence and underline the space between the words.
Sentence 1:
Sentence 2:
Sentence 3:
Answer Key
Section 1: The Spacing Check (Clarity First)
- Example: The dog ran fast in the park.
- Our teacher gave us a homework assignment.
- They went to the beach last weekend.
- I will buy a new book for my birthday.
Section 2: Capitalization and Punctuation Conversion
| Sentence (Lowercase) | Correct Sentence (Capitalized & Punctuated) |
|---|---|
| 1. where did john put the map | Where did John put the map? |
| 2. the rocket launched perfectly | The rocket launched perfectly! (or: The rocket launched perfectly.) |
| 3. look out for that giant spider | Look out for that giant spider! |
Section 3: The Capital Letter Hunt
| Sentence | Word that Needs Capitalization |
|---|---|
| 1. my favorite city is london. | London |
| 2. i am visiting aunt sally this summer. | I, Aunt, Sally |
| 3. the class read the book charlotte's web. | Charlotte's (and Web) |
| 4. the month of october is the best. | October |
| 5. did you see the movie last night? | Did |
| 6. we bought a new car on tuesday. | Tuesday |
| 7. i think mr. davis is the principal. | I, Mr., Davis |
| 8. my birthday is in november. | My, November |
Section 4: The Proofreader's Desk (Advanced Editing)
- My dog is named Spot, and he loves tennis balls. (or: My dog is named Spot and he loves tennis balls.)
- Last week we visited Mount Rushmore.
- Why is the sky blue today?
- The concert starts at eight o'clock.
- We went swimming on a hot July day.
- I enjoyed reading that book by J.K. Rowling.