Parts of the Sentence - Subject/Verb
A simple sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought, and it must have a subject and a verb (predicate - some grammar books use the word predicate, but I will use verb). A verb shows action or state of being. Examples: The bell rang. The boy is here. The subject tells who or what about the verb. Examples: The bell rang. The boy is here.
There are four (4) kinds of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
1. A declarative sentence makes a statement. Example: The assignment is due tomorrow.
2. An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request. Examples: Hand it in now. Stop.
3. An interrogative sentence asks a question. Example: Do you know the man?
4. An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling. Declarative, imperative, or interrogative sentences can be made into exclamatory sentences by punctuating them with an exclamation point. Examples: The assignment is due tomorrow! Stop! Do you know the man!
When finding the subject and the verb in a sentence, always find the verb first and then say who or what followed by the verb. Example: The bell rang. Find the verb - rang. Now say who or what rang? The bell rang. Bell is the subject.
Sometimes a sentence is in inverted order so the subject may come in the middle or at the end of the sentence. Examples: Out of the woods came a bear. Came is the verb. What came? Bear came so bear is the subject. With it were her cubs in a rolling pile. Were is the verb. What were? Cubs were so cubs is the subject.
Instructions: Find the subject and verb in these sentences.
1. Just around the corner was the parade.
2. In the fall the leaves cover the ground
3. In the city lived many poor people.
4. Over the fireplace were hanging the stockings for Santa.
5. From the thicket appeared the deer.
--For answers scroll down.
1. parade - subject, was - verb
2. leaves - subject, cover - verb
3. people - subject, lived - verb
4. stockings - subject, were hanging - verb phrase
5. deer - subject, appeared - verb
DAILY GRAMMAR - - - - by Mr. Johanson
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