Sentence Structure

What is a sentence? A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. I am going to school. My mother is going grocery shopping. That movie was hysterical! Every sentence has two basic parts, a subject and a predicate.

Subject The subject is the part of the sentence that names who or what the sentence is about. The simple subject is the key noun or pronoun that tell who or what the sentence is about Alexie Sherman writes. Everyone will attend. Cookies were baking.

Predicate The predicate is the part of the sentence that says something about the subject. The simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state of being of the subject of the sentence Mary drives. Ginny swims. I like to sleep.

The Complete Subject and Predicate The complete subject consists of the simple subject and all the words that modify it. The complete predicate consist of the simple predicate (verb or verb phrase) and all the words that modify it. The Mississippi River flows south through the center of the United States.

Order of Subject and Predicate In English the subject usually comes before the verb. Exceptions to this rule: In commands and request, the subject is usually not stated [You] Listen! [You] Please see me. [You] Be careful

Inverted Order A sentence written in inverted order, in which the predicate comes before the subject, is used to add emphasis to the subject. Under the moonlight sat the old cypress tree. Above the forest circled three hawks.

Practice Identify the simple subject and simple predicate: 1. At the edge of the forest stood a watchful deer. 2. Please pass the salt. 3. Here is your first period classroom. 4. Devastating were the effects of the tornado!

More Exceptions … Questions often begin with a verb or a helping verb. Helping (Auxiliary) verbs Forms of BE (am, is, was were, being, been) Forms of HAVE (has, have, had, having) Other helping verbs (can, could, may, might, must, do, does, did, shall, should, will, would)

Examples Did he reply? Have you read Nikki Giovanni’s poetry? What do they sing?

Direct Objects Answers the question what? or whom? after an action verb The subject of a sentence usually performs the action directed by the verb. Direct objects are nouns, pronouns, or words acting as noun that the action is directed toward or received by.

Examples Mary sold her computer. (Mary sold what?) Claudia watched the teacher (Claudia watched who?)

Indirect Objects Answers the question to whom? For whom? to what? After an action verb A sentence can only have an indirect object if it has an direct object The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object If you add the word to or for in front of an indirect object, the sentence will still make sense

Examples Rami left Jennifer a message Rami left a message for Jennifer

Identify the direct and indirect objects 1. Max asked Sally a question about the dance. 2. I Have told him the answer several times. 3. The students ate their lunch in silence. 4. I saw Alice in the hallway during the class change. 5. Jim failed English last semester.