Grammar Level 2: The Parts of the Sentence

The study of the sentence is the study of thought itself.

In order to express a thought, we must do two things:

1. We must identify what we are talking about

2. We must say what we are saying about it

The Sentence

Sentence: A sentence is a two-part thought: it is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate, and which makes a complete idea.

The Sentence

B. Parts of the Sentence1. Subject2. Predicate

a. Direct objectb. Indirect objectc. Subject complementd. Object complement

The Subject

Simple subject: the noun or subject pronoun that the sentence is about.

Complete subject: the simple subject and all of its modifiers. Notice that only subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they) can be subjects.

Compound subject: a compound subject is a multiple subject: more than one noun or pronoun is used as a multiple subject of the same clause.

Example: Physics and astronomy are my favorite subjects.

The Predicate

Simple predicate: a simple predicate is the verb.

Example: Bob went over to the crater at the foot of the escarpment.

Complete predicate: everything that is said about the subject

Example: Bob went to the crater and gathered three bags of comet dust.

The Sentence

subject/predicate set: the subject/predicate set is the

combination of simple subject and simple predicate which is always

present as a nucleus in every sentence and in every clause. There may be more

than one subject/predicate set in a single sentence.

Subject/Verb Agreement

The number of the subject and the verb must agree. A plural subject must have a plural verb. A singular subject must have a singular verb.Example: The top of the mountains is covered by snow.Remember: The sentence is either a thought about something singular, or else it is a thought about something plural. It cannot logically be both!

Direct Object

A direct object is a noun or object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them) which receives the action of the action verb.

When there is a direct object, the verb is called transitive.

Example: Sparks struck the side. They hit him.

Indirect Object

An indirect object is a noun or object pronoun located between the action verb and the direct object. It is indirectly affected by the action.

If there is an indirect object, there must be a direct object. Therefore, the verb is still transitive.

Example: We gave him the business.

Subject Complement

A subject complement is a noun, subject pronoun, or adjective which complements the subject; it is linked to the subject by a linking verb. The subject complement, in a sense, renames the subject.

Example: Bob is a painter. It was he. The mutt was tired.

Predicate Nominative

Predicate nominative is a term sometimes used to describe a subject complement made out of a noun or pronoun.

Example: It was she or I who came to visit.It is I, Hamlet.

Predicate Adjective

Predicate adjective is a term sometimes used to describe a subject complement made out of an adjective.

Example: I am sleepy.

Object Complement

An object complement is a noun, object pronoun, or adjective that completes the meaning of the direct object.

Example: They selected him president. They painted the house blue.

The Logic Path of a Sentence

1. Find the subject/predicate set.

2. If the verb is action,

-Do not look for a subject complement

-Look for a direct object

3. If you find a direct object

-Look for an indirect object

4. If the verb is linking,

-Do not look for a direct object

-Look for a subject complement

-Look for the next subject/predicate set and repeat

The Logic Path of Sentence Structure

Verb

Linking

Direct Object?

Action

Indirect Object?

SubjectComplement?

Pred. Nominative?

Pred. Adjective?