Download Subjects, Predicates, and Complements

Sentence Structure
Subjects, predicates,
complements, clauses, etc.
What is a sentence?
 A sentence
is a group of words
containing a subject and a verb and
which expresses a complete thought.
 Let’s do Exercise 1 on pg 514 as a
group to check and make sure we can
all spot sentence fragments.
The Subject and the Predicate
 The
subject of the sentence tells whom
or what the sentence is about.
 Sara ran.
 The predicate tells something about the
subject—what the subject is doing,
thinking, etc. It could also describe the
subject.
 Sara ran.
Simple vs. Complete Subjects

The simple subject is the basic noun or
pronoun that the sentence is about. The
complete subject is the simple subject plus
any phrases used to modify it.
The girls on the softball team didn’t have much
time to do their homework after the game.
Simple subject—girls
Complete subject—the girls on the softball team
Simple vs. Complete Predicate
 The
simple predicate is the verb used to
tell about the subject. The complete
predicate is the simple verb plus all of
the words used to modify it.
The pommies danced in perfect unison.
Simple predicate—danced
Complete predicate—danced in perfect
unison
Partner up!
 Work
through Exercise 2 on page 519.
Identify the simple subject and the verb
of each sentence
GO!
Beclause I said so…
Complements (not compliments)

A complement is a word or word group that
completes the meaning of a verb. Some
verbs need complements in order to express
a complete thought. For example:
“The class seemed” is not a complete thought.
Seemed what? Happy? Sad? Bipolar? Needy?
There’s a subject and a verb, but it’s not a
sentence yet.
“The class seemed enthusiastic.”
That’s a complete thought!
Don’t get mixed up!

Avoid mistaking adverbs and objects of
prepositions for complements.
Chloe studies hard. “Hard” is an adverb
describing how Chloe studies.
Chloe studies after rehearsal. “After rehearsal”
is a prepositional phrase telling when Chloe
studies.
Chloe studies grammar. “Grammar” completes
the meaning of “studies.”
Types of Complements
 Direct
objects receive the action of the
verb.
Katelyn poured the water.
What did Katelyn pour?
The spotter caught Jennifer.
Whom did the spotter catch?
More Complements…
 Indirect
objects precede direct objects
and tell to whom, for whom, to what, or
for what the action is done.
Elise gave the freshman directions to
class.
What was given? Directions.
To whom? The freshman.
And More Complements…

Objective Complements modify or point out
the direct object to complete the meaning of
the verb.
Robert considered the grammar review torture.
Our verb is “considered,” and the direct object is
“grammar review.” What is modifying
“grammar review?” “Tortured” is our objective
complement because it modifies the OBJECT.
Partner up!
 In
Exercise 3 on page 524, you need to
identify and classify the complement.
We’ll do the first two together as
examples.
Subject Complements

These are words or phrases in the predicate
that modify the subject. There are two kinds
of subject complements:
 Predicate Nominatives are words in the
predicate that identify or refer to the subject.
Another four-day weekend is what we really
want.
Our subject is “weekend.” The phrase in the
predicate that modifies “weekend” is “what we
really want.”Try this one:
Of my fourth hour students, Jake is the most
verbal one.
The pronoun “one” refers to the subject “Jake.”
Subject Complements, cont.
 Predicate
adjectives are adjectives in
the predicate that modify the subject.
The class is nervous.
The adjective “nervous” describes “class.”
The girls wearing formal dresses look
beautiful.
The adjective “beautiful” modifies “girls.”
Get a partner!
 Exercise
4 on page 526 asks you to
identify and then classify the subject
complements.
GO!
Quick Review…
 Let’s
go through Review A on page 526
as a class.
The Quiz…
 Review
B on page 529 is your quiz for
this section. Work independently and
quietly.