The Sentence and Its Parts Subjects and Predicates

Complete Subjects and Predicates - A sentence has two parts: the subject and the predicate.   - The subject is the part of the sentence that identifies the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. The complete subject includes all the words that the sentence is about. - The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells what the subject is, what the subject does or did, or what happened to the subject. The complete predicate includes all the words that make a statement about the subject.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? The volcano erupted again.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? The volcano erupted again.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? A reporter from the paper relayed the news.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? A reporter from the paper relayed the news.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? Continents drift.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? Continents drift.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? Basketball and astronomy are two of my interests.

Complete Subject? Complete Predicate? Basketball and astronomy are two of my interests.

Complete Subjects PRACTICE! The remarkably talented Bronte sisters lived in England during the early and middle 1800s. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne all became writers. They grew up on the lonely moors of Yorkshire. The Brontes were a family who believed in educating themselves at home. The society of other children was not a part of their lives. Their isolation allowed the sisters and their brother time for pretending. The four Bronte children invented strange and fascinating imaginary lands. Fantastic characters and complicated stories were spun out of their active imaginations. Each of the three sisters remembered these childhood stories as an adult. Some of the events and characters even appeared in the Brontes’ books.  

Complete Subjects PRACTICE! The remarkably talented Bronte sisters lived in England during the early and middle 1800s. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne all became writers. They grew up on the lonely moors of Yorkshire. The Brontes were a family who believed in educating themselves at home. The society of other children was not a part of their lives. Their isolation allowed the sisters and their brother time for pretending. The four Bronte children invented strange and fascinating imaginary lands. Fantastic characters and complicated stories were spun out of their active imaginations. Each of the three sisters remembered these childhood stories as an adult. Some of the events and characters even appeared in the Brontes’ books.  

Complete Predicates PRACTICE! Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre tells the story of a courageous and independent young woman. Jane’s cruel aunt treats the orphan girl badly. She sends Jane to Lowood, a boarding school for homeless girls. The young girl learns many hard lessons about life. Jane leaves the school after eight years. She takes a job as governess at Thornfield. The story of Jane’s romance begins there. She meets the fascinating and mysterious Mr. Rochester. Secrets from his past complicate the story. The plot of Jane Eyre has become the model for many Gothic romance novels of the present day.  

Complete Predicates PRACTICE! Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre tells the story of a courageous and independent young woman. Jane’s cruel aunt treats the orphan girl badly. She sends Jane to Lowood, a boarding school for homeless girls. The young girl learns many hard lessons about life. Jane leaves the school after eight years. She takes a job as governess at Thornfield. The story of Jane’s romance begins there. She meets the fascinating and mysterious Mr. Rochester. Secrets from his past complicate the story. The plot of Jane Eyre has become the model for many Gothic romance novels of the present day.  

Simple Subjects - A simple subject is the key word or words in the complete subject. - The simple subject names the person, place, thing, or idea the sentence is about. - Modifying words are not part of the simple subject; however, it may be more than one word when it is a compound noun (high school) or a proper noun (North America)   - EX: Jaws is a good movie. - EX: John Lennon wrote many songs. - EX: One of my friends plays the trumpet.

Simple Predicates A simple predicate is the main word or words in the complete predicate. - The simple predicate is always the verb or verb phrase; other words that add to the meaning of the predicate are not part of the verb.   - EX: All the lines in this picture converge. - EX: A reporter from the paper relayed the news. - EX: The radio was once a novelty.

Finding the Verb and the Subject In any sentence, the verb and the simple subject are the most important words. - To find the key words in a sentence, first find the verb. - It will express some kind of action or state of being. - Then place the words who or what in front of the verb; the answer will tell you the subject. EXAMPLE: An attendant at the station checked the oil. Verb: checked Who checked? attendant Subject of verb: attendant

The Verb Phrase - A verb may consist of one or more words. It may consist of a main verb and one or more helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs).   - A verb phrase consists of a main verb and one or more helping verbs. HELPING + MAIN VERB = PHRASE was sinking was sinking must have caused must have caused - Venice was sinking one-fifth of an inch each year - The storm must have caused the damage to the house.