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THE PARTS OF A SENTENCE

PARTS OF A SENTENCE Notes #1

THE SENTENCE

A sentence is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

SUBJECT AND PREDICATE

A sentence consists of two parts: the subject and the predicate.

The SUBJECT is the part that names the person or thing spoken about in the rest of the sentence.

The PREDICATE is the part that says something about the subject.

SIMPLE SUBJECT

The simple subject is the main word or group of words within the complete subject.

Example: Their scientific discoveries made them famous.

Complete subject: Their scientific discoveries

Simple subject: discoveries

SIMPLE PREDICATE

The simple predicate or verb is the main word or group of words within the complete predicate.

Example: The ambulance raced out of the hospital and down the crowded street.

Complete predicate: raced out of the hospital drive and down the crowded street.

Simple predicate: raced

NOTE

The subject (or verb) of a sentence is NEVER in a prepositional phrase!!!

PARTS OF A SENTENCE Notes #2 & #3

COMPOUND SUBJECTS

A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction and have the same verb.

Example: Joe and Will are going to swim.

COMPOUND PREDICATE (VERB)

A compound verb consists of two or more verbs that are joined by a conjunction and have the same subject.

Example: Fred ate too fast and threw up.

HOW TO FIND THE SUBJECT AND VERB OF A DIFFICULT

Because the subject may appear at almost any point in the sentence, you will find it easier to locate the subject if you pick out the verb first.

EXAMPLES

For instance: The leaders of the troops were carefully chosen.

Verb=chosen. Ask “who or what were chosen?” Answer: leaders

Example: Into the house rushed the dog.

Verb=rushed. Ask “who or what rushed?”

Answer: dog

SENTENCES THAT BEGIN WITH “THERE”

“There” is never the subject of a sentence. It is often used to get a sentence started. It is called an “expletive.” Use the “who or what” question to the verb to find the real subject.

Example: There was a cow walking down the side of the road.

Verb=was walking Ask “who or what was walking?”

Answer: a cow

THE UNDERSTOOD SUBJECT

In an imperative sentence (a request or command) the subject of the sentence is usually not stated. In such sentences “you” is the “understood subject.”

Example: Eat your vegetables.

Subject: You Verb: Eat

This is usually written in parenthesis:

(You) Eat your vegetables.

FINDING THE SUBJECT AND VERB IN A QUESTION

Questions often break up the subject and verb. Questions often begin with a helping verb.

Rearrange the question back into a sentence and often the verbs go back together. Then ask “who?” or “what?” of the verb to find the subject

Did Sam find my kitten?

Sam Did find my kitten

PARTS OF SENTENCE NOTES Notes #4

FRAGMENTS

A sentence contains a verb and its subject.

Not all groups or words containing a subject and verb are a sentence.

Some do not express a complete thought.

FRAGMENT EXAMPLES—MANY BEGIN WITH SUB. CONJUNCTIONS

When my mom was sixteen

Because it was cold

Since Sara had the flu

Although Andrew fled the scene

While Fred was waiting

Even though Kim was fourteen

PARTS OF SENTENCE Notes #5

COMPLEMENTS

A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning begun by the subject and verb.

It is possible for a group of words to have a subject and verb and not express a complete thought.

COMPLEMENT EXAMPLES

This stew tastes strange.

She always was a leader.

I told them.

Mr. Jones gave me directions.

The words in red are complements. Each one of these words completes the meaning of the predicate.

COMPLEMENTS-CONTINUEDA complement may be a noun, pronoun, or an adjective.

S V C

Marcella might become a chemist.

S V C

The cat watched us.

S V C

The clerks at the store are helpful.

COMPLEMENTS CONTINUED

The complement of a sentence is NEVER part of a prepositional phrase.

She watched the cheering crowd. (“crowd” is the complement)

She watched from the cheering crowd. No complement. “from the cheering crowd” is a prepositional phrase.

THE SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

A subject complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb.

Example: Mark Twain’s real name is Samuel Clemens.

It was her.

The toast smelled burnt.

2 KINDS OF SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS

There are two kinds of subject complements:

Predicate Nominatives

Predicate Adjectives

PREDICATE NOMINATIVES

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun in the predicate that explains or identifies the subject of the sentence.

A whale is a mammal.

The culprit could be them.

Angela has become a very talented soloist.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVES

A predicate adjective is an adjective in the predicate that modifies the subject of the sentence.

The soup is hot.

That soil seems awfully dry.

The flower smells sweet.

COMPOUND SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS

Subject complements may be compound.

The prizewinners were Jennifer and Marcus. (compound predicate nominatives)

The corn tastes sweet and buttery. (compound predicate adjectives)

FINDING THE SUBJECT COMPLEMENT-QUESTIONS

To find the subject complement in an interrogative sentence (a question), rearrange the sentence to make a statement.

Is Darrell the treasurer?

Darrell is the treasurer. (predicate nominative)

FINDING THE SUBJECT COMPLEMENT-IMPERATIVE

To find the subject complement in an imperative sentence (request or command), insert the understood you.

Be a winner!

(You) Be a winner! (predicate nominative)

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN SUBJECT AND COMPLEMENT

When the subject is not in the normal position before the verb, it is sometimes difficult to tell which is the subject and which is the complement.

Normal word order:

S V C

Matthew Henson was a famous explorer.

REVERSE WORD ORDER

When the word order is reversed, as in a question, the subject still comes before the subject complement, in most cases.

V S C

Was he the leader of the expedition?

ODD WORD ORDER--POETIC

However, sometimes a writer or speaker may put the subject complement first for emphasis:

C V S

How sweet is freedom!

C S V

What a fine athlete Ray is!

