Parts of a Sentence

Parts of a Sentence Complete Subject/Complete Predicate Simple Subject/Simple Predicate

Complete Sentence • A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Every complete sentence has two basic parts: a subject and a predicate.

Complete Subject • Complete Subject – includes all the words that tell whom or what the sentence is about. • For Example: Wildlife conservationists /monitor endangered animals. • Complete Predicate – includes the verb and all the words that tell what the subject is or what the subject does. • For Example: Endangered animals / need protection.

Simple Subject • The simple subject is the main word or words in the complete subject. Words that describe the subject are not part of the simple subject. For Example: People in a large city lead busy lives. • Note: If a proper name is used as the subject, all parts of the name make up the simple subject.

Practice Simple Subjects • Find the simple subject in the following sentences: • Judge Lane presided over municipal court. • The airport terminal was crowded with holiday travelers. • Buses to downtown had standing room only. • Some people on their way to downtown hotels hailed cabs.

Simple Predicate, or Verb • The simple predicate, or verb is the main word or words in the complete predicate. • Ex: Many people have interesting hobbies. • The verb can be one word, or a verb phrase. • Ex: Hobbies can entertain you for years. • Verb Phrase – can entertain

Review of Verbs • Verbsare words used to express action, condition, or state of being. • Linking verbs tell what the subject is. • Action verbs tell what the subject does, even when the action cannot be seen as in mental action. • Helping verbs help the main verb express action or show time.

Practice Simple Predicate, or Verbs • Find the simple predicate, or verb in the following sentences: Making pottery is an interesting hobby. Some hobbyists specialize in pottery making. A lump of clay becomes a work of art. First, they choose the color and type of clay. Then they decide how to make their object.

Verb Phrases • A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one or more helping verbs. • A main verb can stand by itself as the simple predicate of a sentence. • Ex: The Underground Railroad helped slaves. • Helping verbs help the main verb express action or show time. • Ex: Some houses could shelter many slaves at one time.

Practice Verb Phrases • Find the verb, or verb phrases in the following sentences: • Our class is studying about the Underground Railroad. • The Underground Railroad was operating in the mid-1800s. • Many runaway slaves would walk all night. • During the day they might be seen by other people.

Compound Sentence Parts • A compound subject is made up of two or more subjects that share the same verb. • Ex: Rain and hail fell during the thunderstorm. • A compound verb is made up of two or more verbs that share the same subject. • Ex: Snow swirled and drifted into huge mounds.

Practice Compound Sentence Parts • Dark clouds and strong winds were the first sign of the thunderstorm. • The brisk winds tossed and turned the small sailboat back and forth. • Suddenly, rain and hail pelted the ground. • The large hailstones dented or flattened several items in the garden.

Subjects in Unusual Order • The normal sentence structure has the subject first and the verb coming after the subject. • However, there are four exceptions to the rule and they are called Subjects in Unusual Order.

Four Exceptions • These are the four exceptions to the normal order of subject and verb in a sentence: • QUESTIONS - In most questions, the subject comes after the verb (not before). • IMPERATIVE – In imperative, or command sentences the subject is usually “you.” • INVERTED SENTENCE – In an inverted sentence, the subject comes after the verb. • HERE OR THERE – In some sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb.

Complements • A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of the verb. There are two kinds of complements: Subject Complements and Objects of the Verb.

Complements: Subject Complements • Subject Complement – a word that follows a linking verb and renames or describes the subject of the sentence. • Predicate Noun – word that follows a linking verb and defines or renames the subject. • Ex: That dance is the waltz. (“is” is the linking verb) • Predicate Adjective – word that follows a linking verb and describes the subject. • Ex: The dancers are graceful.

Practice Subject Complements • The dance performance was incredible. • The dancers seemed confident. • My favorite act was the tap-dancing routine. • Most of the music in the show sounded familiar. • The show was one of the best I have ever seen.

Complements: Objects of the Verb • Action verbs often need complements called direct objects and indirect objects to complete their meaning. • Direct Object – a word that names the receiver of the action of an action verb. It answers the question what? • Indirect Object – a word that tells to what, to whom, or for whom an action is done. The indirect object usually comes between the verb and the direct object.

Steps to Finding a Direct Object To Find a Direct Object: • Locate and identify the verb to ensure it’s an action verb. • Next, say the verb out loud and then say “what” behind the verb. The answer to the “what” question is the D.O. AV D.O. • Brooke threw the ball. (Threw what? ) • Jamesranthemilein 5 minutes. (Ran what?)

Indirect Objects To Find an Indirect Object: Step One: Always find the Direct Object first, so locate and identify the verb to be sure it’s an AV. Step Two: After you locate the D.O. by asking “What” after the action verb, then ask “to whom.” Indirect objects are located between the action verb and the direct object. Note: You always find the direct object first because if there is no D.O., then there will never be an I.O. S AV I.O. D.O. • Brooke threwNicole the ball. (To whom?)

Parts of a Sentence