Simple and Complete Subjects Lesson

Unraveling Subjects and Predicates

Understanding the fundamental components of sentences: subjects and predicates.

Complete Sentence

A complete sentence has BOTH a Subject and a Predicate.

This INDEPENDENT CLAUSE is a complete thought.

Understanding Subjects and Predicates

• Subject: The noun or pronoun that performs the action or is being described in a sentence.

• Predicate: The verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state of the subject.

• Example: John (subject) runs (predicate).

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the subject and predicate in a sentence?

• To identify the performer of the action and the action being performed

• To determine the tense of the sentence

• To indicate the length of the sentence

• To show the punctuation used in the sentence

Complete Subjects and Complete Predicates

Complete Subjects

• The simple subject (the noun or pronoun)

• All of the words and phrases that describe the simple subject

  
  

Subject in a Sentence

Trivia: The function of a subject in a sentence is to describe the action. It tells us who or what is performing the action. Without a subject, a sentence cannot be complete. Remember, the subject is the star of the sentence!

• Example: The cat chased the mouse.
• Invalid: Chased the mouse.

Multiple Choice

What is the function of a subject in a sentence?

• Performs the action

• Describes the action

• Receives the action

• None of the above

Examples:

Different subjects, same predicates.

• The kids who were playing started to sing.

• Harry, Lisa, and Jamal started to sing.

• Tiffany during the silence started to sing.

• Before the beginning of the game, Harriet started to sing.

• For their performance of the school song, the choir started to sing.

Multiple Choice

What is the Complete Subject?

The kids in Room 207 were misbehaving again.

• The kids

• The kids in

• The kids in Room 207

• The kids in Room 207 were misbehaving again.

Multiple Choice

What is the complete subject in this sentence?

The yellow house on the corner has a big garden in the backyard.

• The yellow house

• house

• garden

• The yellow house on the corner

Simple Subjects

• Nouns (Person, Place, Thing, or Idea)

• Pronouns (Take the place of a noun. Ex: I, You, He, She, It)

• The topic of the sentence.

• Who or what is doing or is being.

Multiple Choice

What is the Simple Subject?

The kids in Room 207 were misbehaving again.

• kids

• Room 207

• misbehaving

• again

Multiple Choice

The simple subject is...

The yellow house on the corner has a big garden in the backyard.

• The yellow house

• house

• garden

• The yellow house on the corner

Identifying the Subject

• Subject is the main noun or pronoun in a sentence
• It tells who or what the sentence is about
• Look for the subject by asking 'Who?' or 'What?' before the verb
• Subject can be a single word or a group of words
• Subject can be found in different positions in a sentence

Multiple Choice

What is the main noun or pronoun in a sentence called?

• Verb

• Object

• Subject

• Adjective

Compound Subjects

• A compound subject is a subject that consists of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by a coordinating conjunction.
• Example: The cat and the dog are playing in the yard.
• Each noun or pronoun in the compound subject must agree with the verb.

Multiple Choice

What is a compound subject?

• A subject consisting of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by a coordinating conjunction

• A subject that agrees with the verb

• A subject that consists of only one noun or pronoun

• A subject that is always singular

Complete Predicate

• Predicate: The verb or verb phrase that tells what the subject is doing or being

Predicate Contains the Verb(s)

• Verbs (Show Action or State of Being)

• Action Verbs, Linking Verbs, and Helping Verbs.

• A comment or remark on the subject.

Examples:

Same subject, different predicates.

• The squirrel in the tree leaped from the branch.

• The squirrel in the tree climbed higher.

• The squirrel in the tree stood still.

• The squirrel in the tree made a clicking sound.

• The squirrel in the tree ate an acorn.

Multiple Choice

What is the Complete Predicate?

The kids in Room 207 were misbehaving again.

• were

• were misbehaving

• were misbehaving again

• misbehaving

Multiple Choice

Practice: Identify the section of the sentence.

