Projector Notes
PARTS OF A SENTENCE / ENGLISH 8A
Basic English Language Word Order
Subject
Verb
Object
SUBJECT
☼ Definition – Who or what the sentence is about; *If you can identify
the verb in the sentence, find it, and then ask “who?” or “what?”
to find the subject.
☼ Simple vs. Complete Subject - Simple subject is the main noun or
pronoun. Complete subject consists of simple subject plus any
modifiers or phrases that go with it.
☼ Compound Subject – occurs when multiple subjects share the verb
phrase(s) in a sentence
☼ Understood Subject – In imperative sentences (they give
commands), the subject is often understood to be the person or
persons being addressed. * Written as (you) in grammar
exercises
☼ Inverted Word Order – Sometimes the subject can be at the end.
*When a sentence starts with the expletive “there” or “here”
watch for subjects to be later in the sentence. *Questions can also
invert the word order.
☼ The subject can NEVER be the object of a preposition!!!
☼ Be mindful! Questions often invert the word order and cause the verb to
be split.
PREDICATE /VERB
☼ Definition – Part which says something about the subject; Either
the action being completed or the definition or description linked
to the subject
☼ Simple vs. Complete Predicate – Simple predicate (known as the
verb) is the verb phrase (including auxiliary verbs). Complete
predicate consists of the simple predicate plus any modifiers or
phrases that go with it.
☼ Compound Verb – occurs when multiple verb phrases are shared by
the subject(s) in a sentence
OBJECTS
☼ Direct Object – word(s) that names the receiver of the action of a
transitive verb *Always a noun or pronoun
Example: College students study the subjects of their
choosing.
☼ Indirect Object – Used only with a direct object, the indirect object
tells to whom or for whom the action of the transitive verb is
done *Always a noun or pronoun
Example: I gave the teacher my homework.
COMPLEMENTS
☼ Object(ive) Complements – Used only with a direct object, word(s)
that complete the direct object’s meaning by renaming or
describing it *Can be a noun, pronoun or adjective – (usually
found with verbs “consider, make, name, give” or their
synonyms)
Example: Professors often give reading assignments that are
lengthy.
☼ Subject(ive) Complements – word(s) that complete the meaning of
the subject by renaming or describing it; either a noun (predicate
noun) or an adjective (predicate adjective) *Used with linking
verbs
Example: Last night’s sunset was beautiful. (PA)
Kasey was the student body president. (PN)
*Direct Objects only found w/ transitive (usually action) verbs.
*Subject Complements only found w/ linking verbs (always intransitive).
*Objective Complements only found w/ direct objects.
*Indirect Objects only found w/ direct objects.