Chapter 11:
Parts of the Sentence
By Mrs. Anderson
The Sentence
•	A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought (377).
•	A sentence must have a subject and a verb.
•	We looked into the room.
•	The clerk was waiting by the door.
•	Who has finished the test?
•	Fragment: the president of our club
I. Subject and Predicate
•	Two parts of a sentence (379):
•	Subject: the part about which something is being said;
•	Predicate: the part which says something about the subject.
•	Coyotes were howling in the distance.
•	The telephone in the lobby rang.
A. The Simple Subject
•	The simple subject is the main word or group of words in the complete subject (380).
•	Their excellent essay won the group of students many awards.
•	The magnificent King made many fine speeches.
•	Compound nouns are one subject.
1. Finding the Subject
•	Find the verb first (384).
•	Ask “who” or “what” + verb.
The cat meowed anxiously.
•	The verb = meowed
•	Who or what meowed?
•	Answer = the cat
•	Cat = subject
2. The subject (cont’d).
•	The subject of a verb is never in a prepositional phrase:
•	To the locker
•	Around the block
•	Most of the women voted.
•	Around the corner from here is a store.
3.Subject in Unusual Position
•	Sentences that ask questions (386):
•	How is the movie different?
•	Have you eaten dinner?
•	Reword the sentence into S+V+O order:
•	The movie is different.
•	You have eaten dinner.
4. Sentences beginning with There (p. 387)
•	There is never the subject of the sentence, except when it is spoken of as a word, as in this sentence.
•	There is a bird on the oak tree.
•	There are cats fighting outside.
•	Omit there to find the subject:
•	A bird is on the oak tree.
•	Cats are fighting outside.
5. The Understood Subject
•	In a request or command, the subject of the sentence is understood to be you. (388)
•	[You] Please answer the question.
•	[You] Listen carefully to what I say.
•	Nouns of direct address are not the subject:
•	Ellen, [you] please answer the question.
6. Compound Subjects
•	Two or more subjects joined by a conjunction having the same verb:
•	The bird and the cat sang together on the fence last night.
•	The mouse, the bird, and the cat ran around the yard.
•	Both subjects and verbs may be compound (389).
•	The chicken and the mouse ran and scratched the cat.
B. The Simple Predicate
•	The simple predicate (or verb) is the main word or group of words within the complete predicate (381)
•	The cat raced out of the house and clawed at the bird.
•	Simple predicate may be a verb phrase:
•	The bird was sitting in the tree.
1. Compound Verbs
•	Two or more verbs joined by a conjunction and having the same subject. (390)
•	The bird sang and flew to the nearest branch.
•	The cat looked, but saw nothing.
•	The mouse will run and hide behind the couch.
•	No need to repeat will, above.
II. Complements
•	Completes the meaning begun by the subject and the verb. (399)
•	Complements may be a noun, pronoun, or an adjective.
•	Bird stew tastes strange.
•	The cat was the winner.
•	I brushed the cat.
•	It is never in a prepositional phrase.
A. The Subject Complement
•	A noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb.
•	My cat’s name is Sapphire.
•	Her fur feels soft.
•	Predicate Nominative: a noun or pronoun that explains or identifies the subject of the sentence.
•	Predicate Adjective: an adjective that describes the subject of the sentence.
Examples:
•	Predicate Nominative:
•	Sapphire can be a huge cat.
•	The biggest cat is she.
•	A cat is a mammal.
•	Predicate Adjective:
•	That bird looks dead. [dead bird]
•	The tree is too tall. [tall tree]
B. Objects
•	Objects are complements that do not refer to the subject (404).
•	Objects are never in prepositional phrases.
•	There are two kinds of objects:
•	Direct objects
•	Indirect Objects
1. Direct Objects
•	A noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb (404).
•	It answers to: S+V+what?
•	Her poem won an award.
•	poem + won + what? = award
•	Award = Direct Object
2. Indirect Objects
•	Noun or pronoun that comes before the direct object.
•	It answers to: S+V+DO+for whom.
•	The teacher told the children a story.
•	Teacher+told+story+for whom/to whom?
•	Answer = the children
•	The children = indirect object.
III. Sentence Classifications
•	Declarative sentence: makes a statement.
•	Imperative Sentence: gives a command or makes a request.
•	Interrogative Sentence: asks a question.
•	Exclamatory Sentence: expresses a strong feeling. (412)