Parts of a Sentence Subjects and Predicates

Complete Sentences In order for a sentence to be complete it needs to have two basic parts. – a subject – a predicate

What is a subject? The subject is who or what the sentence is about. More specifics: – The subject of a sentence typically occurs at the beginning of the sentence consists of a noun phrase indicates the topic of the discussion – The subject is either the “doer” of the action or the thing that the action is being done to.

What is a Predicate? The predicate is what the subject is doing, is feeling, or is. It is the action of the sentence. More specifics: – The predicate typically follows the subject starts with a verb indicating an action or state of being conveys a thought about the subject.

Examples My neighborhas a mean dog. Ilike to eat sweets. The funny moviemade us laugh. The announcerspoke too quickly. Subjects Predicates

Parts of a Sentence Phrases and Clauses

Complete Sentences Now it gets a little complicated. – Not all nouns are subjects and sometimes even when a sentence has a subject and predicate it isn’t complete. – This is when phrases and clauses need to be considered.

Phrases A phrase is a collection of words that may have nouns or verbals, but it does not have a subject doing a verb. Examples: – smashing into a fence – before the first test – after the devastation – broken into thousands of pieces These phrases have nouns and verbs, but none of the nouns are actually doing the verbs

Clauses A clause is a collection of words that has a subject that is actively doing a verb. Examples: – I despise individuals of low character – when the saints go marching in – He is uglier than a rabid raccoon. – because she smiled at him.

Two Types of Clauses Independent – An independent clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence. Dependent or Subordinate – A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence.

Independent Clauses We call clauses independent when they can stand independently by themselves, without any extra words attached, and be complete sentences. Examples: – I love swimming. – He ate. – She went home after school.

Dependent Clauses Dependent clauses have a subject doing a verb, but they have a subordinate conjunction placed in front of the clause. – That subordinate conjunction means that the clause can't stand independently by itself and become a complete sentence. – The dependent clause is dependent upon another clause--it can't make a complete sentence by itself, even though it has a subject doing a verb.

Subordinating Conjunctions Examples: – after – how – although – if – unless – as – until – when – as long as – whenever – as much as – now that – where – as soon as – wherever – as though – since – while – because – so that – before – than – even if – that – even though – though

Subordinating Conjunctions These words tell us that there is more information that needs to be said or written. When all you have is a dependent clause you are left asking questions. Examples: – After the storm flooded the city – As soon as Ana eats dinner – While I was exercising These clauses all have a subject and predicate, but they are not expressing a complete idea. We still need to know what happened.