P. 629-648 RED BOOK

Parts of a Sentence

The Sentence

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought A thought is complete when it makes sense by itself.

Frag: The graduation ceremony scheduled for June 20. Ex: The graduation ceremony is scheduled for June 20.

Every sentence must have a verb!

The Subject and the Predicate

A sentence consists of two parts: the subject and the predicate. The subject tells whom or what the sentence is about. The predicate tells something about the subject.

The subject may come at the beginning, the end, or even in the middle of a sentence. Some residents of the desert can survive a long

drought. Noteworthy is John Stewart. How does Robert survive without a bottle of pop?

Subject and Predicate

The simple subject is the main word or group of words that tells whom or what the sentence is about. The complete subject is the main word with any modifiers. A dog with this pedigree is usually nervous

Complete subject: A dog with this pedigree Simple subject: dog

The Taj Mahal in India is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Complete subject: The Taj Mahal in India Simple subject: Taj Mahal

Subject and Predicate

The predicate tells something about the subject.

The simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or group of words in the complete predicate. Spiders snare their prey in intricate webs.

Complete predicate: snare their prey in intricate webs Simple predicate: snare

The simple predicate may be a single verb or a verb phrase. Did Rosa find you?

Complete predicate: did find you Simple predicate: did find

Subject and Predicate

She has been looking for you all morning Complete predicate: has been looking for you all morning Simple predicate: has been looking

Complements

A complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a predicate She won. (You) Look!)

Complements can be nouns, pronouns or adjectives, but they cannot be an adverb or a prepositional phrase.

Sentences require one or more complements to complete their meaning: Georgia O’Keefe created paintings. The college student registered as an independent.

Complements

That book is an autobiography. The complement, autobiography, completes the

meaning of the sentence. Both Ms. Calleson and Ms. Rasnake are

athletes. Complements may be compound:

Ms. Carpenter writes poetry and short stories.

Complements

Complements can be found in both independent and dependent clauses: Although she appeared sluggish at the start, Ms. Lion

won the race. Mr. Braun is a guidance counselor who solves

problems. Compliments are never in a prepositional

phrase Vicki quoted the poem. Vicki quoted from the poem. (poem is a part of the

phrase, from the poem)

Complements

An adverb modifying a verb is not a complement. Only nouns, pronouns, and adjectives serve as complements. Lucy plays hard. (hard is an adverb, not a

complement) These pears are hard. (hard is an adjective, so it is a

complement)

Direct Objects and Indirect Objects

A direct object is a noun or a pronoun that receives the action of the verb or shows the result of the action.

A D.O. tells whom or what after an action verb. I miss you. She eats Nutella.

A direct object may be compound. The cat followed Ms. Lion and I home.

Sometimes, the D.O. can be placed before the subject and the verb: What delicious chili we ate!

Direct Objects and Indirect Objects

An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes between an action verb and a direct object.

It tells to whom or to what (or for whom or for what) the action of the verb is done. Oprah awarded audience members a car. (awarded

the car to whom? Audience members) Isidro’s skateboard skills landed him a sponsorship.

(landed a sponsorship for whom? Isidro)

Direct Objects and Indirect Objects

An indirect object may be compound. The travel agent gave Roger and Rita their itinerary. The commercial earned she and I notoriety.

Don’t mistake an object of the preposition to or for for an indirect object. Indirect Object: Claire wrote me a letter. Object of Prep: Claire wrote a letter to me. (Me is the

object of the preposition to)

Objective Complements

An objective complement is a word or word group that helps complete the meaning of an action verb by identifying or modifying the direct object. An objective complement may be a noun, pronoun, or an

adjective.

My grandpa named Garrett a ghost in the night when he disappeared with a piece of celery. (The noun ghost –or more specificially the noun phrase “ghost in the night” identifies the DO Garrett)

My step-mother considers the Dairy Queen hers. (The possessive pronoun hers modifies the direct object Dairy Queen)

Objective Complements

Jody and I have painted the town red. (the adjective red modifies the direct object town)

Only a few action verbs take an objective complement. These verbs are: Consider, make, and any verbs that can be replaced by

consider or make such as call, keep, name, find, choose, elect, appoint, paint, color, and render.

My grandpa considers the Steelers to be exquisite. He called them the best team in the league. (or considered

them to be the best team) The Supreme Court’s decision rendered public school

segregation unlawful. (or made public school segregation unlawful)

Objective Complements

An objective complement may even be compound My Uncle Mike elected Joe Flacco to be his

quarterback and wide receiver in his fantasy football league.

The sauce cooking in the kitchen made the room aromatic and delightful.

Subject Complements

A subject complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a linking verb and identifies or modifies the subject. The two kinds of subject complements are the

predicate nominative and the predicate adjective.

Subject Complements

A predicate nominative is a noun or a pronoun that follows a linking verb and refers to the same person or thing as the subject of the verb. Anne Lamott is my favorite author. (the noun author

refers to the subject Anne Lamott) Those people at the table are several of my relatives.

(the pronoun several refers to the subject people)A predicate nominative may be compound

My four favorite Steelers are Troy Polomalu, HeinzWard, Jerome Bettis, and Heath Miller.

The last people to get to dinner were Carla and Kyle.

Subject Complements

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the verb. Your imitation Jackie Onasis necklace is lovely. (lovely

modifies the subject, necklace) Does the greek yogurt smell sour? (sour modifies the

subject yogurt)

Subject Complements

A predicate adjective may be compound My grandma’s sauce is sweet and garlicy. The fall air in Pennsylvania is cool and crisp. I am tired, hungry, and grumpy.

For emphasis, a writer may place the subject complement before the subject and the verb. PN: What an amazing coincidence that is!! (The noun

coincidence refers to the subject that) PA: Cruel and blue were the villian’s crafty eyes. (The

adjectives cruel and blue modify the subject eyes)