Identifying Subjects and Verbs

Subject Verb Identification

The Subject: Definition

• Every verb must have a subject.

• If the verb expresses action—like sneeze, jump, bark, or study—the subject is who or what does the verb.

Multiple Select

Action Verbs

Who is doing the action?

During his biology lab, Tommy danced on the table.

• his

• biology lab

• Tommy

• danced

• the table.

Multiple Select

Action Verbs

Who/what is doing the action?

The speeding hotrod crashed into a telephone pole.

• hotrod

• crashed

• telephone

• pole.

The Subject: Definition

• Every verb must have a subject.

• Some verbs are linking: am, is, are, was, were, seem, and become.

• Linking verbs connect the subject to something that is said about the subject.

Multiple Choice

Linking verbs

Ron's bathroom is a disaster.

What is the verb?

• Ron's

• bathroom

• is

• a

• disaster.

Multiple Choice

Linking verbs

Ron's bathroom is a disaster.

What is the subject? What is a disaster?

• Ron's

• bathroom

• is

• a

• disaster.

Multiple Choice

Linking verbs

The bathroom tiles are fuzzy with mold.

What is the verb?

• bathroom

• tiles

• are

• fuzzy

• mold

Multiple Choice

Linking verbs

The bathroom tiles are fuzzy with mold.

What is the subject? What ARE fuzzy?

• bathroom

• tiles

• are

• fuzzy

• mold

Prepositions

Prepositions = words used with a noun or pronoun to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce/connect an object

The subject will never be part of a prepositional phrase.

• A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.

Examples of prepositional phrases:

• in the dirty bathtub

• on the bumpy road

• at home

• between us

• among the empty pizza boxes

• without crying

Multiple Choice

Practice:

Neither of these boys wants to try a piece of pineapple pizza.

What is the prepositional phrase in this sentence?

• Neither

• of these boys

• wants to try

• a piece of pineapple pizza.

Multiple Choice

Practice:

Neither of these boys wants to try a piece of pineapple pizza.

Find the verb. What is the action? (Ignore the prepositional phrase)

• Neither

• wants

• to try

• a piece

• of pineapple pizza.

Multiple Choice

Practice:

Neither of these boys wants to try a piece of pineapple pizza.

What is the subject of this sentence? (Ignore prepositional phrase)

• Neither

• wants

• to try

• a piece

• of pineapple pizza.

Multiple Choice

Practice:

My dog, along with her seven puppies, has chewed all of the stuffing out of the sofa cushions.

What is the prepositional phrase?

• My dog

• with her seven puppies

• has chewed all

• of the stuffing

• out of the sofa cushions.

Multiple Choice

Practice:

My dog, along with her seven puppies, has chewed all of the stuffing out of the sofa cushions.

What is the verb? Where is the action?

• My dog

• with her seven puppies

• has chewed

• of the stuffing

• out of the sofa cushions.

Multiple Choice

Practice:

My dog, along with her seven puppies, has chewed all of the stuffing out of the sofa cushions.

What is the subject of this sentence?

• My dog

• with her seven puppies

• has chewed

• of the stuffing

• out of the sofa cushions.

Subject After Verb

• Generally, but not always, the subject comes before the verb, as in all of the examples we’ve done today

• Example of an exception:

• In a small house adjacent to our backyard lives a family with ten noisy children.

• "In a small house" is a prepositional phrase.

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

The big, hungry, green Martian grabbed a student from the back row.

What is the subject of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

The big, hungry, green Martian grabbed a student from the back row.

What is the verb in this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

The bright copper coin sparkled on the sidewalk.

What is the subject of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

The bright copper coin sparkled on the sidewalk.

What is the verb of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

Around the peach trees are several buzzing bumblebees.

What is the subject of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

Around the peach trees are several buzzing bumblebees.

What is the verb of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

During the afternoon, my cats are content to nap on the couch.

What is the subject of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

During the afternoon, my cats are content to nap on the couch.

What is the verb of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

A ten-item quiz seems impossibly long after a night of no studying.

What is the subject of this sentence?

Fill in the Blank

Let's practice!

A ten-item quiz seems impossibly long after a night of no studying.

What is the verb of this sentence?

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Pineapple Pizza