Chapter One Subjects and Verbs

Subjects and Verbs The basic building blocks of English sentences are subjects and verbs. Who or what the sentence speaks about is called the subject. What the sentence says about the subject is called the verb.

Subjects Find the Subject. Who or what is the sentence about? Friend . My best friend studies marine biology. Sharks . Sharks attack their prey. . Michael works on a submarine. Michael

#1: What does the subject do? Verbs Find the Verb…. There are three ways to find the verb. #1: What does the subject do? 1. My best friend studies marine biology. Studies Attack! 1. Sharks attack their prey.

Verbs Find the Verb…. #2: Put a pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, or they) in front of the word you think is a verb. If the result makes sense, you have a verb.

Verbs Find the Verb…. #3: Recognize the linking verbs. They do not show action. Instead, they give information. I am tall. Bob seems unhappy.

Verbs Many verbs consist of more than one word. The verb often has a “helping” verb. Mike is writing a report about the great white shark. We are studying about the jaws and teeth of sharks.

Verbs Notes: Words like not, just, never, always, and only are NOT part of the verb. A shark does not sleep. People have always feared sharks. When what LOOKS like a verb has a “to” in front of it, it is not a verb. Sharks like to live in cold water.

Verbs No -ing word by itself is the verb of the sentence. ( It may be part of the verb, but it must have a helping verb in front of it.) When hunting for sharks, people rarely use the term fishing. Verb Not the verb Michael is hunting for sharks tomorrow.. Verb (with a helper)

Compound Subjects and Verbs A sentence may have more than one verb. The shark swam and attacked. A sentence may have more than one subject. Dolphins and whales have some protection from sharks.

Practice My brother expects Subject: brother to go on an important Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. My brother expects to go on an important job interview soon. Subject: brother Verb: expects

Practice He practiced for this interview in an Subject: he Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. He practiced for this interview in an interesting way. Subject: he Verb: practiced

Practice Subject: preparing Verb: was Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. Practice Subject: preparing Verb: was Preparing for an interview was a very important part of the process.

Relative clause subject: Practice Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. Bill went on job interviews for positions that he did not really want. Subject: Bill Verb: went Relative clause subject: he Relative clause verb: did want

Practice Subject: he Now he is more relaxed Verb: is Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. Subject: he Verb: is Now he is more relaxed about meeting with employers and answering questions.

Practice Appropriate dress is important, too. Subject: dress Verb: is Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. Appropriate dress is important, too. Subject: dress Verb: is

Practice Subject: applicants Verbs: wrote / spoke Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. Practice Subject: applicants Verbs: wrote / spoke The job applicants wrote essays about their values and spoke in front of a small group.

Practice Subject: Bill Verb: should have researched Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. Practice Of course, Bill should have researched the company beforehand. Subject: Bill Verb: should have researched

Practice A worthy candidate Subject:candidate for a job wants to Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. A worthy candidate for a job wants to give a good impression. Subject:candidate Verb: wants