1. Finding the Subject and Verb
Communication I

2. Subject and Verb
To find the subject and verb, ask yourself WHO or WHAT? (subject) DID WHAT? (verb)

3. Subject – Who or What Subject will be a noun
Subject will never be in a prepositional phrase
Examples of nouns:
Susie
Mountain
School

4. Verb – Action What did the subject do? Some verbs show action: Swim
Run
Laugh
Sizzle

5. Verb – Linking / Helping
Some verbs show a state of being: Is
Are Do
Was
Have

6. Verb Phrase Main verb plus helping verbs.
The twins should be going to camp next week.
Subject = twins
Verb = should be going

7. Who or what did what? The school must lock its doors. Subject = school
Verb = must lock
Write your own sentence using a verb phrase. Circle the subject. Underline the verbs. .

8. Who or what did what? The school has desks. Subject = school
Verb = has
Desks is a NOUN. Do not label it as a verb!
Write your own simple sentence. Circle the subject. Underline the verb.

9. Prepositions Prepositions show relationships. In the tent
Around the town
To the park
Of sneakers
Write three prepositional phrases of your own

10. Prepositional Phrases
The Subject and Verb will NEVER be in a prepositional phrase.
Eliminate the prepositional phrases.
Find subject or verb.

11. Subject and Verb Eliminate prepositional phrases.
Find subject and verb
A pair of sneakers sits in my closet.
Pair = subject
Sits = Verb
Write your own sentence with a prepositional phrase after the subject.
Circle the subject. Underline the verb.

12. Find the Subject and the Verb
The top of the building has been replaced.
Subject = top
Verb = has been replaced.
Write your own sentence with a verb phrase and a prepositional phrase after the subject.

13. Find 2 subjects and 1 verb
After the rain, my sister and I jumped in the puddles.
Prep phrases: after the rain, in the puddles
Subject: my sister and I
Verb: jumped
Write a sentence with a compound (2) subject.

14. Find the 2 subjects and 2 verbs
Before school, my brother and I ate breakfast and watched Saved by the Bell.
Prep phrase = Before school, by the Bell
Subject: my brother and I
Verbs: ate and watched.
Write a sentence with a compound subject and compound verbs. Circle the subject. Underline the verbs.

15. Verb Phrases Sometimes the verb will have helping verbs.
I will be going.
In the morning, we will be leaving for Atlanta.
Write a sentence with helping verbs. Circle the subject. Underline the verbs.

16. Helping Verbs
Sometimes helping verbs are separated from the main verb.
Are you going to town?
After you finish, will you help me?
Write a sentence with a helping verb separated from the main verb. Circle the subject. Underline the verbs.

17. Subjects and Verbs To find the subject, ask Who or What
To find the verb, ask What did the subject do?
Ask yourself : WHO DID WHAT?