Sentence Structure: Subject, Predicate, Objects, Complements

In the following sentence, identify the complete subject: "After a long and tiring day, the exhausted students finally went home."

• the exhausted students

• students

• After a long and tiring day

• finally went home

Answer explanation

The complete subject includes the simple subject ('students') and all the words that modify it ('the', 'exhausted'). The predicate begins with the verb phrase 'finally went'.

Which of the following sentences contains a compound subject?

• The cat and the dog napped in the sun.

• He washed the dishes and dried them.

• The team practiced hard for the championship.

• She is both a talented artist and a skilled musician.

Answer explanation

A compound subject has two or more subjects ('The cat', 'the dog') joined by a conjunction ('and') that share the same verb ('napped'). Option B has a compound predicate.

In the sentence, "The team should have been practicing for the game," what is the simple predicate (the main verb)?

• should have been practicing

• practicing

• should have been

• have been practicing

Answer explanation

The simple predicate is the main verb within the complete verb phrase. In this case, 'practicing' is the main verb, while 'should,' 'have,' and 'been' are helping verbs.

Complete the sentence with the predicate that makes the most logical and grammatical sense: "The box of old photographs and letters __________."

• were found in the attic

• are faded and yellow

• was stored carefully on the top shelf

• bring back many memories

Answer explanation

The subject of the sentence is 'box,' which is singular. Therefore, the verb must also be singular ('was stored'). The other options use plural verbs that do not agree with the singular subject.

In the sentence, "My friend showed me her new video game," what is the indirect object?

• friend

• me

• game

• showed

Answer explanation

The indirect object ('me') answers the question 'To whom?' or 'For whom?' the action was done. The video game (direct object) was shown *to me*.

In the sentence, "The storyteller told the children a spooky tale," how are the underlined words correctly identified?

• children = direct object; tale = indirect object

• children = indirect object; tale = direct object

• children = subject; tale = direct object

• children = object of a preposition; tale = subject complement

Answer explanation

The verb is 'told.' Told what? A 'tale' (direct object). To whom? To the 'children' (indirect object). The indirect object receives the direct object.

Which word is the linking verb in the sentence, "The situation became more complicated overnight"?

• situation

• became

• more

• complicated

Answer explanation

A linking verb connects the subject ('situation') to a word that describes it ('complicated'). 'Became' acts like an equals sign, linking the subject to its description.

Complete the sentence with a word that functions as a subject complement (predicate nominative): "After years of practice, she became a skilled __________."

• skillfully

• dances

• dancer

• beautifully

Answer explanation

A subject complement follows a linking verb ('became') and renames or describes the subject ('she'). 'Dancer' is a predicate nominative that renames the subject.

Choose the correct adjective to complete the sentence as a subject complement: "The milk in the refrigerator smells __________."

• sour

• sourly

• souring

• sourness

Answer explanation

The linking verb 'smells' must be followed by an adjective ('sour') that describes the subject ('milk'). 'Sourly' is an adverb and does not fit grammatically.

Complete the sentence with a word that functions as an object complement: "The fresh coat of paint made the old room look __________."

• brightly

• new

• color

• painting

Answer explanation

The object complement 'new' is an adjective that describes the direct object 'room'. 'Brightly' is an adverb, and the other options do not fit grammatically.