Parts of a Sentence

Parts of a SentenceSimple Subjectthe main word or group of words within the complete subject

Ex. The babys loud crying woke the whole neighborhood.

Complete subject: the babys loud cryingSimple subject: cryingSimple Predicatethe main word or group of words within the complete predicate

Ex. The Lego car zoomed through the room and crashed onto the floor.

Complete predicate: zoomed through the roomSimple predicate: zoomed Sentences that Ask QuestionsTo find the subject and predicate in questions, turn the questions into statements:

Did she finish the quiz?She did finish the quiz.

Were you late to school today?You were late to school today.Sentences Beginning with There or HereThere and here are never the subject of a sentence.

There are mice in our woodshed.

Here is the missing clue!

To find the subjects of these sentences, ask Who? or What? before the verb followed by there or here.Understood SubjectsRequests or commands typically have an understood subject: you.

Dont jump on the couch!

Please take your shoes off before stepping on the rug.ComplementsComplements are words or groups of words that complete the meaning of a predicate.

Complements include:predicate nominatives (predicate noun)predicate adjectivesdirect objects indirect objectsSubject ComplementsThese follow linking verbs.

Predicate Nominative: a noun or pronoun in the predicate that explains or identifies the subject of the sentence.

Predicate Adjective: an adjective in the predicate that modifies the subject of the sentence

Object ComplementsThese occur in sentences with action verbs.

Direct object: a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb or shows the result of action. It answers the question Whom? or What?

Indirect object: a noun or pronoun that precedes the direct object and usually tells to whom, for whom, to what or for what the action of the verb is done.

Common Sentence StructuresS V

S AV DO

S AV IO DO

S LV PN

S LV PA