FINDING THE COMPLEMENT IN THE ODD SENTENCE

When the words are in an odd order, you must consider which word is more likely to be the subject of the sentence.

Usually the subject will be the word that specifically identifies the person or thing the sentence is about.

PARTS OF SENTENCE Notes #6

DIRECT OBJECT

The direct object is a word or group of words that directly receives the action expressed by the verb or shows the results of the action.

It answers the question “What?” or “Whom?” after the ACTION VERB.

These are transitive sentences

DIRECT OBJECTS

S V DO

The dentist cleaned my teeth.

S V DO

She filled a small cavity.

COMPLEMENTS VS. ADVERBS

When identifying complements, do not be confused by adverbs in the predicate.

We went home. (home is a noun used as an adverb telling where)

We built a new home. (home is a direct object)

PARTS OF SENTENCE Notes #7

INDIRECT OBJECTSAn indirect object is a noun or pronoun in the predicate that PRECEDES the direct object. It tells “to whom” or “for whom” the action of the verb is done.

S V DO

The instructor gave some lessons

S V IO DO

The instructor gave me some lessons.

ACTION VERBS

Remember, verbs like think, believe, and imagine, which express mental action are just as much action verbs as are verbs like jump, hit, or run.

INDIRECT OBJECT OR PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Be careful…if the words “to” or “for” are used in the sentence, the words following them are part of a prepositional phrase and not an indirect object

EXAMPLES:

Robert baked me a cake. (me is the indirect object)

Robert baked a cake for me. (no indirect object)

The teacher told the class a story. (class is the indirect object)

The teacher told the story to the class (no indirect object)

NEVER

There is NEVER an indirect object unless the sentence has a direct object.

Never.

COMPOUND COMPLEMENTSComplements may be compound:

The names of the dogs are Gypsy and Boots. (compound predicate nominative)

She is tall and thin. (compound predicate adjective)

The next group includes the collies and the terriers. (compound direct object)

The noise had give my brother and me a scare. (compound indirect object)

PARTS OF SENTENCE Notes #8

SENTENCES CLASSIFIED BY PURPOSE

Sentences may be classified according to their purpose. There are four kids of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.

DECLARATIVE SENTENCE

A sentence which makes a statement is a declarative sentence. Most of the sentences you use are declarative.

As far as I’m concerned, a house can’t be built with too many closets.

IMPERATIVE SENTENCE

A sentence which gives a command or makes a request is an imperative sentence.

Tell the truth.

Please, keep off the grass.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE

A sentence which asks a question is an interrogative sentence.

Can you speak Spanish?

Where are you going?

EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE

A sentence which expresses strong feeling is an exclamatory sentence.

What a beautiful day it is!

How we love cool, sunny weather!

CAUTION

Caution: A declarative, an imperative, or an interrogative sentence may be spoken in such a way that it will be exclamatory. Then it should be followed by an exclamation point.

That noise must stop! (Declarative becomes exclamatory)

Use the brakes! (Imperative becomes exclamatory)

What do you want! (Interrogative becomes exclamatory)

PARTS OF SENTENCE Notes #9

4 KINDS OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE

There are four kinds of sentence structure:

Simple sentence

Compound sentence

Complex sentence

Compound-Complex sentence

THE SIMPLE SENTENCE

A simple sentence is a sentence that has one independent clause and NO dependent clauses.

Joe took the train.

Mary and Sue waited for the train.

He biked and swam.

COMPOUND SENTENCE

A compound sentence has two independent clauses connected with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.

Mary and Sam left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the station.

ALWAYS put a comma in front of the conjunction in a compound sentence.

THE COMPLEX SENTENCE

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clause.

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A dependent clause cannot stand alone.

Examples of dependent clauses are:

because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon

while he waited at the train station

after they left on the bus

DEPENDENT CLAUSES BEGIN WITH SUB. CONJ.

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. The 16 most common sub. conj. are:

after even though until while

although if when

as since whenever

because though whereas

before unless while

BEGINNING WITH A DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A sentence may begin with a dependent clause:

Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.

While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.

After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE-COMMA

When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses.

Although I was older, my sister made all the decisions.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE FIRST

On the other hand, the independent clause may come first:

I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon.

Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station.

Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on the bus.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE FIRST—NO COMMA

When the independent clause comes first, a comma should NOT be used to separate the two clauses.

I let my sister have the small dress even though she was bigger than me.

THE COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

COMPOUND-COMPLEX EXAMPLEMy father and I went to the movie that I had been wanting to see, and then we went to the restaurant near the theater.My father and I went to the movie [independent]+ then we went to the restaurant near the theater [independent]+ I had been wanting to see that (dependent)= compound-complex sentence[My father and I went to the movie] (that I had been wanting to see), and [then we went to the restaurant near the theater.]

COMPOUND-COMPLEX EXAMPLEBefore they were friends, Louisa and Julie knew Aimee, but they didn't realize that they knew her until they met.Before they were friends (dependent)+ Louisa and Julie knew Aimee [independent]+ They didn't realize [independent]+ that they knew her (dependent)+ until they met (dependent)= compound-complex sentence[(Before they were friends), Louisa and Julie knew Aimee], but [they didn't realize (that they knew her) (until they met).]

BEGINNING SENTENCES WITH “AND” OR “BUT”

It is usually not good grammar to begin a sentence with “And” or “But.” Once and awhile for emphasis in a short sentence these are viewed as acceptable. Usually it should be avoided.

BEGINNING A SENTENCE WITH “BECAUSE”

Beginning a sentence with “Because” is perfectly fine. Students are often told to avoid this to try and get elementary students to avoid fragments. But the subordinating conjunction “Because” is a grammatically acceptable way to begin a sentence.

Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them. (complex sentence)