1. Subject and Predicate, Kinds of sentences
The Parts of a Sentence
Subject and Predicate, Kinds of sentences

2. Bell Ringer: The Sentence
NOTES
A sentence is a word group that contains a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought.
A fragment is a word group that looks like a sentence but does not contain both a subject and a verb or does not express a complete thought.
Directions: Look at the fragments below and fix them to form a complete sentence.
1. Was a well-known musician.
2. A butterfly with bright blue wings and long antennae.
3. Even though she had worked a long time.

3. Bell Ringer: The Subject
NOTES
A subject tells whom or what the sentence is about.
** To find the subject, ask who or what is doing something or about whom or about what something is being said.
Directions: Write the sentences and underline the subject.
1. Laughing and running down the street were two small boys.
[Who were laughing and running down the street?]
2. A sealed envelope rested near the edge of the desk.
[What rested near the edge of the desk?]
3. Are Dalmatians good watchdogs?
[About what is something being said?]

4. The Subject (Continued)
NOTES
The complete subject consists of all the words that tell whom or what the sentence is about.
EXAMPLE: The dangerous trip over the mountains took four days.
The simple subject is the main word or word group that tells whom or what the sentence is about.
** In some sentences, the simple subject may consist of more than one word.
EXAMPLE: Stamp collecting is my father’s favorite hobby.
EXAMPLE: Madeline Johnson was appointed secretary.

5. Bell Ringer: The Predicate
NOTES
The predicate of a sentence tells something about the subject.
The complete predicate consists of a verb and all the words that describe the verb and complete its meaning.
EXAMPLE: Marco’s brother delivers pizza.
[Delivers is the verb, and pizza tells what he delivered.]
EXAMPLE: Under a large tree sat a tiny rabbit.
[Sat is the verb, and under a large tree tells where he sat.]
EXAMPLE: Does this copier staple and fold documents?
[Does staple and fold are the verbs, and documents tell what they staple/fold.]

6. The Predicate: Continued
The simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or word group that tells something about the subject.
A simple predicate may be a one-word verb, or it may be a verb phrase (a main verb and one or more helping verbs).
EXAMPLE: These books are available in the media center.
EXAMPLE: Our English class is reading the novel Frankenstein.
EXAMPLE: The musicians have been rehearsing since noon.
** REMEMBER that not and never are frequently used with verbs, but they are NOT verbs.
EXAMPLES: She did not believe me. They haven’t left yet. The cousins had never met.

7. Complete the backside of your worksheet labeled Verb Phrases.
Bell Ringer
Complete the backside of your worksheet labeled Verb Phrases.

8. Be sure to read directions carefully.
Bell Ringer
Pick up the worksheet labeled Complete Subjects and Predicates A, and complete #1-15.
Be sure to read directions carefully.