Download A sentence base may consist of only the subject and the verb

Every sentence has a base.
This base may be compared to
the framework of a building. It
is that part of the sentence on
which are suspended all other
parts.
Ted watched.
A sentence base may
consist of only the
subject and the verb:
for many sentences
nothing else is
needed.
Two word sentences
focus on the base.
Ted watched.
Blood flew.
He sprang.
Frequently the sentence
base will not only have a
subject and verb but also a
completer, or complement.
A complement completes
the meaning begun by the
subject and verb.
Examples:
The I-Pod provided dance music.
Meagan will be a lawyer.
Without the complement, the
sentence is not complete.
It is critical to be able
to identify the main
subject and verb
(base) when analyzing
a sentence.
Every sentence has a base. The base
may be compared to the foundation of a
building. It is the part upon which all
other parts rest. The sentence base is
usually composed of two parts: the
subject and verb.
A cloud of smoke appeared.
subject = cloud
verb = appeared
Hall behavior was discussed.
subject = behavior verb = was discussed
In many sentences something else is
required in the predicate to complete
the meaning of the subject and verb.
This third element is the complement.
A complement is a word or group of words which
completes the meaning begun by the subject and verb.
The drought
subject
Kate
subject
is
verb
ruined the crops.
verb
very
complement
tall.
complement
Construct sentences from the
following sentence bases.
Subject
Verb
Complement
student
left
room
remarks
were
clever
child
looked
unhappy
essay
was
short
A subject complement is a noun,
pronoun, or adjective that follows a
linking verb. It identifies, describes,
or explains the subject.
Michael is a quarterback.
subject verb
noun
Michael
subject
noun
complement
noun
is
strong.
verb complement
adjective
There are two kinds of subject complements.
If the subject complement is a noun or a
pronoun, it is a predicate nominative.
If it is an adjective, it is a predicate adjective.
Predicate nominatives (nouns and pronouns)
explain the subject or give another name for the
subject.
Predicate adjectives describe the subject.
Both predicate nominatives and predicate
adjectives are linked to the subject by linking
verbs.
The common linking verbs are be, become,
feel, smell, taste, look, grow, seem, appear,
remain, sound, stay.
The last scene of the play is tense.
The boy became a man.
Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
There is another kind of complement that does
not refer to the subject. Instead, it receives the
action of the verb or shows the results of the
action.
John typed his essay.
In sentences of this kind, the complement is
called the direct object.
The direct object is a word or group or words that
directly receives the action expressed by the verb
or shows the result of the action. It answers the
question “What?” or “Whom?” after an action
verb.
The nurse took my temperature.
the what
Objects are used after actions verbs only. Verbs
like think, believe, imagine, which express a
mental action, are action verbs just as truly as are
verbs like jump, hit or know, which express
physical action.
An indirect object is a noun or
pronoun in the predicate that
precedes the direct object. It
tells “to whom” or “for whom” the
action of the verb is done.
The instructor gave lessons.
The instructor gave me lessons.