Most dangerous sharks are the ones that are both hungry and mean.

• Complete Subject

• Complete Predicate

Multiple Choice

Practice: Identify the section of the sentence.

Smoke and flames were pouring out of the spaces where the windows had been.

• Complete Subject

• Complete Predicate

Multiple Choice

Practice: Identify the section of the sentence.

The large woman turned around and kicked him right in his blue-jeaned sitter.

• Complete Subject

• Complete Predicate

Multiple Choice

What is the Simple Predicate?

The kids in Room 207 were misbehaving again.

• were

• misbehaving

• were misbehaving

• again

Verbs Lessons 1-5

Verbs Lesson 1

Action verbs are words that show action. Action verbs are the most common verbs.

Multiple Choice

What do action verbs show?

• Action or movement

• State or condition

• Main noun or pronoun

• Verbs and their modifiers

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

1. The wolf ran across the sand.

• wolf

• ran

• across

• sand

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

2. Sit down.

• sit

• down

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

3. The dog barked at the man.

• dog

• barked

• man

Verbs Lesson 2

Linking verbs (state of being verbs) show that something exists; they do not show action. Some common linking verbs include: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, look, feel, and become

Linking Verbs

is, am, are, was, were

be, being, been, appear, seem, look, feel, become

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

1. My uncle is a pilot.

• uncle

• is

• pilot

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

2. The pie looks good.

• pie

• looks

• good

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

3. You seem upset.

• you

• seem

• upset

Verbs Lesson 3

Is it action or linking?

Some verbs can be both...

Example: Appear can be an action. The rabbit appeared in the hat.

Appear can be linked to a state of being.

You appear sad.

You have to watch how it is used. Emotions are commonly described by Linking Verbs

Multiple Choice

Is the verb an "Action" or "linked to a State of Being"

1. Suddenly someone sneezed loudly.

• Action

• State of being

Multiple Choice

Is the verb an "Action" or "linked to State of Being"

2. There are holes in my shirt.

• Action

• State of being

Multiple Choice

Is the verb an "Action" or "linked to a State of Being"

3. He appears happy.

• Action

• State of being

Multiple Choice

Is the verb an "Action" or " linked to a State of Being"

4. The image appeared in the mirror.

• Action

• State of being

Verbs Lesson 4

Sometimes a verb can be more than one word. When a verb is more than one word, it is called a verb phrase.

Verb Phrases

Verb phrases can be two, three, or four words. Verb phrases are made by using auxiliary or helping verbs with the main verb.

HELPING VERBS

Group 1: is, am, are, was, were

Group 2: be, being, been

Group 3: has, have, had

Group 4: do, does, did

Group 5: shall, will, should, would

Group 6: may, might, must, can, could

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb phrase in the sentence below? It combines a helping verb and a verb.

1. You are going to Seattle.

• going

• are going

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb phrase in the sentence below? It combines 2 helping verbs and a common verb?

2. You have been resting too much.

• have

• have been

• have been resting

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb phrase in the sentence below? It combines 2 helping verbs and a common verb?

3. We must be early.

• must

• must be

• must be early

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb phrase in the sentence below? It combines 2 helping verbs and a common verb?

4. I will be finished shortly.

• will

• will be

• will be finished

Verbs Lesson 5

Helping Verbs can be alone or with other verbs to form a Verb Phrase. Can you tell which is which?

Review Helping Verbs

Group 1: is, am, are, was, were

Group 2: be, being, been

Group 3: has, have, had

Group 4: do, does, did

Group 5: shall, will, should, would

Group 6: may, might, must, can, could

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb or verb phrase in the sentence below?

1. She has too many friends.

• has

• too

• many

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb or verb phrase in the sentence below?

2. You do beautiful work.

• you

• do

• beautiful

Multiple Choice

Can you find the verb or verb phrase in the sentence below?

3. I was in Canada last week.

• I

• was

• last

​Now, you are ready for the practice quiz.