Subject and predicate

For each sentence, determine whether the underlined word or words are the complete subject, the complete predicate, or neither.

Mosquitoes live in most areas of the world.

• complete subject 

• complete predicate

• neither

Answer explanation

Correct. Mosquitoes is a noun that tells what the sentence is about. Since it has no modifiers, it is the complete subject even though it is just one word.

The bite of a mosquito often causes itching.  

• complete subject

• complete predicate

• neither

Answer explanation

Correct. Bite is a noun that tells what the sentence is about; the article the and the prepositional phrase of a mosquito modify bite. Together, this noun and its modifiers make up the complete subject. 

Bites from mosquitoes spread disease.

• complete subject

• complete predicate

• neither

Answer explanation

Correct. Spread is the verb that tells what the subject, bites, does, and disease is the direct object of spread. Together, these words make up the complete predicate.

During bad mosquito outbreaks, health officials monitor the dangers.

• complete subject

• complete predicate

• neither

Answer explanation

Correct. The underlined words form a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb monitor. Officials is the noun that tells what the sentence is about, so the complete subject has to include officials. Monitor is the verb that tells what the subject does, so the complete predicate has to include monitor.

Communities having too many mosquitoes often kill them with special sprays.

• complete subject

• complete predicate

• neither

Answer explanation

Correct. Communities is the noun that tells what the sentence is about, so the complete subject has to include communities. Kill is the verb that tells what the subject does, so the complete predicate has to include kill. The underlined words form a participial phrase that modifies communities.

Before school, I went to the library.

• subject

• predicate

She thought about the assignment carefully

• subject

• predicate

It has been cold for three weeks.

• subject

• predicate

The chair was extremely uncomfortable.

• subject

• predicate

The track was too muddy for walking.

• subject

• predicate