parts of sentences

       

Parts of Sentences

1    1.   Subject

  The subject of a sentence is the noun---or word group acting as a noun---that performs the action expressed in the predicate of a sentence or clause. The subject may be one word: Sally loves chocolate. The subject may be in a noun phrase: 

·         Seeing the parade was exciting.

·         The black and white dog was barking fiercely at the stranger.

2. Predicate

   The predicate is the part of the clause or sentence that says something about the subject. In other words, the part of the sentences that is not the subject and its modifiers is the predicate. A predicate can be one word or several words, not all of which are verbs. 

The principal part of the predicate is the verb.

·         The dog sniffed.  

·         The dog has been sniffing. 

·         The dog sniffed, looked around, and growled.

3  3.    Object

  The object of a sentence can be a noun, pronoun, or word group that acts as a noun, and receives the action of a verb or is influenced by a transitive verb, verbal (a word derived from a verb, i.e., gerund, infinitive, and participle), or a preposition. 

4 4.    Complements  

 A word or word group that completes the meaning of a subject, an object, or a verb.

a.       Subject complement: Follows a linking verb and modifies or refers to the subject. It may be a noun (also known as a predicate noun or nominative) or an adjective (also known as a predicate adjective). 

·         Olivia is pretty. (The adjective pretty is a subject complement; it describes the subject, Olivia.)

·         Annie is an English teacher. (The noun phrase English teacher is also a subject complement; it describes Annie.)

b.      Object complement: Follows and modifies or refers to a direct object.   

·         Blake considers American television silly. (television is the direct object. silly describes television; it is the object complement.)

·         The judges elected her Miss Brazil, 2002. (Miss Brazil is the object complement, describing the direct object her.)

c.       Verb complement: This is a direct or indirect object of a verb. It may be a noun, pronoun, or word or word group acting as a noun. 

·         Aunt Gertie gave Patty my dessert. (Patty  is the indirect object, my dessert is the direct object of the verb gave. Both are considered verb complements.)

5 5.   Phrases

A group of related words that lacks a subject, or a predicate, or both---and that acts as a single part of speech. 

a.      Prepositional phrase: Consists of a preposition and its objects and modifiers. The object of the preposition is a noun or something acting as a noun (for instance, a gerund). 

b.     The repairman is at the door. (at is a preposition; door is a noun, and is the object of the preposition.)

 Prepositional phrases are almost always used as adjectives or adverbs. If the phrase is being used as an adjective, it comes after the noun or pronoun it is describing.  

6 6. Clauses

 A group of related words containing a subject and a predicate. 

a.      Main (independent) clause: An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete sentence. 

·         Amos left work early because his mother was ill. (Amos left work early is a complete sentence.)

Maggie loves pizza when it has extra cheese. (Maggie loves pizza is a complete thought.)

Charlie has had a backache because he tried to lift the cow. (Charlie has had a backache is a complete thought.)

b.      Subordinate (dependent) clause: A subordinate clause cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence. 

·         Amos left work early because his mother was ill. (because his mother was ill is not a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence.)

·         Maggie loves pizza when it has extra cheese. (when it has extra cheese is not a complete thought.)

·         Since he tried to lift the cow, Charlie has had a backache. (Since he tried to lift the cow is not a complete thought.)