Review of Sentence Structure

1. Review of Sentence Structure For each of the following sentences, label the subject and the predicate. Indicate if the subject is understood or compound. Indicate if the predicate is compound.

2. Liz drove to the zoo. • Pez dispensers are interesting. • Some people buy and collect Pez dispensers. • China and Slovenia are two countries that manufacture Pez dispensers. • Buy, collect and trade Pez dispensers.

3. Answers • S: Liz; P: drove • S: Pez dispensers; P: are • S: Some people; P: buy and collect- compound • S: China and Slovenia- compound; P: are • S: You- understood; P: Buy, collect and trade- compound

4. What about all that other stuff in the sentence? Every sentence needs: - subject - predicate - to express a complete thought Some sentences only need a subject and predicate to express a complete thought. EX. Owls hooted. EX. She danced.

5. HOWEVER, it is possible to have a subject and predicate and still not express a complete thought. EX. This coffee tastes. EX. She always was. Ex. I told In these situations, you need additional words to complete the thought- a complement. (COMPLEments COMPLETE the thought)

6. Complements • Definition: a word or group of words that complete a sentence. EX. This coffee tastes great. EX. She always was a complainer. EX. I told them. Rules: Complements are NEVER in a prepositional phrase.

7. Types of Complements • Subject Complements: A noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb and rename/ describe the subject. • Objects: Nouns or pronouns that follow action verbs.

8. Types of Subject Complements • Predicate Nominative: A noun or pronoun in the predicate portion of the sentence that explains or describes the subject. Ex. Angela will be our soloist. subject verb predicate nominative Ex. A whale is a mammal. subject verb predicate nominative

9. Types of Subject Compliments • Predicate Adjective: An adjective in the predicate portion of the sentence that describes the subject. EX. The soil looks dry. (dry soil) subject verb predicate adjective EX. The popcorn tasted fresh and salty. subject verb predicate adjectives

10. Types of Objects Direct Objects: Noun or pronoun in the predicate portion of the sentence that follows a transitive verb. They are never part of a prepositional phrase. (Remember: Transitive verbs are actions verbs that transfer their action to a noun or pronoun). Direct Objects answer the question what/ who AFTER the verb. Verb+ who/what= direct object EX. Lucy visited me. subject verb direct object EX. They were taking pictures. subject verb direct object

11. Types of Objects • Indirect Objects: Nouns or pronouns that come before the direct object and answer the questions to/for who/what the action of the verb was done. Rules: -Can’t be in a prepositional phrase. - Can’t have an indirect object without a direct object. You can have a direct object without an indirect object. EX. Sheila told the children a story. subject verb indirect object direct object EX. We will give her an award. subject verb indirect object direct object