A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs

A Closer Look at A Closer Look at Subjects and VerbsSubjects and Verbs

Lesson 2Lesson 2Joseph C. BlumenthalJoseph C. Blumenthal

A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs

• One or more helping verbs (sometimes called auxiliary verbs) are often used with the main verb to express our meaning more exactly.

The The roperope willwill breakbreak..

The helping verb used with break to make its meaning more exact is _____.


• One or more helping verbs (sometimes called auxiliary verbs) are often used with the main verb to express our meaning more exactly.

The The roperope willwill breakbreak..

The helping verb used with break to make its meaning more exact is _willwill_.


MaryMary can rescuecan rescue the child. the child.MaryMary should rescueshould rescue the child. the child.

The meaning of the first sentence changes when we change the helping verb from can to ______.


MaryMary cancan rescue rescue the child. the child.MaryMary shouldshould rescue rescue the child. the child.

The meaning of the first sentence changes when we change the helping verb from can to shouldshould.


a. Mary a. Mary settledsettled the argument. the argument.b. Mary could have b. Mary could have settledsettled the the argument.argument.

In sentence a, the main verb is used by itself. In sentence b, two helping verbs have been added to change its meaning—_____ and ______.


a.a. Mary Mary settled settled the argument.the argument.b.b. Mary Mary couldcould havehave settled settled the the argument.argument.

In sentence a, the main verb is used by itself. In sentence b, two helping verbs have been added to change its meaning—couldcould and havehave.


Learn to recognize these important helping verbs:

can, shall, willwould, should,

couldmay, might, mustVera _________ study.

Could each of these helping verbs be used with the main verb study? (Yes, No)


Learn to recognize these important helping verbs:

can, shall, willwould, should,

couldmay, might, mustVera _________ study.

Could each of these helping verbs be used with the main verb study? (Yes, No)


The three verbs below may serve as either main verbs or helping verbs.

be (is, am, are—was, were, been)have (has, had)

do (does, did)

Which verb has the largest number of forms? ______


The three verbs below may serve as either main verbs or helping verbs.

be (is, am, are—was, were, been)have (has, had)

do (does, did)

Which verb has the largest number of forms? __ be __


a. The a. The weatherweather isis bad. bad.b. The b. The weatherweather isis improvingimproving..In one sentence is serves as the

main verb; in the other, as a helping verb.Does is serve as a helping verb in sentence a or b?


a. The a. The weatherweather isis bad. bad.b. The b. The weatherweather isis improvingimproving..In one sentence is serves as the

main verb; in the other, as a helping verb.Does is serve as a helping verb in sentence a or b?


a. a. II have broughthave brought my camera my camera along.along.b. b. II havehave my camera with me. my camera with me.

Is have used as a helping verb in sentence a or b?


a. a. I I havehave broughtbrought my camera my camera along.along.b. b. II havehave my camera with me. my camera with me.

Is have used as a helping verb in sentence aa or b?


a. a. We We diddid the dishes. the dishes.b. Yes,b. Yes, we we did washdid wash the dishes.the dishes.

Is did used as a helping verb in sentence a or b?


a. a. We We diddid the dishes. the dishes.b. Yes,b. Yes, we we diddid washwash the dishes.the dishes.

Is did used as a helping verb in sentence a or bb?


a.a. II have studiedhave studied my lesson. my lesson.b.b. II should have studiedshould have studied my my

lesson.lesson.c.c. II should have been studyingshould have been studying

my lesson.my lesson.In which sentence does the verb have the largest number of helping verbs?


a.a. II have studiedhave studied my lesson. my lesson.b.b. II should have studiedshould have studied my my

lesson.lesson.c.c. II shouldshould havehave beenbeen

studyingstudying my lesson. my lesson.In which sentence does the verb have the largest number of helping verbs?


The The driverdriver should have been should have been watchingwatching the road. the road.

The three helping verbs in this frame are _______, ______, and ______.


The The driverdriver shouldshould havehave beenbeen watchingwatching the road. the road.

The three helping verbs in this frame are should, have, and been.


The The driverdriver should have been should have been watching the road.watching the road.

The complete verb in any sentence includes the main verb plus whatever helping verbs it may have.

The complete verb in this sentence consists of (how many?) words.


The The driverdriver shouldshould havehave beenbeen watchingwatching the road. the road.

The complete verb in any sentence includes the main verb plus whatever helping verbs it may have.

The complete verb in this sentence consists of fourfour words.


ThisThis hashas happenedhappened frequently. frequently.

We shall now, for a moment, need to turn our attention to adverbs, which most commonly modify verbs.

Because frequently modifies the verb has happened, it is an _______.


ThisThis hashas happenedhappened frequentlyfrequently..

We shall now, for a moment, need to turn our attention to adverbs, which most commonly modify verbs.

