1. The Sentence and Its Parts

2. The Sentence and Its Parts
Complete Subjects and Predicates
Simple Subjects
Simple Predicates, or Verbs
Verb Phrases
Compound Sentence Parts
Kinds of Sentences
Subjects in Unusual Order
Subject Complements
Complements: Objects of Verbs
Fragments and Run-Ons

3. Complete Subjects and Predicates
In order to share ideas and information successfully, you need to use complete sentences.
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.
Every complete sentence has two basic parts:
A subject
A predicate

4. Some architects bring nature indoors.
Subject
The complete subject includes all the words that tell whom or what the sentence is about
Some architects bring nature indoors.
Complete subject

5. Some architects bring nature indoors.
Predicate
The complete predicate includes the verb and all the words that complete the verb’s meaning.
Some architects bring nature indoors.
Complete Predicate

6. Some architects bring nature indoors.
Simple Subjects
The simple subject is the main word or words in the complete subject. Descriptive words are not part of the simple subject.
Some architects bring nature indoors.
Simple Subject

7. Simple Predicates, or Verbs
The simple predicate is the main verb in the complete predicate.
Some architects bring nature indoors.
Simple Predicate

8. Some architects may bring nature indoors.
Verb Phrases
The simple predicate, or verb, may consist of two or more words. These words are called a verb phrase.
A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one or more helping verbs.
Some architects may bring nature indoors.
Verb Phrase

9. Some architects and florists bring nature indoors.
Compound Subjects
A compound subject is made up of two or more subjects that share the same verb. The subjects are joined by a conjunction, or connecting word, such as and, but, or or.
Some architects and florists bring nature indoors.
Compound Subjects

10. The architects worked and slept on the job.
Compound Verbs
A compound verb is made up of two or more verbs that have the same subject. The verbs are joined by a conjunction such as and, but, or or.
The architects worked and slept on the job.
Compound verb

11. Kinds of Sentences Kind of Sentence What it Does Example Declarative
Makes a statement; always ends with a period.
I see something weird in that tree. It looks like a gray basketball.
Interrogative
Asks a question; always ends with a question mark.
What do you think it is? Is it a hornet’s nest?
Imperative
Tells or asks someone to do something; usually ends with a period but may end with an exclamation point.
Please don’t get too close to it. Be careful!
Exclamatory
Shows strong feeling; always ends with an exclamation point.
I see hornets flying out! I’m getting out of here!

12. Subjects in Unusual Order
Questions
In a question, the subject usually comes after the verb or between parts of the verb phrase.
Does the weather look good for the game?
Verb phrase
subject

13. Subjects in Unusual Order
Commands
The subject of a command, or imperative sentence, is usually “you”. Often, you doesn’t appear in the sentence but it is implied.
(You) Meet us at the concession stand.
Implied subject

14. Subject of Compliments
A subject complement is a word or group of words that follows a linking verb and renames or describes the subject.
Butterflies are fragile.
Linking verb
Complement
Subject

15. Monarch butterflies are insects.
Predicate Nouns
A predicate noun follows a linking verb and defines or renames the subject.
Monarch butterflies are insects.
Defines
Predicate noun
subject
Renames
Cocoons become butterfly nurseries.

16. Monarchs look beautiful.
Predicate Adjective
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes a quality of the subject.
Monarchs look beautiful.
Describes
Subject
Predicate Adjective

17. Movie producers often borrow real homes.
Direct Objects
A direct object is a word or group of words that names the receiver of the action of an action verb. A direct object answers the question what or whom.
Movie producers often borrow real homes.
Borrow what?
Direct object
Charm whom?
The right house can charm viewers.

18. We lent the producer our house.
Indirect Objects
An indirect object is a word or group of words that tells to whom or what (or for whom or what) an action is performed. An indirect object usually comes between a verb and a direct object.
We lent the producer our house.
To whom?
Indirect object

19. Fragments
A sentence fragment is a part of a sentence that is written as if it were a complete sentence. A sentence fragment is missing a subject, a predicate, or both.
The Rungus people in Malaysia (missing a predicate)
Build traditional homes called longhouses. (missing a subject)
They build traditional homes called longhouses. (complete sentence)

20. Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence is two or more sentences written as though they were a single sentence.
The longhouse roof is made of palm leaves, the walls are made of tree bark. (run-on)
The longhouse roof is made of palm leaves. The walls are made of tree bark.
The longhouse roof is made of palm leaves, and the walls are made of tree bark.