Parts of a SentenceParts of a Sentencewith

Dr. ErikaDr. Erika

Parts of a SentenceParts of a SentenceEvery sentence needs to have a subje

ctand a predicat

e.But what’s a subject and a predicate? Watch this movie to find out:

SubjectSubject

The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. It’s usually the first noun or pronoun in the sentence.

Mister Morton walked down the street.

Subject

PredicatePredicate

The predicate tells what the subject does or did. It consists of the verb and any other words after the verb.

Mister Morton wrote Pearl a poem.

Predicate

ObjectObject

Some sentences also have objects. The object of the sentence is the thing that receives the action of the verb.Mister Morton grew flowers.

Object

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb AgreementIt is very important for us to know which noun or pronoun in the sentence is the subject.

Mr. Morton was lonely until Pearl showed up with a single rose.

nouns

One way we identify the subject is to make the verb agree with it. This rule is called subject-verb agreement. Every present tense verb must agree with the subject:

I am lonely. I grow flowers.He is lonely. He grows flowers.We are lonely. We grow flowers.

You also need to remember subject-verb agreement with was and were:

I was nervous. We were nervous.He was nervous. You were nervous.

Be Careful!Remember that some quantifiers are singular and some are plural.

Singular Pluraloneeachevery

twoallsomemany

Everyone is happy. Everyone are happy.

Don’t get confused by phrases that modify the subject. For subject-verb agreement, you have to consider the subject, not the modifiers.

The person we see in these pictures is Mr. Morton. The person we see in these pictures are Mr. Morton.

When there is the subject of the sentence, you need to check the word after the verb for subject-verb agreement.

There are many flowers in Mr. Morton’s garden.

There is a rose in Pearl’s hand.

Practice ExercisesPractice Exercises

Erika’s Subject/Predicate Quiz (www.funbrain.com. Secret Word=zayed)

Subject-Verb Agreement

Credits

Movie from Schoolhouse Rock: http://genxtvland.simplenet.com/SchoolHouseRock/