English Study Guide Subjects, Objects, & Clauses

A subject is who or what the sentence is about. An action verb is what the subject does A linking verb is a being verb that links the subject to its subject complement. If a sensory word is acting as a linking verb, you can replace it with a common linking verb to see if it makes sense and to figure out its use.

A direct object is the receiver of the action – it answers whom or what about the action verb. To find a direct object: 1. Find subject. 2. Find action verb. 3. Ask whom or what after the action verb and the answer = DO For example: Tom caught the ball. Tom = S caught = V ball = DO An indirect object is it answers to whom or for whom the action is done. To find an indirect object: 1. Find subject. 2. Find action verb. 3. Ask whom or what after the action verb and the answer = DO 4. Ask to whom or for whom after the DO and the answer = IO For example: Kelly gave me a card. Kelly = S gave = AV card = DO me = IO

A preposition is Common prepositions = about, above, across, after, against, among, … See Grammar Goodies & flashcard The noun that comes after a preposition is called the object of the preposition For example: We walked across the parking lot. Across = prep lot = OP the & parking = modifiers

A subject complement is To find a subject complement: 1. Find subject. 2. Find linking verb. 3. Ask who or what after LV = SC For example: Chip Kelly is the Eagles’ coach. Chip Kelly = S is = LV coach = SC

Direct objects and subject complements are alike because Direct objects and subject complements are different because

An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own as a sentence. It has a subject + a verb = complete thought. For example: Saint Dot’s Fair is this week. An dependent clause is a clause that can NOT stand on its own as a sentence. It has a subject + a verb but it doesn’t make a complete thought or it doesn’t make sense on its own. Dependent Clause Clue Words = although, because, while, since, after, if, even though, …..see grammar Goodies To find a DC in a sentence: If it begins a sentence, it starts with a clue word and ends with a comma. If it doesn’t begin a sentence, skim the sentence for DC clue words. Next see if the DC clue word is followed by a S + V. For example: Because the fair is this week, we will have a light work load. Another example is: I will work at the fair since it supports our school.

Independent and dependent clauses are alike because Independent and dependent clauses are different because