ELA 7 Grammar Review
Part 1: subjects, subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and
object of prepositions.
The subject of a sentence is the person or thing doing the action or being
described.
Examples: George ate the pie.
Sam enjoys playing volleyball.
The subject of a sentence is one of the basic parts of a sentence. The other basic
part is the predicate. The predicate tells us something about the subject (i.e., it
tells us what action the subject is performing, or it describes the subject). Every
sentence must have a verb, and every verb must have a subject.
A subject complement is the adjective, noun, or pronoun that follows a linking
verb.
The following verbs are true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are,
was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.], become, and seem. These
true linking verbs are always linking verbs.
Examples: Jack is a gifted athlete. (Jack = subject) (athlete = noun as subject
complement)
It was he who caught the winning touchdown Friday night. (It = subject) (was =
linking verb) (he = pronoun as subject complement)
Direct objects can be nouns, pronouns, phrases, or clauses. If you can identify the
subject and verb in a sentence, then finding the direct object—if one exists—is
easy. Just remember this simple formula:
Subject + Verb + what? or who? = Direct Object
Examples:
Summer and Libby played soccer with a grapefruit pulled from a backyard tree.
Summer, Libby = subjects; played = verb. Summer, Libby played what? Soccer =
direct object.
How to Find the Indirect Object
Before you can find the indirect object, you have to find the direct object. You can
find the direct object by finding the verb and asking what?. Once you've found the
direct object, ask who or what received it? For example:
She gave the beggar a gold coin.
(Step 1. Find the verb = gave)
(Step 2. Ask What? = a gold coin)
(Therefore, the direct object is a gold coin.)
(Step 3. Ask Who (or what) received it? = the beggar)
(Therefore, the indirect object is the beggar.)
The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun governed by a preposition. The
object of a preposition is usually (but not always) the noun or pronoun immediately
to the right of the preposition.
Example: Are those biscuits on the table for the dogs?
Part II: Adjectives
Refer to the Adjective Power Point attached to the classroom website to
answer the following questions.
What is a descriptive adjective? Give an example of a descriptive adjective as well
as the word it modifies.
What is a demonstrative adjective? Provide an example.
What is an interrogative adjective? Provide an example.
What is an indefinite adjective? Provide an example.
What is a superlative adjective? Provide THREE examples.
Part III Prepositions (this will be completed together in class)
What does a prepositional phrase include?
How can you determine if a word is being used a preposition or an adverb? Give an
example for each.
How do you identify an adjective phrase? Provide an example.