Download Parts of a Sentence

Parts of a Sentence
P. 629-648
RED BOOK
The Sentence
 A sentence is a group of words that expresses a
complete thought

A thought is complete when it makes sense by itself.
Frag: The graduation ceremony scheduled for June 20.
Ex: The graduation ceremony is scheduled for June 20.
Every sentence must have a verb!
The Subject and the Predicate
 A sentence consists of two parts: the subject and the
predicate. The subject tells whom or what the
sentence is about. The predicate tells something
about the subject.
 The subject may come at the beginning, the end, or
even in the middle of a sentence.

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Some residents of the desert can survive a long drought.
Noteworthy is John Stewart.
How does Robert survive without a bottle of pop?
Subject and Predicate
 The simple subject is the main word or group of
words that tells whom or what the sentence is about.
The complete subject is the main word with any
modifiers.

A dog with this pedigree is usually nervous
Complete subject: A dog with this pedigree
 Simple subject: dog


The Taj Mahal in India is one of the most beautiful buildings in
the world.
Complete subject: The Taj Mahal in India
 Simple subject: Taj Mahal

Subject and Predicate
 The predicate tells something about the subject.
 The simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or
group of words in the complete predicate.

Spiders snare their prey in intricate webs.
Complete predicate: snare their prey in intricate webs
 Simple predicate: snare

 The simple predicate may be a single verb or a verb
phrase.

Did Rosa find you?
Complete predicate: did find you
 Simple predicate: did find

Subject and Predicate

She has been looking for you all morning
Complete predicate: has been looking for you all morning
 Simple predicate: has been looking
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Complements
 A complement is a word or word group that
completes the meaning of a predicate


She won.
(You) Look!)
 Complements can be nouns, pronouns or adjectives,
but they cannot be an adverb or a prepositional
phrase.
 Sentences require one or more complements to
complete their meaning:


Georgia O’Keefe created paintings.
The college student registered as an independent.
Complements
 That book is an autobiography.
 The complement, autobiography, completes the meaning of
the sentence.
 Both Ms. Calleson and Ms. Rasnake are athletes.
 Complements may be compound:
 Ms. Carpenter writes poetry and short stories.
Complements
 Complements can be found in both independent and
dependent clauses:


Although she appeared sluggish at the start, Ms. Lion won the
race.
Mr. Braun is a guidance counselor who solves problems.
 Compliments are never in a prepositional
phrase


Vicki quoted the poem.
Vicki quoted from the poem. (poem is a part of the phrase,
from the poem)
Complements
 An adverb modifying a verb is not a complement.
Only nouns, pronouns, and adjectives serve as
complements.


Lucy plays hard. (hard is an adverb, not a complement)
These pears are hard. (hard is an adjective, so it is a
complement)
Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
 A direct object is a noun or a pronoun that receives
the action of the verb or shows the result of the
action.
 A D.O. tells whom or what after an action verb.


I miss you.
She eats Nutella.
 A direct object may be compound.
 The cat followed Ms. Lion and I home.
 Sometimes, the D.O. can be placed before the subject
and the verb:

What delicious chili we ate!
Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
 An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes
between an action verb and a direct object.
 It tells to whom or to what (or for whom or for
what) the action of the verb is done.


Oprah awarded audience members a car. (awarded the car to
whom? Audience members)
Isidro’s skateboard skills landed him a sponsorship. (landed a
sponsorship for whom? Isidro)
Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
 An indirect object may be compound.
 The travel agent gave Roger and Rita their itinerary.
 The commercial earned she and I notoriety.
 Don’t mistake an object of the preposition to or for
for an indirect object.
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Indirect Object: Claire wrote me a letter.
Object of Prep: Claire wrote a letter to me. (Me is the object of
the preposition to)
Objective Complements
 An objective complement is a word or word group that
helps complete the meaning of an action verb by
identifying or modifying the direct object.

An objective complement may be a noun, pronoun, or an adjective.

My grandpa named Garrett a ghost in the night when he
disappeared with a piece of celery. (The noun ghost –or more
specificially the noun phrase “ghost in the night” identifies the DO
Garrett)
My step-mother considers the Dairy Queen hers. (The possessive
pronoun hers modifies the direct object Dairy Queen)

Objective Complements

Jody and I have painted the town red. (the adjective red
modifies the direct object town)
 Only a few action verbs take an objective
complement. These verbs are:

Consider, make, and any verbs that can be replaced by
consider or make such as call, keep, name, find, choose, elect,
appoint, paint, color, and render.
My grandpa considers the Steelers to be exquisite.
 He called them the best team in the league. (or considered them to
be the best team)
 The Supreme Court’s decision rendered public school segregation
unlawful. (or made public school segregation unlawful)

Objective Complements
 An objective complement may even be compound
 My Uncle Mike elected Joe Flacco to be his quarterback and
wide receiver in his fantasy football league.
 The sauce cooking in the kitchen made the room aromatic
and delightful.
Subject Complements
 A subject complement is a word or word group
that completes the meaning of a linking verb and
identifies or modifies the subject.

The two kinds of subject complements are the predicate
nominative and the predicate adjective.
Subject Complements
 A predicate nominative is a noun or a pronoun
that follows a linking verb and refers to the same
person or thing as the subject of the verb.


Anne Lamott is my favorite author. (the noun author refers to
the subject Anne Lamott)
Those people at the table are several of my relatives. (the
pronoun several refers to the subject people)
 A predicate nominative may be compound
 My four favorite Steelers are Troy Polomalu, HeinzWard,
Jerome Bettis, and Heath Miller.
 The last people to get to dinner were Carla and Kyle.
Subject Complements
 A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a
linking verb and modifies the subject of the verb.


Your imitation Jackie Onasis necklace is lovely. (lovely
modifies the subject, necklace)
Does the greek yogurt smell sour? (sour modifies the subject
yogurt)
Subject Complements
 A predicate adjective may be compound
 My grandma’s sauce is sweet and garlicy.
 The fall air in Pennsylvania is cool and crisp.
 I am tired, hungry, and grumpy.

For emphasis, a writer may place the subject complement
before the subject and the verb.
PN: What an amazing coincidence that is!! (The noun
coincidence refers to the subject that)
 PA: Cruel and blue were the villian’s crafty eyes. (The adjectives
cruel and blue modify the subject eyes)
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