Because frequently modifies the verb has happened, it is an adverbadverb.


a.a.ThisThis hashas happenedhappened frequentlyfrequently..b.This has frequently happened.

In which sentence does the adverb frequently break into or interrupt the verb?


a.a.This has happened frequently.This has happened frequently.b.This has frequently

happened.In which sentence does the adverb frequently break into or interrupt the verb? bb


a.a.This This engineengine willwill immediatelyimmediately startstart in the coldest weather.in the coldest weather.

b.b.This This engine engine will startwill start immediatelyimmediately in the coldest weather.in the coldest weather.

In which sentence does the adverb come between the main verb and its helper?


a.a.This This engineengine willwill immediatelyimmediately startstart in the in the coldest weather.coldest weather.

b.b. This This engineengine willwill startstart immediatelyimmediately in the in the coldest weather.coldest weather.In which sentence does the adverb come between the main verb and its helper? aa


One should immediately try artificial respiration.

What adverb comes between the main verb and its helper?


One should immediately try artificial respiration.

What adverb comes between the main verb and its helper? immediately


STATEMENT: Judy can drive.

QUESTION: Can Judy drive?

There is something else besides adverbs that can separate a main verb from its helper.

The verb can drive is interrupted in the (statement, question).


STATEMENT: Judy can drive.

QUESTION: Can Judy drive?

There is something else besides adverbs that can separate a main verb from its helper.

The verb can drive is interrupted in the (statement, question).


STATEMENT: Dad will want the car tonight.

QUESTION: Will Dad want the car tonight?The verb will want is interrupted

in the (statement, question).


STATEMENT: Dad will want the car tonight.

QUESTION: Will Dad want the car tonight?The verb will want is interrupted

in the (statement, question).


a.Will this pen write?b.Is the water boiling?c.Who borrowed my

book?d.Does tom like

spinach?

Most of the questions we ask begin with a helping verb.

Which is the only one of the above questions that does NOT begin with a helping verb?


a.Will this pen write?b.Is the water boiling?c.Who borrowed my

book?d.Does Tom like spinach?

Most of the questions we ask begin with a helping verb.

Which is the only one of the above questions that does NOT begin with a helping verb?


a.Will this pen write?b.Does Tom like spinach?

A helping verb at the beginning of a sentence is the signal that a question is coming.

In each of these questions, we find the subject between the two parts of the _________.


a.Will this pen write?b.Does Tom like spinach?

A helping verb at the beginning of a sentence is the signal that a question is coming.

In each of these questions, we find the subject between the two parts of the __Verb__.


Does this key fit?

The verb in this sentence consists of the two words ____________ ___________.


Does this key fit?

The verb in this sentence consists of the two words ___Does____ ____fit_____.


Must the tire be changed?

The verb in this sentence consists of the three words _______ _________ _________.


Must the tire be changed?

The verb in this sentence consists of the three words ___Must ____ ____be ____ ___changed____.


Sometimes, for emphasis, we put the verb ahead of its subject.

a.The rain came down.b. Down came the rain.

In which sentence does the verb precede the subject?


Sometimes, for emphasis, we put the verb ahead of its subject.

a.The rain came down.b. Down came the

rain.In which sentence does the verb precede the subject? b.


You are more likely to select the right subject if you look for the verb first.

Out jumped the rabbit.

After you find the verb jumped, ask yourself, “Who or what jumped?” The answer will always tell you the subject.

The subject of this sentence is _________


You are more likely to select the right subject if you look for the verb first.

Out jumped the rabbit.

After you find the verb jumped, ask yourself, “Who or what jumped?” The answer will always tell you the subject.

The subject of this sentence is rabbit


This story the class really enjoyed.

First find the verb.



First find the verb – enjoyed.



First find the verb – enjoyed. Then ask yourself, “Who or what enjoyed?”

The subject of this sentence is



First find the verb – enjoyed. Then ask yourself, “Who or what enjoyed?”

The subject of this sentence is class


1. To this old inn came a strange visitor.

2. Away sped the blue car. 3. Here stands the monument to

Frederick Douglass.4. Never has our team played any

better.

In this and the following frames, write which is the verb and which is the subject.


5. Neither did Pam receive an invitation.

6. Must each member participate in the discussion?

7. Where does Mother keep the tools? 8. Can this dress be washed in soap

and water?

In this and the following frames, write which is the verb and which is the subject.


Yes or No

9. Can a verb consist of more than one word?

10. Which group of words consists of helping verbs? A or b?

a. shall, could, should, can, must, might

b. Soon, never, now, always, not, surely


11. A main verb is sometimes separated from its helper by other words.

True or False

12. The subject always comes ahead of the verb in every sentence.

True or False


13. You are less likely to make a mistake in selecting the subject and the verb if you select the first.

You are done!!!You are done!!!Please turn in your Please turn in your answers for points.answers for points.

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A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs