A sentence must contain a subject and a predicate. The subject must contain a noun or nominal word, and the predicate must contain a verb. A sentence can be as simple as a noun and a verb. Show The subject can contain more than a noun, and the predicate can contain more than a verb.
In the above example, the subject contains an adjective (migratory) and a noun (birds), and the predicate contains a verb (fly), a preposition (to), and a direct object (Florida). In this section we will examine the different parts of a sentence including: subject, predicate, object, complement, phrase, and clause. The subject of a sentence identifies who or what the sentence is about. Nouns, pronouns, gerunds, and phrases can all be subjects. Subjects can be singular or plural. The subject has two forms: the simple subject and the complete subject. Simple SubjectThe simple subject refers to the main word or words that the sentence is about.
In the above example, the noun tree is the simple subject. Complete SubjectThe complete subject refers to the simple subject and any additional words that modify the simple subject.
In the above example, the complete subject consists of an article (the), an adjective (biggest), the simple subject (tree), and a prepositional phrase (in the yard). Noun as subjectA noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.
Pronoun as subjectA pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.
Gerund as subjectA gerund is a verbal, a word that has the qualities of both a verb and a noun. Gerunds are recognizable by their -ing suffix.
Phrase as subjectInfinitive phrases, which begin with infinitives like the word to, can be used as subjects for a sentence. Nominal phrases, which function as a noun, can also be used as subjects.
PredicateThe predicate of a sentence describes the state or action of the subject. The predicate has two forms: the simple predicate and the complete predicate. Simple PredicateThe simple predicate refers to the verb or verbs of the sentence. Multiple verbs can function as the predicate of a sentence.
Linking verbs can function as the predicate of a sentence.
The predicate can include a verb participle and a form of the verb to be.
Complete PredicateThe complete predicate refers to everything in the sentence that is not part of the subject.
In the above example, the complete predicate consists of the verb (is), a particle (a), an adjective (wealthy), and a complement (playboy).
In the above example, the prepositional phrase by day is part of the complete predicate regardless of its position in the sentence. This is because by day modifies playboy, which is part of the predicate. ObjectAn object is a word or group of words in a sentence that receives the action of a verb. Nouns, pronouns, gerunds, and phrases can all be objects. There are two types of objects: direct objects and indirect objects. Direct ObjectThe direct object is the object that is being acted upon by the verb in a sentence.
The direct object does not always need to come after the verb in a sentence. This is often the case when a sentence is written in passive voice.
An easy way to identify the direct object is to ask a question about who or what received the action of a sentence.
Indirect ObjectThe indirect object is a secondary object that is being acted upon by a verb in a sentence. A sentence must have a direct object in order to have an indirect object.
The indirect object does not always need to come after the verb in a sentence. This is often the case when a sentence is written in passive voice.
An easy way to identify the indirect object is to determine the direct object and then ask a question about “to whom” or “to what.”
ComplementA complement is a word or group of words that provides additional meaning to a subject or object. Adjectives, nouns, pronouns, gerunds, and phrases can all be complements.
PhraseA phrase is a group of words that provides extra information beyond what a single word can convey in a sentence. Phrases may contain a subject or a predicate or be part of a subject or a predicate. However, a single phrase cannot contain both a subject and a predicate. There are many categories of phrases. The parts of speech can each have their own type of phrase. Notice how in each example given below, the phrase provides extra information about its part of speech.
In the following section, we will examine four types of phrases in detail:
Gerund phraseA gerund phrase is a phrase that provides additional information about a gerund. Gerund phrases take the role of a noun in a sentence. Gerund phrase as subjectBecause a gerund can take the role of a noun, a gerund phrase can function as the complete subject of a sentence.
Gerund phrase in predicateA gerund phrase may appear in the predicate of a sentence.
In the above example, the verb of the sentence is the word tried. The gerund phrase biking all day long functions as the direct object of the sentence. Not gerund phrases: progressive verb phrases and participle phrases
In the above example, was biking is the past progressive form of the verb to bike. The verb phrase does not have any noun qualities.
In the above examples, the participle phrase pedaling with all her might acts as an adjective that modifies the noun Julie. Prepositional phrasePrepositions are words that indicate position or direction. A prepositional phrase is a phrase that provides extra information about a preposition. A prepositional phrase contains a preposition and the object of the preposition.
In the above example, onto is the preposition. Its object is leaf. Prepositional phrases can function as nouns, complements, adjectives, or adverbs. Prepositional phrase as nounA prepositional phrase can fill the role of a noun.
In the above example, Under the bridge functions as a noun and is the subject of the sentence. Prepositional phrase as complementA prepositional phrase can fill the role of a complement.
In the above example, under the bridge functions as the complement of our favorite hangout spot. Prepositional phrase as adjectiveA prepositional phrase can fill the role of an adjective.
In the above example, nearest the window modifies the noun seat. Prepositional phrase as adverbA prepositional phrase can fill the role of an adverb.
In the above example, over the bridge modifies the verb drove. Infinitive phraseAn infinitive phrase is a phrase that uses the basic dictionary form of a verb preceded by the word to.
Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Infinitive phrase as nounAn infinitive phrase can function as a subject or a direct object in a sentence.
In the above example, the infinitive phrase To stroll the beach is the subject of the sentence. In the above example, the infinitive phrase to win is the direct object. Infinitive phrase as adjectiveAn infinitive phrase can function as an adjective.
In the above example, to love modifies the noun someone. Infinitive phrase as adverbAn infinitive phrase can function as an adverb.
In the above example, to feed the homeless modifies the verb work. AppositiveThe word appose is an old word that means “to place side by side.” An appositive is a noun or phrase that rewords another term in a sentence, providing extra information.
In the above example, the appositive phrase a poet provides extra information about the noun Jamie. Because the phrase a poet is not crucial to the meaning of the sentence, commas are used to separate it from the rest of the sentence. Commas, em dashes, and parentheses are all accepted ways to separate an appositive from the rest of its sentence.
When an appositive is crucial to the meaning of a sentence, do not use extra punctuation to separate it from the rest of the sentence. Context often determines whether an appositive is crucial. Both examples given below can be correct or incorrect depending on context.
The above example implies that Mia only has one sister. In this situation, knowing her name is not crucial to the meaning of the sentence. There is only one possible person her sister is referring to.
The above example implies that Mia has more than one sister. In this situation, knowing her name is crucial to the meaning of the sentence, as her sister could refer to multiple people. ClauseA clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. There are two main types of clauses:
We will also examine two unique categories of dependent clauses:
Independent clauseAn independent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and can function as a complete sentence.
Two independent clauses can be connected by a semicolon.
Two independent clauses can also be connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Three or more independent clauses can be connected by commas. The final item in the list should follow a coordinating conjunction.
Dependent clauseA dependent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate but cannot function as a complete sentence. To function as a sentence, a dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause that fulfills its verbal relationship. A sentence containing both an independent clause and a dependent clause is known as a complex sentence.
In the above example, the dependent clause has a subject (Rome) and a predicate (burns). The words Rome burns can function as a complete sentence. However, while Rome burns cannot function as a complete sentence, because the word while establishes that Rome burns is part of a larger verbal relationship. Use a comma when placing a dependent clause before an independent clause in a sentence.
Dependent clauses cannot always be placed before independent clauses in a sentence.
Subordinate clauseA subordinate clause is a dependent clause that contains a subordinating conjunction, such as the word when.
There are many subordinating conjunctions. Here are a few:
Relative clauseA relative clause is a dependent clause that contains a relative pronoun, such as the word that.
Here is a list of relative pronouns:
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