BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE

1. BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE Subjects, Verbs, and Objects Oh My!

2. SUBJECTS • The subject is the one taking action! Subjects can take different forms: • Simple Subject: A Single Noun • THE DOG ran down the street. • Compound Subject: Two or More Nouns joined by “AND” • THE DOG AND THE CAT ran down the street. • Alternative Subject: Two or More Nouns joined by “OR” • THE DOG OR THE CAT ran down the street. • Gerund As A Subject: Verb Turned Into A Noun by Adding “-ING” to the end. • SINGING makes me happy. • Infinitive As A Subject: The combination of the word “TO” and a bare form of a verb • TO LAUGH is to live.

3. PREDICATES • The predicate is the part of the sentence that isn’t the subject. • Each sentence must have a VERB, therefore in a very simple sentence the VERB is the PREDICATE. • The dog RAN. • The predicate can include things that modify the VERB such as OBJECTS and ADVERBS. These modifiers can be considered as part of the predicate! • The dog RAN QUICKLY. • Silence is golden. • The boy was late to school. • Many people feel as though English is the best subject.

4. Label the following subjects and predicates • Mary went to the grocery store to buy watermelon. • My mom, who is never late, showed up to the concert during the final song. • She ran. • March feels like the longest month • Everything today is thoroughly modern.

5. OBJECTS • Direct Object • A DIRECT OBJECT is the direct recipient of the verb’s action. • The man bought bananas. • NOTE: ‘bought’ is a transitive verb, meaning it transfers its action to an object. • The criminal stole $1,000,000.00. • Indirect Object • AN INDIRECT OBJECT is needed when the direct object alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The indirect object is the person or thing that receives the direct object. • The man gave me bananas. • Ralph sent his girlfriend flowers.