Parts of Sentences

Subjects and Predicates Sentence: is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Subject : is the part of the sentence that names whom or what the sentence is about. Predicate: is the part of the sentence that says something about the subject.

Simple Subject and Simple Predicates Simple subject: is the key noun or pronoun that tells who or what the sentence is about. Simple Predicate: is the verb or verb phrase that expresses an action or state of being about the subject of the sentence

Complete Subjects and Predicates Complete Subjects: consists of the simple subject and all of the words that modify it. Complete Predicates: consists of the simple predicate and all words that modify it or complete its meaning.

Compound Subjects Compound subjects are made up of two or more simple subjects that are joined by a conjunction and have the same verb. Examples: Tomatoes and carrots are colorful vegetables. Both the tomato and the pepper are rich in vitamin C.

Compound Predicates Compound predicates (or compound verbs) are made up of two or more verbs or verb phrases that are joined by a conjunction and have the same subject. Examples: Maria opened her book, grabbed a pencil, and started her homework. We have tested these products and have found them good.

Some sentences may have both a compound subject and a compound predicate. Example: Butterflies and hummingbirds dip and dart in the air.

Order of Subject and Predicate In English the subject comes BEFORE the verb in MOST sentences. But there are SOME exceptions: In commands and requests In questions

Commands and Requests In commands and requests, the subject is usually not stated. The predicate is the entire sentence. The pronoun [YOU] is understood to be the subject of the sentence. Example: [YOU] Please be careful.

Questions Questions frequently begin with a verb or a helping verb or the words who, whom, when, where, why, when, and how. In order to find the subject of a question, rearrange the words in the question to form a statement. Example: Whom did he invite? Was the test hard? He did invite whom. The test was hard.

A sentence written in inverted order (predicated then subject), serves to add emphasis to the subject. Example: Here are my thoughts on the matter. There is a chill in the air today.

Prepositional Phrases can NEVER be the subject of a sentence. Example: On a cold night, the house gets very chilly.

Complements Complements is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of a verb. There are 4 types of complements: direct objects, indirect objects, object complements, and subject complements.

Direct Objects Direct objects answer the question what? Or whom? Example: Carl served dinner. Carl served what? Ans. Dinner is the D.O.

Indirect Objects Indirect objects answer the questions To whom?, For whom?,To what? or For what? After an action verb. Example: Tim sent me a letter. Tim sent what? Ans. Letter = D.O. Tim sent a letter to whom? Ans. Me = I.O.

Object Complement An object complement answers the question what? After a direct object. It completes the meaning of the direct object by identifying or describing it. Object complements occur only sentences with direct objects and only in those sentences with the following action verbs or with similar verbs that have the general meaning of “make” or “consider”

Appoint Make Call Name Choose Prove Consider Render Elect Think Find Vote

An object complement usually follows a direct object. I may be an adjective, a noun, or a pronoun. Examples: Residents find the park peaceful. [Adj] Maya appointed me spokesperson and treasurer. [nouns] My grandmother considers the property hers. [pronoun]

Subject complements A subject complement follows a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject. There are two kinds of subject complements: predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives

A predicate nominative is a noun or a pronoun that follows a linking verb and points back to the subject to rename it or identify it further. Example: Sopranos are singers. The star of the opera was she. Many current opera stars are Italian.

Predicate adjectives follow linking verbs and points back to the subject and further describe it. Examples: Firefighters are brave. Firefighters must be extremely careful. Most firefighters are dedicated and hardworking.