1. Writing Simple Sentences
Identifying Subjects, Verbs and Prepositional Phrases

2. Finding the Subject(s)
The subject is the topic of the sentence, who or what is taking some action or being talked about.
Class starts early in the morning.
I am glad to be at school.

3. Subjects can be nouns or pronouns.
A noun is a word that names a person, place or thing:
Abdullah, Lincoln University, classrooms…
A pronoun is a word that stands for a noun:
he, it, they …

4. Subjects, like nouns, can be singular or plural.
This class is fun.
My classes are fun.
My teachers and my assignments are fun.
singular
plural
Plural (compound)

5. Finding Prepositional Phrase(s)
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition (on, in, over, under, against, with, among…) and ends with a noun or pronoun.
It gives extra information about another word in the sentence.
The student in the front row is smart.

6. To remember about prepositional phrases: Rule 1
A prepositional phrase doesn’t make sense by itself, so it can’t be a complete sentence.
In the front row.
The student in the front row is smart.
fragment
sentence

7. To remember about prepositional phrases: Rule 2
The subject of a sentence will never be found inside a prepositional phrase.
Each student in this room is intelligent.
All students in this room are intelligent.
subjects
prepositional phrases

8. Finding the Verb(s) All sentences have at least one verb.
The verb explains what the subject is doing (action verb) or connects the subject to words that describe it (linking verb).
That student works hard.
That student is industrious.
Action verb
Linking verb

9. Many verbs are made up of more than one word.
I love grammar.
Everyone should love grammar.
Soon you will be loving grammar too.
We are loving it already.
I have loved grammar all my life.
main verb
Helping verbs

10. Word of caution: At times, verb forms (usually ending in –ing) can be the subject of a sentence.
I am going to the mall.
Going to the mall is my favorite pastime.
Verb
Subject!
Verb

11. That’s all you need to control
The End!
That’s all you need to control
the basic elements of
your sentences.