Sentence Structure: Subject, Predicate, Objects, Complements

In the sentence, "The new video game, a long-awaited birthday gift, finally arrived in the mail," what is the complete subject?

• The new video game, a long-awaited birthday gift

• The new video game

• finally arrived in the mail

• video game

Answer explanation

The complete subject includes the simple subject ('game') and all words that modify it, including the appositive phrase 'a long-awaited birthday gift'. The predicate ('finally arrived in the mail') tells what the subject did.

Which of the following sentences contains a compound subject?

• Maria and her brother built a giant sandcastle.

• The dog barked and wagged its tail excitedly.

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.

• My friends from soccer practice are coming over.

Answer explanation

A compound subject has two or more distinct subjects ('Maria', 'brother') joined by 'and' that share the same verb ('built'). 'Peanut butter and jelly' acts as a single subject, and 'The dog' is a simple subject with a compound predicate.

Read the sentence: "The energetic puppy has been playfully chasing the red ball across the yard." Which words form the simple predicate (the verb phrase)?

• has been chasing

• chasing

• has been playfully chasing

• chasing the red ball

Answer explanation

The simple predicate is the main verb and any helping verbs. Here, 'has' and 'been' are helping verbs for the main verb 'chasing', making 'has been chasing' the complete verb phrase.

Complete the statement about the sentence: "My best friend's older sister wants to learn how to drive a car for her summer job." The complete predicate is _____.

• wants to learn how to drive a car for her summer job

• wants to learn

• My best friend's older sister

• to drive a car for her summer job

Answer explanation

The complete predicate includes the verb ('wants') and all words that complete its meaning, including the infinitive and prepositional phrases. The subject is 'My best friend's older sister'.

Complete the sentence to include an indirect object: The coach showed _____ the new play.

• the team

• to the team

• for the team

• carefully

Answer explanation

An indirect object like 'the team' comes between a ditransitive verb ('showed') and the direct object ('play') without a preposition. Using 'to the team' would create a prepositional phrase, not an indirect object.

In the sentence, "After the long hike, the trail seemed endless," what is the grammatical role of the word 'endless'?

• Subject Complement (Predicate Adjective)

• Direct Object

• an endless path

• Subject

Answer explanation

'Endless' is a predicate adjective that follows the linking verb 'seemed' and describes the subject 'trail'. 'An endless path' is a noun phrase, and 'seemed' is not an action verb, so there is no direct object.

Choose the correct predicate adjective to complete the sentence: The homemade cookies from the bake sale tasted _____.

• delicious

• deliciously

• good

• with delight

Answer explanation

A predicate adjective follows a sensory linking verb ('tasted') and describes the subject ('cookies'). 'Delicious' is an adjective, while 'deliciously' is an adverb that would describe an action.

Complete the sentence with the correct term: In the sentence 'My favorite type of music is jazz,' the subject complement 'jazz' is a _____.

• Predicate Noun

• Predicate Adjective

• Direct Object

• jazzy

Answer explanation

A predicate noun follows a linking verb ('is') and renames the subject ('type'). 'Jazzy' is an adjective that would describe the subject, not rename it.

Choose the grammatically correct word to complete the sentence: I feel _____ about my test grade.

• bad

• badly

• worse

• more bad

Answer explanation

When 'feel' is a linking verb describing an emotional state, it must be followed by an adjective ('bad') that describes the subject 'I'. 'Badly' is an adverb, and 'worse' would imply a comparison that isn't present.

True or False: In the question, "Have you finished your science project yet?", the word 'project' is the subject.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because the subject is the one performing the action. Rephrasing the question as a statement ('You have finished your science project') reveals the subject is 'you'.