Parts of a Sentence Subjects and Predicates

Basic Definitions Subject: whom or what the sentence is about Predicate: tells what the subject is or does or what happens to the subject Ex. Huge cresting waves pound the sailboat. Subject Predicate

Simple vs. Complete Simple subject: the key word or words in subject Simple predicate: the verb or verb phrase Huge cresting waves pound the sailboat. Simple Subject Simple Predicate

Simple vs. Complete Complete subject: the simple subject and all the words that modify, or tell more about it Complete predicate: the simple predicate and all the words that modify, or tell more about it. Huge cresting waves pound the sailboat. Complete Subject Complete Predicate

Parts of a Sentence Subjects in Unusual Positions

Inverted Sentences When the subjects comes after the verb or part of the verb phrase –Ex: Down came the savage storm on the Spanish group. –Ex: Across the deck of the hopeless ship swept the sea.

Here or There Here and there can begin a sentence, but are rarely subjects –The subject usually follows the verb in this case –Ex: Here is the massive anchor of the boat –Ex. There lies a great ship, far beneath the ocean.

Questions In a question, the subject usually comes after the verb –Ex: Was the cargo of the boat valuable? –Ex: Did the great ship survive the storm?

Imperative Sentences The subject is usually “you”, but is understood, not written –It’s a demand –Ex: Please read the tale of the boat –Ex: Beware of the dog.

Any questions? Turn to page 49, then 588 Homework: pg 588 1,2, and 3;page 590