Complete Subjects and Predicates
Every sentence has two main parts: a complete subject and a complete predicate.
The complete subject includes all words that tell who or what the subject is.
Examples: Most birds can fly.
Judy runs.
Judy and her dog run on the beach every morning.
The complete predicate includes all words that state the action or condition of the subject.
Example: Most birds can fly
Judy runs.
Judy and her dog run on the beach ev ery morning.
To determine the complete subject of a sentence, first isolate the verb and then make a question by placing "who?" or "what?" before it -- the answer is the subject.
The audience littered the theatre floor with torn wrappings and spilled popcorn.
The verb in the above sentence is "littered." Who or what littered? "The audience" did.
"The audience" is the complete subject of the sentence.
The complete predicate (which always includes the verb) goes on to relate something about the subject: what about the audience?
It "littered the theatre floor with torn wrappings and spilled popcorn."
The complete subject includes all words that tell who or what the subject is.
Examples: Most birds can fly.
Judy runs.
Judy and her dog run on the beach every morning.
The complete predicate includes all words that state the action or condition of the subject.
Example: Most birds can fly
Judy runs.
Judy and her dog run on the beach ev ery morning.
To determine the complete subject of a sentence, first isolate the verb and then make a question by placing "who?" or "what?" before it -- the answer is the subject.
The audience littered the theatre floor with torn wrappings and spilled popcorn.
The verb in the above sentence is "littered." Who or what littered? "The audience" did.
"The audience" is the complete subject of the sentence.
The complete predicate (which always includes the verb) goes on to relate something about the subject: what about the audience?
It "littered the theatre floor with torn wrappings and spilled popcorn."
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Simple Subjects and Predicates
As part of the complete subject and complete predicate, every sentence has two main parts: a simple subject and a simple predicate.
The simple subject of a sentence is the main word in the complete subject. It is always a noun or a pronoun. Sometimes, the simple subject is also the complete subject.
Example: Most birds can fly.
Example: They can fly because they have wings.
The simple predicate is the complete verb within the complete predicate. The simple predicate may be one or more words.
Example: Most birds can fly.
Example: They fly through the windows into the barn.
The simple subject of a sentence is the main word in the complete subject. It is always a noun or a pronoun. Sometimes, the simple subject is also the complete subject.
Example: Most birds can fly.
Example: They can fly because they have wings.
The simple predicate is the complete verb within the complete predicate. The simple predicate may be one or more words.
Example: Most birds can fly.
Example: They fly through the windows into the barn.
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Compound Subjects and Predicates
A compound subject is a subject with two or more nouns or pronouns joined by the word and or another conjunction. Compound subjects share the same predicate.
Example:
Her shoes were covered with mud. Her ankles were covered with mud, too.
Her shoes and ankles were covered with mud.
"Her shoes and ankles" is the compound subject. The predicate in both the sentences is 'were covered with mud.'
A compound predicate is a predicate with two or more verbs joined by the word and or another conjunction. Compound predicates share the same subject.
Example:
Jan jumped on her bike. Jan rode around the block.
Jan jumped on her bike and rode around the block.
The compound predicate is "jumped on her bike and rode around the block." The subject in both the sentences is Jan.
Compound Subject and Compound Predicate: A sentence can have a compound subject and a compound predicate.
Example:
Sue and Maria went to the mall and shopped for an hour.
Example:
Her shoes were covered with mud. Her ankles were covered with mud, too.
Her shoes and ankles were covered with mud.
"Her shoes and ankles" is the compound subject. The predicate in both the sentences is 'were covered with mud.'
A compound predicate is a predicate with two or more verbs joined by the word and or another conjunction. Compound predicates share the same subject.
Example:
Jan jumped on her bike. Jan rode around the block.
Jan jumped on her bike and rode around the block.
The compound predicate is "jumped on her bike and rode around the block." The subject in both the sentences is Jan.
Compound Subject and Compound Predicate: A sentence can have a compound subject and a compound predicate.
Example:
Sue and Maria went to the mall and shopped for an hour.
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Hard-to-Find Subjects
Every sentence has a subject and a predicate. Sometimes they aren’t easy to find.
Directions or Commands (Imperative Sentences)
If the sentence is a command, then the subject is called understood you. It’s assumed that you are the one who will do the action.
Example: [you] Stop talking.
[you] Be nice to your classmates.
Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
If the sentence is a question, the subject may not be at the beginning. In order to find the subject, rewrite the question as a sentence.
Example: Where is the pencil sharpener?
The pencil sharpener is where?
Did the president win the debate?
The president did win the debate.
The subject of a sentence is never there or here.
In normal use, these words are usually adverbs that modify the verb by pointing out where. Occasionally, there may be used to merely to start the sentence and have no adverbial function at all. In this case, there is an expletive.
In the following examples, note the position of the subjects - after the verbs. To locate subjects in such sentences, rearrange the sentence logically in your mind so that there or here comes after the verb. If there sounds awkward after the verb, it may be an expletive, as in the last example. Then simple drop there before rearraning the words.
There are the lost keys.
The lost keys are there.
Here is the ticket for your trip.
The ticket for your trip is here.
There is money available
Money is available.
Occasionally, sentences beginning with there or here are in normal word order with the subject before the verb.
Example: There she is.
In some declarative sentences, the subject follows the verb in order to receive greater emphasis.
Such inverted sentences usually begin with prepositional phrases.
Beneath the pillows of the couch smoldered the cigarette.
The cigarette smoldered beaneath the pillows of the couch.
Around the corner careened the speeding car.
The speeding car careened around the corner.
Directions or Commands (Imperative Sentences)
If the sentence is a command, then the subject is called understood you. It’s assumed that you are the one who will do the action.
Example: [you] Stop talking.
[you] Be nice to your classmates.
Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
If the sentence is a question, the subject may not be at the beginning. In order to find the subject, rewrite the question as a sentence.
Example: Where is the pencil sharpener?
The pencil sharpener is where?
Did the president win the debate?
The president did win the debate.
The subject of a sentence is never there or here.
In normal use, these words are usually adverbs that modify the verb by pointing out where. Occasionally, there may be used to merely to start the sentence and have no adverbial function at all. In this case, there is an expletive.
In the following examples, note the position of the subjects - after the verbs. To locate subjects in such sentences, rearrange the sentence logically in your mind so that there or here comes after the verb. If there sounds awkward after the verb, it may be an expletive, as in the last example. Then simple drop there before rearraning the words.
There are the lost keys.
The lost keys are there.
Here is the ticket for your trip.
The ticket for your trip is here.
There is money available
Money is available.
Occasionally, sentences beginning with there or here are in normal word order with the subject before the verb.
Example: There she is.
In some declarative sentences, the subject follows the verb in order to receive greater emphasis.
Such inverted sentences usually begin with prepositional phrases.
Beneath the pillows of the couch smoldered the cigarette.
The cigarette smoldered beaneath the pillows of the couch.
Around the corner careened the speeding car.
The speeding car careened around the corner.
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Subject Predicate Test on Friday 11/16
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