Subjects and Predicates

A sentence consists of a subject and a predicate that together express a complete thought. A sentence consists of a subject and a predicate that together express a complete thought. Both a subject and a predicate may consist of more than one word. Both a subject and a predicate may consist of more than one word. Example: Example: Charles Dickens's novels are still popular today. Charles Dickens's novels are still popular today.

Complete Subject and Complete Predicate Complete subject includes all the words in the subject of a sentence. Complete subject includes all the words in the subject of a sentence. Complete predicate includes all the words in the predicate of a sentence. Complete predicate includes all the words in the predicate of a sentence. Not all the words in the subject or the predicate are equally important. Not all the words in the subject or the predicate are equally important. Simple subject: the main word or word group in the complete subject. Simple subject: the main word or word group in the complete subject. Simple predicate: the main word or word group in the complete predicate. Simple predicate: the main word or word group in the complete predicate.

Simple Subject and Simple Predicate The simple predicate is always a verb. The simple predicate is always a verb. A verb is a word that express action or a state of being. A verb is a word that express action or a state of being. Sometimes the simple subject is the same as the complete subject. Sometimes the simple subject is the same as the complete subject. Sometimes the simple predicate is the same as the complete predicate. Sometimes the simple predicate is the same as the complete predicate.

Subject All nouns and pronouns in a sentence perform a noun function. All nouns and pronouns in a sentence perform a noun function. There are seven noun functions in English. There are seven noun functions in English. Subject/Direct Object/Indirect Object/Object of Preposition/Predicate Nominative/Appositive/Noun of Direct Address Subject/Direct Object/Indirect Object/Object of Preposition/Predicate Nominative/Appositive/Noun of Direct Address The subject of a sentence is never found in the prepositional phrase. The subject of a sentence is never found in the prepositional phrase.

Practice 1. Mother rides a bus to the office. 2. We had a flat tire on the busy highway. 3. Is he in the office today, Ms. Nabinsky. 4. Mr. Goldberg took the baseball team to Yankee Stadium for the game with the Detroit Tigers. 5. The door won’t open; I can’t get outside. 6. The big, shaggy collie produced ten pups.

Practice 7. George Washington Carver found many uses for peanut shells. 8. Grandmother volunteers at the new community hospital. 9. Riverboat rides don’t make me ill. 10. After the boat trip, we will walk to the center of town. 11. Dr. Wu is an excellent dentist. 12. She and I won’t arrive until Sunday.

How to find Subjects: How to find Subjects: First, find the verb First, find the verb Then, ask “Who?” or “What?” and say the verb. Then, ask “Who?” or “What?” and say the verb. The answer is the subject The answer is the subject