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Ms. Rivas’s Grammar Notes
Simple subject
The main word or word group that tells whom or what a sentence is
about
Examples of amphibians include salamanders, frogs, and toads.
Complete subject
Consists of all words that tell whom or what the sentence is about
Examples of amphibians include salamanders, frogs, and toads.
Verb/simple predicate
The main word or word group that tells something about the subject.
Verbs express action or state of being.
Ancient forests are extremely valuable to many life forms.
Complete Predicate
Consists of a verb and all of the words that describe the verb and
complete its meaning
Ancient forests are extremely valuable to many life forms.
Subject Complements
a. Predicate nominative
b. Predicate Adjective
A word or word group that completes the meaning of a linking verb and
that identifies or describes the subject
(Linking verbs tell something about the subject’s state of being.
Examples include am, is, are, was, were, seem, look, appear, be, etc.)
The horse seemed exhausted.
a. Predicate Nominative
A word or word group that is in the predicate and that identifies the
subject or refers to it.
*PNRenames/describes subject
*PN a noun
Ben is a policeman.
Roberto became a teacher
b. Predicate
Adjective
An adjective that is in the predicate and that describes the subject.
She looks beautiful.
Transitive verb
a verb that takes a direct object/ a verb that expresses an action
directed toward a person, place, thing or idea
Karen wrote a letter. (wrote what.. ? A letter.)
She washed the dishes. (washing what.. ? The dishes.)
Intransitive verb
a verb that does not take a direct object / expresses action (or tells
something about the subject) without the action passing to a receiver
or object.
Irma is sleeping. (You don't "sleep something", you just sleep.)
Jerry stood up. (Jerry didn't stand something up. He just stood up.)
***A verb may be transitive in one sentence and intransitive in anotherJanet swam ten laps. (transitive)
Janet swam well. (intransitive)
The teacher read a book. (transitive)
The teacher read aloud. (intransitive)
Objects of Verbs
a. Direct Objects
b. Indirect Objects
a. Direct object- a noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or
what receives the action of the verb.
It answers the question “Who?” or “What?” after the verb
Our history class built a model of the Alamo.
(The noun “model” receives the action of the verb built and tells what
the class built)
Tip- Find the verb. Then ask yourself “built what?” or “who?”. The noun
from the sentence that answers your question is the direct object.
b. Indirect objects- a noun, pronoun, or word group that
sometimes appears in sentences containing direct objects
It tells to whom/what or for whom/what the action of the verb is done.
She gave Theo the terrarium.
Allow me to walk you through direct and indirect
objects…
She gave Theo the terrarium.
“She” is the subject. “gave” is the verb. Ask yourself—“gave
what?/What noun did the subject give?” –Gave terrarium. “Terrarium”
is the direct object. Now ask yourself—“Did anyone or thing receive the
direct object?” Did anyone receive the terrarium? Yes, Theo did, which
makes “Theo” the indirect object.
Tips and tricks for IO & DO
DO- find verb then ask who or what received the action of that verb.
(verb) what ? = DO (She ran laps.) ran what? Laps
IO- did anyone or thing receive the DO?
IO can only go between verb and DO
Prepositions
shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun (that often precedes it) to
another word or element in the clause
See how a change in preposition changes the relationship between
package and tree:
The package under the tree is mine.
The package next to the tree is mine.
Prepositional Phrases
Includes a preposition, a noun or pronoun called the object of the
preposition, and any modifiers of that object.
Let’s go on a trip.
They are out of town.
Appositive Phrases
An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or
pronoun to identify or describe it. An appositive phrase consists of an
appositive and its modifiers.
Paella, one of the restaurant’s specialties, is a Spanish dish.
Participles
a verb form that can be used as an adjective. Most participles end ing–
ed or –d. Some may be irregularly formed. (irregular form- Chosen for
her leadership ability, Dawn was an effective captain.)
The horses trotting past were not frightened by the crowd.
The smiling child waved.
Present participle- walking
Past participle- walked
(infinitive would be to walk)
Participle Phrases
Participle + object(s) and/or modifier(s)
**The entire phrase is used as an adjective.
Reaching for a bagel, she knocked over the milk.
(The participle phrase modifies the pronoun she.)
Infinitives
A verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or adverb. Most
infinitives begin with “to”
NOUN- Would you like to dance? (DO of verb “would like”)
ADJECTIVE- A simple dance to perform is the waltz. (modifying the noun
“dance”)
ADVERB-The camel knelt at the pool to drink. (To drink modifies the
verb “knelt”)
Infinitive Phrases
Consists of an infinitive and any modifiers or complements the infinitive
has. The entire phrase can be used as a noun, adjective or adverb.
As adverb (modifies “grew”):
The crowd grew quiet to hear the speaker. (The infinitive phrase is an
adverb modifying the verb “grew”. The noun “speaker” is the DO of the
infinitive “to hear”)
As adjective (modifies “snacks”):
Peanuts and raisins are good snacks to take on a camping trip. (the
infinitive phrase is an adjective modifying “snacks” The adverb phrase
on a camping trip modifies the infinitive “to take)
As noun (subject):
To lift those weights takes great strength. (The infinitive phrase is a
noun used as a subject of the sentence. The noun “weights” is the DO
of the infinitive “to lift”)
**Be careful not to confuse an infinitive with a prepositional phrase
beginning with “to”. A prepositional phrase always have an object that
is a noun or pronoun. An infinitive is a verb form that usually begins
with “to” … Infinitive = to + verb
Gerunds
a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun
Playing chess well requires concentration. (subject of verb requires)
My sister Tyra has started collecting rocks. (direct object of the verb has
started)
Reading helps you learn. (as subject)
Her favorite hobby is reading. (as subject complement-PN)
I enjoy reading. (as direct object)
Gerund Phrases
Gerunds + object(s) and/or modifiers
**The entire phrase is used as a noun.
Preston heard the crashing of the surf. (as direct object)
The secretary’s duty is answering calls in the office. (as subject
complement-PN)
The barking of the dog made the cat run away.(as subject)
For our next vacation we may give riding on a train a try. (as indirect
object)
My sister votes for driving to Seattle, Washington, in an RV. (as object
of preposition)