Subjects and Predicates

A sentence must have these three things: a subject 1) a subject - the star of the sentence, the who or what that’s doing something or being described (a noun or pronoun) a predicate 2) a predicate - this tells us what the subject is doing or the subject’s state of being a complete idea 3) a complete idea - it can stand alone and make sense--it’s independent If it’s missing any one of these three elements, then it’s a FRAGMENT.

While short, this sentence contains all three. (a subject, predicate, and complete idea) Fred ran.

In English III, we’re going to work on making our sentences more complex-- adding phrases and clauses. So…it’s important that we still be able to identify the simple subject and predicate, even when it’s surrounded by fancy stuff! Fred ran.

Because he was being chased, Fred ran.

Because he was being chased down the hall by a pack of angry girls, Fred ran.

Because he was being chased down the hall by a pack of angry girls, Fred ran into the boys’ bathroom.

Because he was being chased down the hall by a pack of angry girls, who were determined to make him pay for his lies and cheating, Fred ran into the boys’ bathroom.

Because he was being chased down the hall by a pack of angry girls, who were determined to make him pay for his lies and cheating, Fred ran into the boys’ bathroom, the one place at school where he felt he might be safe from their terrifying wrath.

1. Find the simple subject? (write it on your handout) Despite the crazy heat, the brave members of the LTHS band wore their full uniforms on the field during their amazing half-time show at the game against Westlake.

2. Find the simple predicate? (write it on your handout) Despite the crazy heat, the brave members of the LTHS band wore their full uniforms on the field during their amazing half-time show at the game against Westlake.

3. Find the simple subject? (write it on your handout) Students who are still feeling lost and confused about how to portal into a class for some Cavtime tutoring can find information by clicking on the Cavtime link on the school’s website.

4. Find the simple predicate? (write it on your handout) Students who are still feeling lost and confused about how to portal into a class for some Cavtime tutoring can find information by clicking on the Cavtime link on the school’s website.

5. Can you find the simple subject? The amazing athletes of the LTHS volleyball team were victorious at their tournament last week.

6. Can you find the simple predicate? (write it on your handout) The amazing athletes of the LTHS volleyball team were victorious at the Pearland Classic tournament last week.

Check your Answers!

1. the simple subject Despite the crazy heat, the brave members of the LTHS band wore their full uniforms on the field during their amazing half-time show at the game against Westlake.

2. the simple predicate Despite the crazy heat, the brave members of the LTHS band wore their full uniforms on the field during their amazing half-time show at the game against Westlake.

3. the simple subject Students who are still feeling lost and confused about how to portal into a class for some Cavtime tutoring can find information by clicking on the Cavtime link on the school’s website.

3. the simple predicate Students who are still feeling lost and confused about how to portal into a class for some Cavtime tutoring can find information by clicking on the Cavtime link on the school’s website. can is a helping verb

5. the simple subject (write it on your handout) The amazing athletes of the LTHS volleyball team were victorious at their tournament last week.

6. the simple predicate The amazing athletes of the LTHS volleyball team were victorious at their tournament last week. linking verb