English Study Guide
Subjects, Objects, & Clauses
A subject is who or what the sentence is about.
An action verb is what the subject does
A linking verb is a being verb that links the subject to
its subject complement.
If a sensory word is acting as a linking verb, you can
replace it with a common linking verb to see if it
makes sense and to figure out its use.
A direct object is the receiver of the action – it answers whom or what about
the action verb.
To find a direct object:
1. Find subject.
2. Find action verb.
3. Ask whom or what after the action verb and the answer = DO
For example: Tom caught the ball. Tom = S
caught = V
ball = DO
An indirect object is it answers to whom or for whom the action is done.
To find an indirect object:
1. Find subject.
2. Find action verb.
3. Ask whom or what after the action verb and the answer = DO
4. Ask to whom or for whom after the DO and the answer = IO
For example: Kelly gave me a card. Kelly = S gave = AV card = DO me = IO
A preposition is
Common prepositions = about, above, across, after, against, among, …
See Grammar Goodies & flashcard
The noun that comes after a preposition is called the
object of the preposition
For example: We walked across the parking lot.
Across = prep lot = OP the & parking = modifiers
A subject complement is
To find a subject complement:
1. Find subject.
2. Find linking verb.
3. Ask who or what after LV = SC
For example: Chip Kelly is the Eagles’ coach.
Chip Kelly = S
is = LV coach = SC
Direct objects and subject complements are alike because
Direct objects and subject complements are different because
An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own as a sentence.
It has a subject + a verb = complete thought.
For example: Saint Dot’s Fair is this week.
An dependent clause is a clause that can NOT stand on its own as a
sentence. It has a subject + a verb but it doesn’t make a complete
thought or it doesn’t make sense on its own.
Dependent Clause Clue Words = although, because, while, since, after, if,
even though, …..see grammar Goodies
To find a DC in a sentence:
If it begins a sentence, it starts with a clue word and ends with a comma.
If it doesn’t begin a sentence, skim the sentence for DC clue words. Next
see if the DC clue word is followed by a S + V.
For example:
Because the fair is this week, we will have a light work load.
Another example is:
I will work at the fair since it supports our school.
Independent and dependent clauses are alike because
Independent and dependent clauses are different because