Subjects and VerbsSubjects and Verbs

An Overview of Basic An Overview of Basic Sentence StructureSentence Structure

Describe this picture:Describe this picture:

The mother played The mother played with the boy.with the boy.

The boy is excited.The boy is excited.

They have a pink toy They have a pink toy box.box.

The mother and the The mother and the boy are boy are communicating.communicating.

Subjects:Subjects:

All sentences must All sentences must have a have a subjectsubject..

The subject is who or The subject is who or what causes the what causes the action or expresses action or expresses a state of being.a state of being.

The motherThe mother played played with the boy.with the boy.

The boyThe boy is excited. is excited.

TheyThey have a pink toy have a pink toy box.box.

The mother and the The mother and the boyboy are are communicating.communicating.

More on Subjects:More on Subjects:

Simple Subject:Simple Subject:

Complete Subject:Complete Subject:

Compound Compound Subject:Subject:

Implied Subject:Implied Subject:

The judge’s The judge’s reputationreputation for for order in the courtroom is order in the courtroom is well known.well known.

All of my closest friendsAll of my closest friends threw threw me a surprise birthday me a surprise birthday party.party.

Susan and GeorgeSusan and George got got married last year.married last year.

Close the door, please. (Close the door, please. (youyou))

Subject Danger:Subject Danger:

Prepositional Prepositional Phrases:Phrases:

Here and Here and There:There:

The daughter of my parents’ friends The daughter of my parents’ friends lives in New York.lives in New York.

The The daughterdaughter of my parents’ friendsof my parents’ friends lives in New York.lives in New York.

The disappearance of those three girls The disappearance of those three girls in Florida is all over the news.in Florida is all over the news.

The The disappearancedisappearance of those three girls of those three girls in Floridain Florida is all over the news. is all over the news.

HereHere is your new cell phone.is your new cell phone.HereHere is your new is your new cell phonecell phone..

There are three girls in my family.There are three girls in my family.There are three There are three girlsgirls in my family. in my family.

Strange SubjectsStrange Subjects Some subjects are always singular:Some subjects are always singular:

EitherEither – Either of those – Either of those isis fine. fine.NeitherNeither – Neither of them ever – Neither of them ever callscalls me. me.OneOne – One of your teachers – One of your teachers liveslives on our street. on our street.None None – None of these books – None of these books seemsseems interesting.interesting.EachEach – Each of your friends – Each of your friends hashas a nice car. a nice car.

Collective nouns are singular:Collective nouns are singular:Team – The team of executives Team – The team of executives isis flying out to flying out to a convention this afternoon.a convention this afternoon.Furniture – This furniture (the couch, tables, Furniture – This furniture (the couch, tables, and chairs) and chairs) lookslooks good in this room. good in this room.

Fussy SubjectsFussy Subjects Some quantity words are always used with a plural Some quantity words are always used with a plural

verb:verb:

ManyMany – Many people – Many people areare underemployed. underemployed.

A fewA few- A few of the stores - A few of the stores staystay open until midnight. open until midnight. Some quantity words can be either singular or Some quantity words can be either singular or

pluralplural

MostMost – – Most of the apples Most of the apples areare ripe. ripe.

Most of the cheese Most of the cheese isis bad. bad.

SomeSome - - Some post offices Some post offices havehave remained open. remained open.

Some milk Some milk hashas been contaminated. been contaminated.

All All - - All of the dogs All of the dogs areare barking. barking.

All of the rice All of the rice isis brown. brown.

Verbs:Verbs:

All sentences must All sentences must have a have a verbverb..

The verb indicates The verb indicates what the subject is what the subject is doing or being.doing or being.

The mother The mother playedplayed with the boy.with the boy.

The boy The boy isis excited. excited.

They They havehave a pink toy a pink toy box.box.

The mother and the The mother and the boy boy are are communicatingcommunicating..

More on Verbs:More on Verbs:

Simple Subject:Simple Subject:

Complete Complete Subject:Subject:

Compound Compound Subject:Subject:

The children The children havehave a dog. a dog.

We We have been studyinghave been studying for for three hours!three hours!

Last weekend I Last weekend I cleanedcleaned my my house and house and wentwent to the to the movies.movies.

ID Complete Subjects and Complete VerbsID Complete Subjects and Complete Verbs

1.1. Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for India Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for India and for peace.and for peace.

2.2. Through a practice of nonviolent Through a practice of nonviolent resistance, he led his people to freedom resistance, he led his people to freedom from the British.from the British.

3.3. There was only good in his behavior and There was only good in his behavior and his accomplishments.his accomplishments.

4.4. His fasts, writings, and speeches inspired His fasts, writings, and speeches inspired the people of India.the people of India.

5.5. Gandhi urged the tolerance of all Gandhi urged the tolerance of all religions.religions.

ID Complete Subjects and Complete VerbsID Complete Subjects and Complete Verbs

6.6. Finally, the British granted freedom to Finally, the British granted freedom to India.India.

7.7. Some leaders in India and a few Some leaders in India and a few foreign agitators had questioned the foreign agitators had questioned the freedom of religion.freedom of religion.

8.8. Gandhi, the Indian prince of peace, Gandhi, the Indian prince of peace, was killed by an intolerant religious was killed by an intolerant religious leader.leader.

9.9. People of the world remember and People of the world remember and celebrate the life of this heroic leader.celebrate the life of this heroic leader.

Choose the Correct VerbChoose the Correct Verb

1.1. The driver that cut me off on the streets ( is are) The driver that cut me off on the streets ( is are) dangerous.dangerous.

2.2. The time we spent in the mountains ( was were ) The time we spent in the mountains ( was were ) relaxing.relaxing.

3.3. The people in line at the DMV ( seems seem ) The people in line at the DMV ( seems seem ) angry.angry.

4.4. It’s ironic that so many people who ( claims claim ) It’s ironic that so many people who ( claims claim ) to be religious ( treats treat ) others terribly.to be religious ( treats treat ) others terribly.

5.5. Driving on the LA freeways ( makes make) me a Driving on the LA freeways ( makes make) me a nervous wreck.nervous wreck.

6.6. For most animals, an under the skin chip ( is are ) For most animals, an under the skin chip ( is are ) the best safeguard against a lost pet.the best safeguard against a lost pet.

Choose the Correct VerbChoose the Correct Verb

7.7. Neither my parents nor yours ( has have) Neither my parents nor yours ( has have) enough money to pay for our wedding.enough money to pay for our wedding.

8.8. Each of these essays ( deserves deserve ) a Each of these essays ( deserves deserve ) a passing score.passing score.

9.9. Some of your friends ( calls call) the house too Some of your friends ( calls call) the house too late.late.

10.10. Some of the gas ( has have ) been stolen out of Some of the gas ( has have ) been stolen out of my car!my car!

11.11. There ( is are ) a lot of money in the account: ten There ( is are ) a lot of money in the account: ten thousand dollars!thousand dollars!

12.12. Two officers in the Royal Air Force ( is are ) Two officers in the Royal Air Force ( is are ) receiving medals for outstanding service.receiving medals for outstanding service.