Complete sentences and fragments

Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects

​What is a Noun?

A noun is a word or set of words for a person, place, thing, or idea. A noun of more than one word (tennis court, gas station) is called a compound noun.

​

​There are common nouns, and proper nouns. Common nouns are words for a general class of people, places, things, and ideas (man, city, award, honesty). They are not capitalized.

​

​Proper nouns are always capitalized. They name specific people, places, and things (Jose, Chicago, Acadamy Award).

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between a noun and a compound noun?

A noun is a word or set of words for a person, place, thing, or idea. A noun of more than one word (tennis court, gas station) is called a compound noun.

• They are the same thing

• A noun has more than one word

• A compound noun has more than one word

​What is a verb?

​A verb is a word or set of words that shows action (runs, is going, has been painting); feeling (loves, envies); or state of being (am, are, is, have been, was, seem).

​

​Examples:

​He ran around the block.

​I like my friend.

​They seem friendly.

​

​Note: Bold words = noun. Underlined words = verb.

Multiple Choice

What is a verb?

A verb is a word or set of words that shows action (runs, is going, has been painting); feeling (loves, envies), or state of being (am, are, is, have been, was, seem).

• A word that functions the same as a noun.

• A word that shows action and feelings.

• A word that shows actions, feelings, or a state of being.

​What are state-of-being verbs?

​State-of-being verbs are called linking verbs. They include all forms of the verb to be (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been), plus such words as look, feel, appear, act, go, followed by an adjective (words that describe the qualities or states of being of nouns).

​

​Examples:

​You look happy.

​We feel fine.

​He went ballistic.

Multiple Choice

What are State-of-Being verbs called?

State-of-being verbs re called linking verbs. They include all forms of the verb to be, plus such words as look, feel, appear, act, go, followed by an adjective.

• linking verbs

• phrasal verbs

• helping verbs

​More than one-word verbs--what are they?

​Verbs often consist of more than one word. For instance, had been breaking down is a four-word verb. It has a two-word main verb, breaking down (also called a phrasal verb), and two helping verbs (had and been). Helping verbs are so named because they help clarify the intended meaning.

​

​Many verbs can function as helping verbs, including is, shall, must, do, has, can, keep, get, start, help, etc.

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a helping verb?

Verbs often consist of more than word. For instance, had been breaking down is a four-word verb. It has a two-word main verb, breaking down (also called a phrasal verb) , and two helping verbs (had and been). Helping verbs are so named because they help clarify the intended meaning.

• A phrasal verb is a two-word verb, and a helping verb clarify meaning.

• A phrasal verb helps clarify meaning, and a helping verb is a two-word verb.

• A phrasal verb is a sentence, and a helping verb is a word.

​What is a subject?

​A subject is the noun, pronoun, or set of words that performs the verb.

​

​Examples

​The woman hurried. Woman is the subject. Hurried is the verb.

​She was late. She is the subject. Was late is the verb.

​Shakespear in Love won an Academy Award. Shakespeare in love is the subject. Won is the verb.

Multiple Choice

What is a subject?

• A subject is a noun, pronoun, or set of words that performs the verb.

• A noun, or pronoun

• A verb

​Rule 1: Find the verb first.

​To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first. Then ask who or what performed the verb.

​

​Examples: The jet engine passed inspection.

​

​Passed is the verb. Who or what passed? The engine, so engine is the subject. (If you included the word jet as the subject, lightning will not strike you. but technically, jet is an adjective here and is part os what is known as the complete subject).

​Rule 1: Find the verb first.

​To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first. Then ask who or what performed the verb.

​

​Examples: From the ceiling hung the chandelier.

​

​The verb is hung. Now if you think ceiling is the subject, slow your roll. Ask who or what hung? The answer is the chandelier, not the ceiling. Therefore, chandelier is the subject.

Multiple Choice

How do you find the subject of a sentence?

• Find the verb first, then ask who or what performed the verb.

• Find the noun first, then ask what is he, she, or it doing.

• Find the helping verb, and the phrasal verb in a sentence.

​Rule 2: Sentences can have more than one subject and more than one verb.

​Examples:

​I like cake, and he likes ice cream. (Two subjects and two verbs).

​He and I like cake. (Two subjects and one verb).

​She lifts weights and jogs daily. (One subject and two verbs).

Multiple Choice

Sentences can have more than one subject and more than one verb.

What are the two verbs in the following sentence?

I like cake, and he likes ice cream.

• I, he

• cake, ice cream

• like, likes

​Rule 3: If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive, and it is not the main verb.

​If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive, and it is not the main verb. You will find the main verb either before or after the infinitive.

​

​Examples:

​He is trying to leave. To leave is an infinitive; the main verb is trying.

​To leave was his wish. The main verb is was.

Multiple Choice

If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive, and it is not the main verb. You will find the main verb either before or after the infinitive.

What is the verb in the following sentence?

He is trying to leave.

• is

• he

• trying

• leave

​Rule 4: Any request or command such as Stop! or Walk quickly, has the understood subject you.

​Any request or command, such as Stop! or Walk quickly, has the understood subject you, because if we asked who is to stop or walk quickly, the answer is "you."

​

​Examples:

​Please bring me some coffee. Bring is the verb. Who will do the bringing? The subject you is understood,.

Multiple Choice

Any request or command such as Stop! or Walk quickly, has the understood subject you, because if we ask who is to stop or walk quickly, the answer must be "you."

What is the verb in the following sentence?

Please bring me some coffee.

• bring

• some

• me

• coffee

Multiple Choice

identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are underlined.

• The overturned truck blocked both lanes

• The overturned truck blocked both lanes

• The overturned truck blocked both lanes

Multiple Choice

Identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are underlined.

• He appears to be deep in thought.

• He appears to be deep in thought.

• He appears to be deep in thought.

Multiple Choice

Identify the correct subjects and verb. The subjects are in color, and the verbs are underlined.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a New York City landmark.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a New York City landmark.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a New York City landmark.

Multiple Choice

Identify the correct subjects and verb. The subjects are in color, and the verbs are underlined.

• She will fly part of the way and then drive fifty miles to get there.

• She will fly part of the way and then drive fifty miles to get there.

• She will fly part of the way and then drive fifty miles to get there.

Multiple Choice

Identify the correct subjects and verb. The subjects are in color, and the verbs are underlined.

• Honesty is the best policy.

• Honesty is the best policy.

• Honesty is the best policy.

Multiple Choice

Identify the correct subjects and verb. The subjects are in color, and the verbs are underlined.

• (You) Get over here quickly!

• (You) Get over here quickly!

• (You) Get over here quickly!

Multiple Choice

For each question, identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are underlined.

• The actor has forgotten his lines.

• The actor has forgotten his lines.

• The actor has forgotten his lines.

Multiple Choice

For each question, identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are underlined.

• His argument was refuted.

• His argument was refuted.

• His argument was refuted.

Multiple Choice

For each question, identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are underlined.

• (You) Make that sewing machine stop.

• (You) Make that sewing machine stop.

• (You) Make that sewing machine stop.

Multiple Choice

For each question, identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in green and the verbs are in blue.

• She and I prefer morning classes.

• She and I prefer morning classes.

• She and I prefer morning classes.

Multiple Choice

For each question, identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are in blue.

• She and I prefer morning classes.

• She and I prefer morning classes.

• She and I prefer morning classes.

Multiple Choice

For each question, identify the correct subjects and verbs. The subjects are in color and the verbs are in underlined.

• She breeds Pomeranian show dogs and sells them too.

• She breeds Pomeranian show dogs and sells them too.

• She breeds Pomeranian show dogs and sells them too.