Download subject_predicate_fragment

Name _________________________
Date ___________
ELA 7
Mrs. Davis
SUBJECT AND PREDICATE
All sentences need a subject and a predicate.
The Subject of a sentence names the "do-er" or "be-er". It is the person, place, or thing
that acts, is acted on, or is described in the sentence.
Three types of subjects exist:
 Simple subject: a noun or a pronoun




he
she
dog
house
 Complete subject: a noun or a pronoun plus any modifiers (adjectives/adverbs)



the black dog
the trees across the bay
his dog house
 Compound subject: two or more subjects joined by a conjunction



Mitch or Amy
the dog and the house
he and I
Underline the subject in the following sentences:
1. Janie opened her silver spiral notebook.
2. Sarah-Charlotte wanted to have a Pity Party for Janie.
3. Jason and Pete suddenly had to get extra dessert.
4. The chemistry teacher was writing on the blackboard as he lectured.
5. The quiet house seemed very empty.
The Predicate is the completer of a sentence. It is the action or description that occurs in the
sentence.
As with subjects, three types of predicates exist:
 Simple predicate: a complete verb (a verb and any helping verbs)



sit
was singing
could have danced
 Complete predicate: a simple predicate plus all modifiers (adjectives/adverbs)



sit on the couch
was singing quietly
could have danced across the room
 Compound predicate: two or more predicates with the same subject



was singing quietly and smiling to himself
could have danced across the room and stayed awake all night
sit on the couch or sit on the floor
Underline the predicate in the following sentences:
1. Her mother drove.
2. She tore them out of her glitter notebook, folded them, and stuffed it all into an
envelope under the clip.
3. One of my sisters is named Jodie.
4. She fumbled with her blue English notebook.
5. She could imagine the class snickering.
Subject
Predicate
Simple
James
jumped
Complete
My friend James
jumped on the bed
Compound
My friend James and I
jumped on the bed and fell on the floor
Underline the subject once and the predicate twice.
1. Janie cried.
2. Janie and her mom cried.
3. Her friend Sarah-Charlotte yelled at Janie.
4. Janie walked into Reeve’s class and asked for Lizzie’s phone number.
5. Reeve and Janie left school.
There is one exception:
A command is the only type of sentence that has no subject. The
subject (“you”) is implied.
For example:
1. Stop.
Implied subject = you
Predicate = stop
2. Read the book.
Implied subject = you
Predicate = read the book
3. Read the book and answer the questions.
Implied predicate = you
Predicate = read the book and answer the questions
A Fragment is missing the subject, the predicate, or both parts of the sentence.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Five days after her scene in the drive.
Condensed the facts and theories of the kidnapping to four pages.
Passing period following passing period.
Tossing out my family like last week’s newspaper.
Took her shoulder and turned her around.
That kind of sorry.
Label each sentence F (for fragment) or C (for complete).
1. The following week was bright with pain. _____
2. No matter where she looked. _____
3. A tall, thin, dark girl with very short hair and a brittle smile. _____
4. She missed having the carton. _____
5. Leave that book alone. _____
Turn each of the following fragments into complete sentences.
1. Was in the doorway at the same time as Reeve and Jessica.
____________________________________________________________________
2. Past the offices and the school library.
____________________________________________________________________
3. Pushing her through the hallway and to his car.
____________________________________________________________________
4. Walking steadily toward Reeve, although there were desks in her path.
____________________________________________________________________
5. His fingers, full of keys.
____________________________________________________________________