The Sentence and Its Parts

Complete Subject All the words that tell whom or what the sentence is about. All the words that tell whom or what the sentence is about. The green chalk board is terrible to read. The green chalk board is terrible to read. Complete Sub.= The green chalk board

Complete Predicate The verb and all the words that tell about the verb. The verb and all the words that tell about the verb. The green chalk board is terrible to read. The green chalk board is terrible to read. Complete Predicate = is terrible to read.

Simple Subject The main focus of the sentence. Descriptive words are not a part of the simple subject. The main focus of the sentence. Descriptive words are not a part of the simple subject. The subject must be a noun or pronoun. The subject must be a noun or pronoun. The green chalk board is terrible to read. The green chalk board is terrible to read. Simple subject = board

Simple Predicate = Verb The verb is the one main action of the sentence. The verb is the one main action of the sentence. If you can do it, it is a verb. If you can do it, it is a verb. The green chalk board is terrible to read. The green chalk board is terrible to read. Verb = is Verb = is

Verb Phrases A phrase is a group of words that is not a complete thought. A phrase is a group of words that is not a complete thought. A verb phrase is the main verb plus one or more helping verbs. A verb phrase is the main verb plus one or more helping verbs. The green chalk board has been erased. The green chalk board has been erased. Verb Phrase = has been erased. Verb Phrase = has been erased.

Helping Verbs Be Be Am Am Is Is Are Are Was Was Were Were Have Have Has Has Had Had Do Do Does Does Did Did May May Might Might Must Must Can Can Could Could Shall Shall Should Should Will Will Would Would Being Being Been Been

Compound Sentence Parts A sentence can have a compound subject or a compound verb. A sentence can have a compound subject or a compound verb. An easy way to spot the compound portion of a sentence is to look for the conjunction. An easy way to spot the compound portion of a sentence is to look for the conjunction. Possible conjunctions are: and, or, but, yet, so, for, and nor. Possible conjunctions are: and, or, but, yet, so, for, and nor.

Compound Subject A compound subject is made of two or more words that share the same verb. A compound subject is made of two or more words that share the same verb. Billy, Bobby, and Betty went fishing. Billy, Bobby, and Betty went fishing. Compound subject = Billy, Bobby, and Betty Compound subject = Billy, Bobby, and Betty They all share the verb “went”.

Compound Verb A compound verb is made up of two or more verbs that share the same subject. A compound verb is made up of two or more verbs that share the same subject. Billy bought and ate the ice cream. Billy bought and ate the ice cream. Compound verb = bought and ate

Kinds of Sentences Declarative Declarative Interrogative Interrogative Imperative Imperative Exclamatory Exclamatory

Declarative Makes a statement Makes a statement Always ends with a period Always ends with a period I go to school to learn English. I go to school to learn English.

Interrogative Asks a question Asks a question Always ends with a question mark Always ends with a question mark? Why do I go to school to learn English? Why do I go to school to learn English?

Imperative Gives a command Gives a command Can end with a period or an exclamation point Can end with a period or an exclamation point Sit down. Sit down. Go to the office! Go to the office!

Exclamatory Shows strong feeling or emotion Shows strong feeling or emotion Always ends with an exclamation point Always ends with an exclamation point English is the best subject ever! English is the best subject ever!

Dealing with Subjects in Unusual Places Traditionally, a subject comes before a verb. However, a subject can be in four unusual places. Traditionally, a subject comes before a verb. However, a subject can be in four unusual places. 1. In a question 1. In a question 2. In a sentence that begins with “here” or “there” 2. In a sentence that begins with “here” or “there” 3. In a command 3. In a command 4. In a sentence that begins with a phrase 4. In a sentence that begins with a phrase Make sure you find the subject and make the verb agree with it. Make sure you find the subject and make the verb agree with it.

Subject Verb Agreement in Questions What on earth is he doing? What on earth is he doing? Sub. = he (singular) Sub. = he (singular) Verb = is (singular) Verb = is (singular) Are your parents coming to dinner? Are your parents coming to dinner? Sub. = parents (plural) Sub. = parents (plural) Verb = Are (plural) Verb = Are (plural)

Subject Verb Agreement in Sentences Beginning with Here or There Here comes Prince Charming to save the princess. Here comes Prince Charming to save the princess. Sub. = Prince Charming (singular) Sub. = Prince Charming (singular) Verb = comes (singular) Verb = comes (singular) There go The Three Musketeers off to save the day! There go The Three Musketeers off to save the day! Sub. = The Three Musketeers (plural) Sub. = The Three Musketeers (plural) Verb = go (plural) Verb = go (plural)

Subject Verb Agreement in Sentences That Are Commands In a command, the subject is an understood “you.” Therefore, it does not appear in the sentence. In this case, the traditional verb choice is plural. In a command, the subject is an understood “you.” Therefore, it does not appear in the sentence. In this case, the traditional verb choice is plural. Go to the office! Go to the office! Stay in your seat. Stay in your seat. In both cases, I am talking to only one person, but I use a plural verb.

Subject Verb Agreement in Sentences That Begin with Prepositional Phrases Make sure you match the verb to the subject, not the object of the preposition. Make sure you match the verb to the subject, not the object of the preposition. In the trees flies the bird. In the trees flies the bird. Sub. = bird Sub. = bird Verb = flies Verb = flies Over the river and through the woods go we to grandmother’s house. Over the river and through the woods go we to grandmother’s house. Sub. = we Sub. = we Verb = go Verb = go

Subject Complements Predicate Noun Predicate Noun Predicate Adjective Predicate Adjective

Predicate Noun Renames or defines the subject Renames or defines the subject Noun or pronoun Noun or pronoun After a linking verb After a linking verb

Example P.N. My favorite place to visit is London. My favorite place to visit is London. P.N. = London P.N. = London

Predicate Adjective Adjective Adjective Follows a linking verb Follows a linking verb Describes the subject Describes the subject

Example PA She is beautiful. She is beautiful. Subject = she Subject = she Linking verb = is Linking verb = is PA = beautiful PA = beautiful

Objects of Verbs Direct Object Direct Object Indirect Object Indirect Object

Direct Object Noun or pronoun Noun or pronoun Follows an action verb Follows an action verb Answers the questions What? or Whom? Answers the questions What? or Whom? YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE AN I.O. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE AN I.O.

Example D.O. He played the piano nicely. He played the piano nicely. D.O. = piano D.O. = piano

Indirect Object Noun or pronoun Noun or pronoun Follows an action verb Follows an action verb Comes before a direct object Comes before a direct object Answers the questions To Whom?, To What?, For Whom?, or For What? Answers the questions To Whom?, To What?, For Whom?, or For What? YOU MUST HAVE A D.O. to have an I.O. YOU MUST HAVE A D.O. to have an I.O.

Example I.O. He gave her an ice cream cone. He gave her an ice cream cone. D.O. = cone D.O. = cone I.O. = her I.O. = her

Fragments and Run-Ons A fragment is a sentence that is missing the subject, the verb, or both. A fragment is a sentence that is missing the subject, the verb, or both. Ex. In the middle of the night Ex. In the middle of the night A run-on sentence has two or more complete ideas and is not punctuated properly. A run-on sentence has two or more complete ideas and is not punctuated properly. Ex. We went to the park and we had a marvelous time. Ex. We went to the park and we had a marvelous time.