© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills, 6E and College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Subjects and Verbs Chapter Twenty- Three Subjects and Verbs

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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?

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Find the Verb…. linking verbs #3: Recognize the linking verbs. They do not show action. Instead, they give information. I am tall. Bob seems unhappy.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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:

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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)

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. subject prepositional phraseThe subject of a sentence never appears within a prepositional phrase. prepositional phraseA prepositional phrase is simply a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with an object. Distinguishing Subjects from Prepositional Phrases

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. exhibitSubject: exhibit isVerb: is An interesting exhibit of a killer whale is very. popular at the new aquarium. Prepositional phrases: of a killer whale at the new aquarium Distinguishing Subjects from Prepositional Phrases

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. heSubject: he practicedVerb: practiced Identify the subjects and verbs in the following. He practiced for this interview in an interesting way.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. dressSubject: dress isVerb: is Identify the subjects and verbs in the and verbs in thefollowing. Appropriate dress is important, too. important, too.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E Chapter 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 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.