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• Verbs are 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: 1. Locate and identify the verb to ensure it’s an action

verb. 2. 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? )• James ran the mile in 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 threw Nicole the ball. (To whom?)