Subject and Object

A sentence may be divided into a subject and a predicate Subject = who or what we are talking about. It is the person/object performing the action Predicate = the rest of the sentence It expands on the subject and always begins with a verb. Example: Anne built the sandcastle

Subject Sometimes a subject may be implied. Example: “Go!” A sentence may have a multiple-word subject: Example: ‘The huge black barrel exploded.’ The word order of the sentence is irrelevant; Example: Higher and higher flew the balloon. The subject will always be a noun or noun-equivalent (a pronoun). Example: they ordered enormous ice-creams

Object The person or thing who suffers, receives or undergoes the action Example: Michael confused Suzi There are two types of objects: Direct and Indirect Direct object: answers who or what after the verb. Uncle Jim sends his love Sophia hates when her father lectures her about her grades.

Indirect Object Indirect object: always tells you to whom/what or for whom/what after the direct object. You can ask: ‘who or what received the direct object?’ Example: The dog brought the ball to his master Subject = the dog Verb = brought Direct object = the ball Indirect object = to his master

Example Samuel sent his aunt a postcard from Cape Town. “Samuel” is the subject, “sent” is the verb. Ask the question “sent what?” “A postcard” is the direct object. To determine the indirect object, ask who received the direct object. “His aunt” is the indirect object.

Identify the subject and object (direct and indirect) in the following sentences: Marc paints the house for his family. Katniss took a basket of roots to Gale. Twelve Districts participate in the Hunger Games. Jack stole the conch shell from Ralph. Alexa gave me her algebra notes.

Answers: 1. Marc = subject Paints = verb The house = direct object For his family = indirect object 2. Katniss = subject Took = verb A basket of roots = direct object To Gale = indirect object 3. Twelve Districts = subject Participate = verb In the Hunger Games = direct object 4. Jack = subject Stole = verb The conch shell =direct object From Ralph = indirect object 5. Alexa = subject Gave = verb Me = indirect object Her algebra notes = direct object