Subjects and Verbs Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Form B John Langan ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs subjectsverbsThe basic building blocks of English sentences are subjects and verbs. subject –Who or what the sentence speaks about is called the subject. verb –What the sentence says about the subject is called the verb. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs Find the Subject. Who or what is the sentence about? 1. My best friend studies marine biology. Friend 2. Sharks attack their prey. Sharks 3. Michael works on a submarine. Michael ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs Find the Verb…. There are three ways to find the verb. 1. My best friend studies marine biology. Studies 1. Sharks attack their prey. Attack! #1: What does the subject do? ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs Find the Verb…. #2: Put a pronoun in front of the word you think is a verb. #2: Put a pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, or they) in front of the word you think is a verb. If the result makes sense, you have a verb. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs Find the Verb…. linking verbs #3: Most verbs show action. Also learn to recognize the linking verbs. They do not show action. Instead, they give information. I am tall. Bob seems unhappy. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs about, beside, onto, toward betweenWords like about, beside, onto, toward, and between are prepositional phrases, not subjects. what, when or where. –A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with the answer to the question what, when or or where. Cross out prepositional phrases when trying to find the subject. Notes: ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs Many verbs consist of more than one word. helping verb.The verb often has a helping verb. is writing –Mike is writing a report about the great white shark. are studying –We are studying about the jaws and teeth of sharks. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs 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.) When hunting for sharks, people rarely use the term fishing. Not the verb Verb Michael is hunting for sharks tomorrow.. Verb (with a helper) ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs not, just, never, alwaysonlyWords like not, just, never, always, and only are NOT part of the verb. doessleepA shark does not sleep. have fearedPeople have always feared sharks. LOOKS to When what LOOKS like a verb has a to in front of it, it is not a verb. like ­Sharks like to live in cold water. Notes: ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs A sentence may have more than one verb. swamattacked –The shark swam and attacked. A sentence may have more than one subject. –Dolphins whales –Dolphins and whales have some protection from sharks. Compound Subjects and Verbs ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs brotherSubject: brother expectsVerb: expects Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. My brother expects to go on an important job interview soon. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs heSubject: he practicedVerb: practiced Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. He practiced for this interview in an interesting way. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs preparingSubject: preparing wasVerb: was Preparing for an interview was a very important part of the process. Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs BillSubject: Bill wentVerb: went Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. Relative clause subject:he Relative clause verb: did want Bill went on job interviews for positions that he did not really want. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs heSubject: he isVerb: is Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. Now he is more relaxed about meeting with employers and answering questions. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs dressSubject: dress isVerb: is Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. Appropriate dress is important, too. important, too. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs applicantsSubject: applicants wrote / spokeVerbs: wrote / spoke The job applicants wrote essays about their values and spoke in front of a small group. Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs BillSubject: Bill should have researchedVerb: should have researched Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. Of course, Bill should have researched the company beforehand. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E

Subjects and Verbs candidateSubject:candidate wantsVerb: wants Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. A worthy candidate for a job wants to give a good impression. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form B, 8E