Sentences: Finding the Complete Subject and Complete Predicate

A sentence is a group of words that has a subject (a noun), a verb, and a complete thought.  This same combination of words is an independent or main clause.  (Note:  Not all groups of words with a noun and a verb are sentences.)  The subjects and verbs of sentences must agree; in other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

The complete subject is the simple subject, which is the principal part of the subject, with all its modifiers.  The complete predicate is the simple predicate, which is the verb or verb phrase, with all of its modifiers.

EXERCISE #1

In the sentences below, do two things: 

1.      Draw a vertical line between the complete subject and the complete predicate;

2.      Draw one line under the simple subject and two lines under the simple predicate.

1.      The brave little robin in the tree sang merrily.

2.      Large tractors pulled heavy plows.

3.      Hardworking farmers were loading trailers with hay bales.

4.      The lad produces food for many hungry people.

5.      Good plowing requires the closes attentions of the tractor driver.

6.      Dark green fields of corn will wave here in the summer.

7.      Abundant yields are good news to the farmer.

8.      Farming is a basic industry in the Midwest.

9.      Those bright colored tulips were grown from bulbs imported from Holland.

10.  Many people plant bulbs in their gardens.

11.  Yesterday I filled my vases with yellow and red tulips.

12.  Tall graceful trees bordered Aunt Betty’s flower garden.

13.  She plants some very rare types of flowers with unusual blossoms.

14.  People often tour my aunt’s garden.

15.  I am planning a garden just like hers.

INVERTED SENTENCES

To achieve variety and to add interest to your writing, inverted sentences are frequently used.   In an inverted sentence, the subject may come at the end of the sentence, or it may follow a part of the predicate, dividing the predicate into two sections.

Example:  Both of the following sentences are correct.  The meaning is the same in each; one is inverted, the other is not.

Inverted Order:  In the sky shined the bright stars.

Natural Order:  The stars shined brightly in the sky.

EXERCISES

In some of the sentences below, the order of the subject and predicate is reversed, the predicate coming first.  Underline the simple subject once and the simple predicate twice.

1.      Silently rose the moon over the eastern hills.

2.      A happy man that night he seemed.

3.      Many are the lonely hearts in war time.

4.      Suddenly came a sound like rushing wind.

5.      Never before had I seen such a sight.

6.      Steadfastly loyal to his master was the dog.

7.      There stood the sentinel with bayonet fixed.

8.      In due time arrived the messenger with the general’s orders.

9.      Into the room dashed my frightened brother.

10.  The bright yellow sunlight streamed through the window.

11.  There down the street comes the glittering parade.

12.  Over in the corner leaned Grandfather Mallorey’s hand-carved walking stick.

13.  For once the teacher seemed angry.

14.  Above us hung the sun like a red-hot ball of fire.

15.  Around the corner madly dashed the frightened horse.