Chapter 23

 The basic building blocks of English sentences are subjects and verbs. ◦ Who or what the sentence is about is called the subject. ◦ The word(s) that show the action of the subject, or its state of being, is called the verb.

My best friend studies marine biology. Friend Sharks attack their prey. Sharks Michael works on a submarine. Michael

My best friend studies marine biology. Studies Sharks attack their prey. Attack

Put the pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, or they) in front of the word you think is a verb. If the result works… you have a verb.

 Recognize linking verbs. They do not show action, but a state of being.  I am tall.  Bob seems happy.

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

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

When hunting for sharks, people rarely use the term fishing. “Use” is the verb. “Hunting” is not the verb. Notes: 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.) “Is” = helping verb “Hunting” = verb Michael is hunting for sharks tomorrow.

 The subject of a sentence never appears within a prepositional phrase.  A prepositional phrase is simply a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with an object.

An interesting exhibit of a killer whale is very. popular at the new aquarium. Subject: exhibit Verb: is Prepositional phrases: of a killer whale at the new aquarium

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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