1. Subject and Predicate - No Fragments!

2. What is a sentence, exactly?
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.
Must contain both subject and predicate
There are four kinds of sentences.
Statement - also known as a declarative
Tells something to you and ends with a period
Question - also known as an interrogative
Asks something of you and ends with a question mark
Command - also known as an imperative
Tells you what to do or makes a request and ends with a period
Exclamation - also known as an exclamatory
Expresses strong feeling and ends with an exclamation mark

3. What is a subject, exactly?
A subject tells who or what the sentence is about.
A subject often comes at the beginning of the sentence.
But not always
A subject is usually the main noun in the sentence.

4. What is a predicate, exactly?
A predicate tells what the subject is or does in the sentence.
A predicate often comes after the subject of a sentence.
But not always
A predicate usually begins with the main verb of a sentence.

5. Examples of Complete Subjects
The dog bit me on my big toe!
Dog is the complete subject because it is the “what” of the sentence.
My sister told my mom that I didn’t finish my homework last night.
My sister is the complete subject because it is the “who” of the sentence.
Many students packed the gym to watch the basketball game.
Many students is the complete subject because it is the “who” of the sentence.

6. Examples of Complete Predicates
The dog bit me on my big toe!
Bit me on my big toe is the complete predicate because it tells what the dog did.
My sister told my mom that I didn’t finish my homework last night.
Told my mom that I didn’t finish my homework last night is the complete predicate because it tells what my sister did.
Many students packed the gym to watch the basketball game.
Packed the gym to watch the basketball game is the complete predicate because it tells what many students did.

7. How can you find the complete subject?
First find the verb in the sentence.
Jacob found a very old book in the library.
“found” is the verb
Next put “who” or “what” in front of it.
Who found? or What found?
Jacob found
This book is awesome!
Since Jacob found the very old book in the library, “Jacob” is the subject.

8. How can you find the complete predicate?
First find who or what does something in the sentence.
The chipmunk stared at me with a creepy look in its eye.
Chipmunk is the who or what.
Next ask yourself what the who or what did.
Why are you staring at me?
Stared at me with a creepy look in its eye is what the chipmunk did, so that is the predicate.

9. What is the complete subject of the sentence?
1. The bully cried in the principal’s office.
The Bully
Dodgeball
2. Dodgeball is my favorite sport.
3. English tests make me nervous.
English tests
Water
4. Water tastes way better than Kool-Aid!
Those kids
5. Those kids are extremely polite.

10. What is the complete predicate of the sentence?
Remember: a predicate is what the subject
“is” or “does.”
1. Mr. Johnson plays guitar well.
2. Hershey Park is my favorite place to go.
3. I love being at school!
4. Cats and dogs are not usually friends.
5. The Grammarheads rocked at the concert!

11. What is a simple subject?
A simple subject is the main word in the complete subject.
When the complete subject only has one word, it is also the simple subject.
simple subject
My best friend has a pet goldfish.
complete subject
I am learning about subjects and predicates.
simple subject
&
complete subject

12. What is a simple predicate?
A simple predicate is the main word in the complete predicate.
It is always the main verb, which tells what the subject is or does.
simple
predicate
Mom makes us wash our hands before dinner.
complete
predicate

13. Name It All! Give the complete subject, simple subject, complete predicate, and simple predicate.
Lots of kids eat hot dogs for lunch.

14. Name It All! Give the complete subject, simple subject, complete predicate, and simple predicate.
The smart student earned an A on her English test.
simple
subject

15. Name It All! Give the complete subject, simple subject, complete predicate, and simple predicate.
&
simple subject
simple
predicate
Jimmy is a fantastic baseball player!
complete
predicate

16. Rock Your Writing! No Fragments! by: The Grammarheads
Click the link above to watch the
No Fragments!
rock video at our website.