The building blocks of sentences! Subject and Predicate The building blocks of sentences! 8th Writing/Grammar - Murphy

Use this at the end to summarize your thinking. Major concepts go here (Likely titles of slides or major bullet points) Explanations and definitions of key terms, tips and tricks, and examples go here. Use this at the end to summarize your thinking.

Let’s start at the very beginning… The simplest sentences in the world simply have a subject and a predicate. I call this the “two-word sentence” He ran. She smiled. Mrs. Murphy laughed. The class succeeded. Keep the “two-word sentence” in mind as things get more difficult.

Ormie

What is a subject? A subject is the part of a sentence that does something or is talked about. Ormie smelled some cookies. Their scent was tantalizing. He knew he had to get some cookies. OFTEN (but not always) at the beginning or in the first half of the sentence!

Thinking back to the “two-word sentence” helps here. Simple Subject Thinking back to the “two-word sentence” helps here. The subject WITHOUT the words that describe or modify it (the noun only) The hungry pink pig would do anything to get those cookies. A set of gravity defying plans began to formulate in his head.

Complete Subject The simple subject AND all the words that modify it The hungry pink pig would do anything to get those cookies. A group of gravity defying plans began to formulate in his head.

Compound Subjects Has two or more simple subjects. Ormie and his stomach needed those cookies. Ormie, his stomach, and his mouth needed those cookies. Hunger and desperation were his motivation. Yes, this turns the “two-word sentence” into a “three- or four- word sentence”…but it’s still the same idea 

Now, for the other half of the sentence… Get ready…

Predicate Contains the verb, and is the part of the sentence that shows action or says something about the subject. First, Ormie tried to reach the cookies with the broom. His attempt was in vain. No progress was made.

STOP! Predicate IS WAS ARE WERE are ALWAYS verbs! VERY IMPORTANT INFO: IS WAS ARE WERE are ALWAYS verbs! Contains the verb, and is the part of the sentence that shows action or says something about the subject. First, Ormie tried to reach the cookies with the broom. His attempt was in vain. No progress was made.

Predicate Contains the verb, and is the part of the sentence that shows action or says something about the subject. First, Ormie tried to reach the cookies with the broom. His attempt was in vain. No progress was made.

Simple Predicate The predicate (VERB) without the words that modify or describe it. Next, Ormie tried to jump up to the cookies. He smashed into the front of the fridge. His nose was squished.

SIDE NOTE: Let’s talk about HELPING verbs… Help the main verb express tense (past/present/future) and voice Common helping verbs include: Shall, will, should, would, could, must, might, can, may, have, had, has, do, do, is, are, was, were, am, being, been HELPING VERBS ARE ALWAYS PART OF THE SIMPLE PREDICATE (even if that means it becomes more than one word) Simple Predicate The predicate (VERB) without the words that modify or describe it. Next, Ormie tried to jump up to the cookies. He smashed into the front of the fridge. He nose was squished.

SIDE NOTE: Let’s talk about HELPING verbs… Help the main verb express tense (past/present/future) and voice Common helping verbs include: Shall, will, should, would, could, must, might, can, may, have, had, has, do, is, are, was, were, am, being, been HELPING VERBS ARE ALWAYS PART OF THE SIMPLE PREDICATE (even if that means it becomes more than one word) Simple Predicate The predicate (VERB) without the words that modify or describe it. Next, Ormie tried to jump up to the cookies. He smashed into the front of the fridge. His nose was squished.

Complete Predicate The verb AND all of the words that modify it. He clambered up the fridge, but the freezer door simply opened. The cookies were still out of his grasp.

Compound Predicate A predicate composed of two or more simple predicates (without a new subject) Next, he stacked some books and an ironing board and tried to catapult himself to the cookies.

Let’s try it! Turn your paper over… Write a two-word sentence using an ACTION verb. (One simple subject, one simple predicate) Add some words to modify the simple subject in order to create a more COMPLETE subject. Add words to modify the verb to create a more COMPLETE PREDICATE. Dog barked. The black and white spotted dog barked. The black and white spotted dog barked with the force of a cannon.

Let’s try it! Turn your paper over… Write a two-word sentence using an ACTION verb. (One simple subject, one simple predicate) Add some words to modify the simple subject in order to create a more COMPLETE subject. Add words to modify the verb to create a more COMPLETE PREDICATE. Dog barked. The black and white spotted dog barked. The black and white spotted dog barked with the force of a cannon. Now pause…let’s back up. What is the two word sentence? 

Now pause again… What is the two-word (basic) sentence? Add a second subject to create a COMPOUND subject. Add a second predicate. The black and white spotted dog and the German shepherd barked with the force of cannons. The black and white spotted dog and the German shepherd barked with the force of cannons and scared the little girl across the street. Now pause again… What is the two-word (basic) sentence? (four words this time)

Do another one on an index card… Write a two-word sentence using an ACTION or “BE” verb. (One simple subject, one simple predicate) Add some words to modify the simple subject in order to create a more COMPLETE subject. Add words to modify the verb to create a more COMPLETE PREDICATE. Add a second subject to create a COMPOUND subject. Add a second predicate to create a COMPOUND PREDICATE. Write your final sentence on the other side of the card.

Homework time! Skills book pgs. 65-68 NO NEXT STEPS

Practice As we watch each of Ormie’s attempts, write a sentence that describes what he is doing. Then: Place parentheses around the simple subject Underline the complete subject Circle the simple predicate Double Underline the complete predicate. Example: Next, Ormie stacked many boxes and tried to reach the cookies. Unfortunately, his foot got stuck in the boxes, and they collapsed.