Parts of a Sentence

(Also see  Sentences, or follow the links to see more on a topic)

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.

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.

Compound verbs are two or more verbs joined by a conjunction, (in this sentence, the word and) and relating to the same subject. The subject of the following sentences is cobra:

• The cobra saw the dog coming closer and raised itself into striking position.

• The cobra hissed, opened its hood, and prepared to strike.

Complete predicates are all the words in a clause or sentence except the subject and its modifiers:

• The cobra saw the dog coming closer and raised itself into striking position.

• The agile dog moved from side to side rapidly, trying to corner the cobra.

Objects

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.  (More on Objects)

1.  Direct object: Receives the action of a verb or verbal and frequently follows it in a sentence. Direct objects are often needed to complete the thought of a sentence. "Rueben reads the newspaper."  "Reuben reads" is a complete sentence, but it doesn't  express the complete thought. Reuben reads what? He reads the newspaper.

2.  Indirect object: Tells for whom, to whom, or to what something is done. "Reuben reads his grandmother the newspaper." Reuben reads the newspaper to whom? to his grandmother. Grandmother is the indirect object. Pronouns are also used as indirect objects: "Reuben reads her the newspaper."  Indirect objects often come between the verb and the direct object. 

 The sentence could also be: "Reuben reads the newspaper to his grandmother." The prepositional phrase to his grandmother is the indirect object of the sentence.

3.  Object of Preposition:  Objects follow prepositions and are linked by them to the rest of the sentence.   (See Prepositional Phrase)

Complements   (See also Complements page)

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

1.  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.)

2.  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.)

3.  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.)

Phrases 

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

1. 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). 

• 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.  

• Discretion is the better part of valor. (of is the preposition; valor is a noun and is the object of the preposition. The phrase describes the word part.)

Remember that when using a pronoun in a prepositional phrase, you must use the objective case (me, her, him, us, them, whom.) you is the same in the subjective and objective case.

2.  Noun phrase: Noun phrases are composed of  a noun (or pronoun) and its modifiers. They are used as subjects, objects, or complements.

• The strange, eerie moaning made the dog's hackles raise. (noun phrase as subject)

• Zeke likes a large serving of spicy food for lunch. (noun phrase as object)

• The beach is a great spot for vacations. (noun phrase as complement)     

3.  Verb phrase: A group of words that include a verb and any auxiliary verbs that serve as the predicate of a sentence or clause.  

• Gary has a toothache.

• Gary was having a toothache.

• Gary has already had a toothache.

• Gary must have been having a toothache.

The pattern for a verb phrase can be as long as this : auxiliary/modal verb + auxiliary verb + auxiliary verb + main verb

4. Verbal phrase: Consists of a verbal (a word derived from a verb) and any modifiers. Verbal phrases are not the main verb or predicate in a sentence. The three types of verbals used in these phrases are present participles (ing form of a verb), past participles (ed or en form of a verb), and infinitives (to + the base form of a verb).

a.  Infinitive phrase: Consists of an infinitive and its object, plus any modifiers.  Infinitive phrases are used as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. 

• To ignore good manners is the sign of a boorish person. (to ignore good manners is acting as a noun and is the subject of the sentence.)

 b.  Participial phrase: Consists of a participle and its object, plus any modifiers. Participial phrases are used as adjectives. 

• Yelling and screaming, Clarise ran from the mouse. (yelling and screaming describes Clarise.) 

• The old teacher, exhausted and annoyed from too many years in the classroom, retired to a deserted island. (exhausted and annoyed from too many years in the classroom describes the teacher. Notice that participial phrases can use either the present (ing) or the past (ed/en) form of a verb.)

 5.  Gerund phrase: Consists of a gerund (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun) and its objects, plus any modifiers. A gerund phrase is used as a noun; subject, complement, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.  

• Falling asleep while your mother-in-law is showing vacation photos can get you in  trouble. (The gerund is falling, and the gerund phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.)

• Samantha's favorite activity is swimming with her friends. (The gerund is swimming, and the phrase acts as a complement.)

Clauses 

 A group of related words containing a subject and a predicate.  See Phrases and Clauses.

1.  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.)

 2.  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.)

Subordinate, or dependent clauses are introduced by using a subordinating conjunction. A subordinating conjunction is a word which joins a dependent clause and an independent clause together. Here are some subordinating conjunctions:**

**Some subordinating conjunctions (like after, before, since) are also prepositions, but when they are used to introduce a clause, they are making that clause subordinate to the independent clause in the sentence. 

Back to Exercises