The Subject, Predicate, and More

Subject The subject tells whom or what the sentence is about. Example: Lois Lenski wrote Strawberry Girl. The tooth with a point is called a canine. To find the subject, ask yourself who or what is doing something or about whom or what something is being said. The subject may come at the beginning, in the middle, or even at the end of a sentence.

Complete Subject & Simple Subject The complete subject is all of the words needed to tell whom or what the sentence is about. The simple subject is the main word or words group that tells whom or what the sentence is about. Examples: The Korean market is closed today. Complete subject: The Korean market Simple subject: market

Predicate The predicate of a sentence tells something about the subject. Example: Lois Lenski wrote Strawberry Girls. The predicate usually comes after the subject. Sometimes, however part or all of the predicate comes before the subject. Example: Quickly we learned the layout of the small Hopi village.

Complete Predicate & Simple Predicate Complete predicate is a verb and all the words that describe the verb and complete its meaning. Simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or word group in the complete predicate. Example: The nurse lifted the patient carefully. Complete predicate: lifted the patient carefully Simple predicate: lifted

The simple predicate may be a single verb or a verb phrase. A verb phrase is a verb with one or more helping verbs. Examples: Yoshi went to Japan last summer. (single verb) The park is located near a lake. (verb phrase) We should have planned a picnic. (verb phrase)

Compound Subject A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that are joined be a conjunction and that have the same verb. The parts of a compound subject are most often connected by and or or. Examples: Minneapolis and St. Paul are called the “Twin Cities.” The two parts of the compound subject have the same verb, are called. Will Mrs. Jones or Ms. Lopez chaperone our field trip? The two parts of the compound subject have the same verb, Will chaperone.

Compound Predicate A compound predicate is two or more verbs that are joined by a conjunction and that have the same subject. A connecting word such as and or but is used to join the parts of a compound predicate. Examples: Ben overslept but caught his bus anyway. The two parts of the compound predicate have the same subject, Ben.

Important Notes: A sentence may have both a compound subject and a compound verb. Sometimes a sentence will contain more than one subject and verb, but neither the subject nor verb will be compound. Example: I like apples, but my sister prefers oranges. (compound sentence)

Practice Identify the complete subject in each of these sentences. Many games use rackets or paddles. Tennis can be an exhausting sport. Identify complete predicate in each of these sentences

Check your answers Identify the complete subject in each of these sentences. Many games use rackets or paddles. Tennis can be an exhausting sport. Identify complete predicate in each of these sentences

Practice Identify the compound subjects in each of the following sentences. Wild ducks and geese migrate south each year. At a party, balloons or horns make the best noisemakers. Identify the compound predicate in each of the following sentences. Julie received good grades and made the honor roll. I remembered the bread but forgot the milk.

Check your answers Identify the compound subjects in each of the following sentences. Wild ducks and geese migrate south each year. At a party, balloons or horns make the best noisemakers. Identify the compound predicate in each of the following sentences. Julie received good grades and made the honor roll. I remembered the bread but forgot the milk.