1. SUBJECTS & PREDICATES USING THE LANGUAGE

2. USING SUBJECTS & PREDICATES A sentence has a subject and a predicate. subject The subject is the part of the sentence about which something is said. predicate The predicate, which contains the verb, is the part of the sentence that says something about the subject. https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=fdUXx dmhIsw https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=fdUXx dmhIsw pilot must see Like the pilot, the writer must see faster and more completely than the ordinary viewer of life. Paul Engle, “Salt Crystals, Spider Webs, and Words”

3. UNDERSTOOD SUBJECT & PREDICATE Either the subject or the predicate may be “missing” from a sentence, but both must be clearly understood. Who is making supper? Who is making supper Who is the subject; is making supper is the predicate. No one. No one is making supper No one is the subject; the predicate is making supper is understood. Put on that apron. you put on that apron The subject you is understood; put on that apron is the predicate.

4. DELAYED SUBJECT In sentences that begin with There or It followed by a form of the “be” verb, the subject comes after the verb. The subject is also delayed in questions. There was nothing in the refrigerator. nothing was The subject is nothing ; the verb is was. Where is my sandwich? sandwich is The subject is sandwich ; the verb is is.

5. THE SUBJECT The subject is the part of the sentence about which something is said. The subject is always a noun, or a word or phrase that functions as a noun (such as a pronoun, infinitive, a gerund, or a clause that functions as a noun). Wolves Wolves howl. noun They They howl for a variety of reasons. Pronoun To establish their turf To establish their turf may be one reason. Infinitive phrase Searching for “lost” family members Searching for “lost” family members may be another reason. Gerund phrase That wolves and dogs are similar animals That wolves and dogs are similar animals seems obvious. Noun clause

6. THE SUBJECT Simple subject: subject without its modifiers biologists Most wildlife biologists disapprove of crossbreeding wolves and dogs. Complete subject: subjects with all of its modifiers Most wildlife biologists Most wildlife biologists disapprove of crossbreeding wolves and dogs. Compound subject: composed of two or more simple subjects breeders owners Wise breeders and owners know that wolf-dog puppies can display unexpected, destructive behavior.

7. THE PREDICATE The predicate is the part of the sentence that shows action or says something about the subject. do exist Giant squid do exist. Simple predicate: verb without its modifiers measured The largest squid ever found measured nearly 60 feet long. Complete predicate: simple predicate with all of its modifiers. measured nearly 60 feet long The largest squid ever found measured nearly 60 feet long. Measured nearly 60 feet long Measured is the simple predicate; nearly 60 feet long modifies measured.

8. COMPOUND PREDICATE Compound predicate: composed of two or more simple predicates grasps bites A squid grasps its prey with tentacles and bites it with its beak. A sentence can have a compound subject AND a compound predicate. sperm whales giant squid Both sperm whales and giant squid live and occasionally clash in the deep waters off New Zealand’s South Island.

9. DIRECT OBJECT Direct object receives the action of the predicate giant squid. Sperm whales sometimes eat giant squid. giant squid The direct object giant squid receives the action of the verb by answering the question whales eat what? The direct object may be compound. oil spermaceti ambergris In the past, whalers harvested oil, spermaceti, and ambergris from slain sperm whales.