Grammar Level 2: The Parts of the Sentence The study of the sentence is the study of thought itself. In order to express a thought, we must do two things: 1. We must identify what we are talking about 2. We must say what we are saying about it

The Sentence Sentence: A sentence is a two-part thought: it is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate, and which makes a complete idea.

The Sentence B. Parts of the Sentence 1. Subject 2. Predicate a. Direct object b. Indirect object c. Subject complement d. Object complement

The Subject Simple subject: the noun or subject pronoun that the sentence is about. Complete subject: the simple subject and all of its modifiers. Notice that only subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they) can be subjects. Compound subject: a compound subject is a multiple subject: more than one noun or pronoun is used as a multiple subject of the same clause. Example: Physics and astronomy are my favorite subjects.

The Predicate Simple predicate: a simple predicate is the verb. Example: Bob went over to the crater at the foot of the escarpment. Complete predicate: everything that is said about the subject Example: Bob went to the crater and gathered three bags of comet dust.

The Sentence subject/predicate set: the subject/predicate set is the combination of simple subject and simple predicate which is always present as a nucleus in every sentence and in every clause. There may be more than one subject/predicate set in a single sentence.

Subject/Verb Agreement The number of the subject and the verb must agree. A plural subject must have a plural verb. A singular subject must have a singular verb. Example: The top of the mountains is covered by snow. Remember: The sentence is either a thought about something singular, or else it is a thought about something plural. It cannot logically be both!

Direct Object A direct object is a noun or object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them) which receives the action of the action verb. When there is a direct object, the verb is called transitive. Example: Sparks struck the side. They hit him.

Indirect Object An indirect object is a noun or object pronoun located between the action verb and the direct object. It is indirectly affected by the action. If there is an indirect object, there must be a direct object. Therefore, the verb is still transitive. Example: We gave him the business.

Subject Complement A subject complement is a noun, subject pronoun, or adjective which complements the subject; it is linked to the subject by a linking verb. The subject complement, in a sense, renames the subject. Example: Bob is a painter. It was he. The mutt was tired.

Predicate Nominative Predicate nominative is a term sometimes used to describe a subject complement made out of a noun or pronoun. Example: It was she or I who came to visit. It is I, Hamlet.

Predicate Adjective Predicate adjective is a term sometimes used to describe a subject complement made out of an adjective. Example: I am sleepy.

Object Complement An object complement is a noun, object pronoun, or adjective that completes the meaning of the direct object. Example: They selected him president. They painted the house blue.

The Logic Path of a Sentence 1. Find the subject/predicate set. 2. If the verb is action, -Do not look for a subject complement -Look for a direct object 3. If you find a direct object -Look for an indirect object 4. If the verb is linking, -Do not look for a direct object -Look for a subject complement -Look for the next subject/predicate set and repeat

The Logic Path of Sentence Structure Verb Linking Direct Object? Action Indirect Object? Subject Complement? Pred. Nominative? Pred. Adjective?