Basic Sentence Parts

Question 1

Sentence

Answer 1

A sentence is a set of words that is complete in thought, conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command, usually consisting of a main clause and sometimes one or more subordinate clause.

Question 2

Fragment

Answer 2

A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought or idea.
A fragment may contain the key parts of a sentence.

Question 3

Subject

Answer 3

The subject of a sentence is the noun/s and/or pronoun/s that name/s a person, place, or thing that the sentence is about.
“Who/What is being talked about in the sentence? Who/What executed the action in the sentence?”
You will be asked to locate either the simple or complete subject.

Question 4

Simple subject

Answer 4

Contains only the noun or pronoun.

Example:

The incoming grade 7 students are required to attend the freshmen orientation.

The simple subject is “students”.

Question 5

Complete subject

Answer 5

Contains the noun or pronoun + other modifiers before the verb.

Example:

The incoming grade 7 students are required to attend the freshmen orientation.

The complete subject is “The incoming grade 7 students”.

Question 6

Predicate

Answer 6

The predicate of a sentence is the verb/ verb phrase (plus the complement if needed) that tells something about the subject.
“What did [subject] do/ become?”
You will be asked to locate either the simple or complete predicate.

Question 7

Simple predicate

Answer 7

Simple predicate contains only the verb or verb phrase.

Example:

The incoming grade 7 students are required to attend the freshmen orientation.

The simple predicate is “were required”.

Question 8

Complete predicate

Answer 8

Complete predicate contains the verb or verb phrase + other modifiers.

Example:

The incoming grade 7 students are required to attend the freshmen orientation.

The complete predicate is “are required to attend the freshmen orientation”.

Question 9

Compound subject

Answer 9

A compound subject is two or more subjects that have the same verb and is usually joined by the conjunctions and, or, or nor.

Example:

The teacher or the class president will monitor the attendance.

The compound subjects are “teacher” and “class president” joined by “or”.

Question 10

Compound predicate

Answer 10

A compound predicate is two or more verbs that have the same subject and is usually joined by the conjunctions and, or, or nor.

Example:

The class president will check the attendance and monitor the behavior of the students.

The compound predicates are “will check the attendance” and “monitor the behavior” joined by “and”.

Question 11

Hard-to-find subjects
(Inverted Sentences)

Answer 11

For inverted sentences (where verbs or other terms come first before the subject), rephrase the sentence into the usual subject-verb format. Then, the subject and the verb will usually fall into the usual order.

Sentences that start with the following:

1. prepositional/verb/adjectival/adverb phrase (ex. Provided in this presentation are less known details about our heroes.)
2. “here” or “there” (There remain several heroes whose stories were left unsung.)
3. dependent clause (Once I receive my visa, I will immediately book my flight)
4. interrogative marker (Do you find these facts interesting?)

Question 12

Hard-to-find subjects
(Orders, directions, commands)

Answer 12

In sentences that give orders, directions, or commands, the subject is an implied “you”.

(You) Learn from the greatness of the heroes who fought for our nation’s freedom.

(You) Become the hero of today’s generation.

(You) Remember that heroes are humans, too.