The Basics & Finding Subjects and Objects

Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Adverbs,

Linking Verbs, Prepositions, Subjects, &

Objects

What is a noun?What is a noun?

• A noun NAMES a person place thing or idea.

• Find the nouns in the following sentence:

• 3:10 to Yuma is an exciting film with an unusual ending.

• Nouns: 3:10 to Yuma, film, ending

• A noun NAMES a person place thing or idea.

• Find the nouns in the following sentence:

• 3:10 to Yuma is an exciting film with an unusual ending.

• Nouns: 3:10 to Yuma, film, ending

What is a Pronoun?What is a Pronoun?

• A pronoun replaces a noun or another pronoun.

• Ex. he, she, it, their, one, that• He went to the party but left it

early.• IMPORTANT: Nouns and

Pronouns are ALWAYS either Subjects or Objects

• A pronoun replaces a noun or another pronoun.

• Ex. he, she, it, their, one, that• He went to the party but left it

early.• IMPORTANT: Nouns and

Pronouns are ALWAYS either Subjects or Objects

What are the two types of Proper Verbs?

What are the two types of Proper Verbs?

Active VerbsActive Verbs

• Express actions• Ex. run, jump, laugh, think

• Express actions• Ex. run, jump, laugh, think

Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

• express a state of being• act like equal signs (=)• 5 senses: look, sound, taste, feel,

smell• To be verbs: am, is, are, was,

were, be, being, been, will be

• express a state of being• act like equal signs (=)• 5 senses: look, sound, taste, feel,

smell• To be verbs: am, is, are, was,

were, be, being, been, will be

What is a preposition?What is a preposition?

• A word that links an object to other words in the sentence using time and space.

• Any word that can describe an object’s position in relation to a box.

• On, in, around, above, below, beside inside…

• A word that links an object to other words in the sentence using time and space.

• Any word that can describe an object’s position in relation to a box.

• On, in, around, above, below, beside inside…

Special PrepositionsSpecial Prepositions

• What if there is more than 1 box?• Between 2 boxes

• Among 3 or more boxes

• Uncommon Prepositions: like, unlike, except, about, as

• Time Prepositions: before, after, during

• What if there is more than 1 box?• Between 2 boxes

• Among 3 or more boxes

• Uncommon Prepositions: like, unlike, except, about, as

• Time Prepositions: before, after, during

9 Most Common Prepositions

9 Most Common Prepositions

• On• In• Of• For• From• To• With• At• By

• On• In• Of• For• From• To• With• At• By

Subjects and ObjectsSubjects and Objects

• What is the subject of the following sentence?• One of the candidates running for the

position of president of the United States is going to win.

• What is the subject of the following sentence?• One of the candidates running for the

position of president of the United States is going to win.

How to Find ObjectsHow to Find Objects

• The first noun or pronoun after a preposition is an object.

• The first noun or pronoun after a verb or verbal is an object.• Exception: The first noun or pronoun

after a linking verb is not an object.

• The first noun or pronoun after a preposition is an object.

• The first noun or pronoun after a verb or verbal is an object.• Exception: The first noun or pronoun

after a linking verb is not an object.

How To Find the Subject of a VerbHow To Find the Subject of a Verb

• Find the verb.• Find the 1st noun or pronoun before the

verb.• Is that noun or pronoun an object?

• No=subject• Yes=keep looking before for the next noun

or pronoun

• If you can’t find the subject before the verb, then it is always the first noun or pronoun after the verb.

• Find the verb.• Find the 1st noun or pronoun before the

verb.• Is that noun or pronoun an object?

• No=subject• Yes=keep looking before for the next noun

or pronoun

• If you can’t find the subject before the verb, then it is always the first noun or pronoun after the verb.

What are Verbals(Verb Forms)?

What are Verbals(Verb Forms)?

• Verbals are words that look like verbs but ARE NOT verbs.

• Verbals are words that look like verbs but ARE NOT verbs.

Verb-ingsVerb-ings

• If there is a helping verb in front of a verb-ing = proper verb• Ex. I am running.

• If the verb-ing describes a noun = adj = present participle• Ex. The running man is my favorite dance.

• If the verb-ing names an action = noun = gerund• Ex. Running is my favorite thing to do.• Ex. I like running.

• If there is a helping verb in front of a verb-ing = proper verb• Ex. I am running.

• If the verb-ing describes a noun = adj = present participle• Ex. The running man is my favorite dance.

• If the verb-ing names an action = noun = gerund• Ex. Running is my favorite thing to do.• Ex. I like running.

Past Tense VerbsPast Tense Verbs

• If the past tense verb expresses an action = proper verb• Ex. I completed the test.

• If the past tense verb describes a noun = adj = past participle• Ex. The completed test is 3 pages

long.

• If the past tense verb expresses an action = proper verb• Ex. I completed the test.

• If the past tense verb describes a noun = adj = past participle• Ex. The completed test is 3 pages

long.

InfinitivesInfinitives

• Infinitives = to verb• Adjectives• Adverbs• Nouns

• Infinitives are NEVER PROPER VERBS!!• How can you tell when “to” is a

preposition or an infinitive?• Look at what comes after it:

• to noun = preposition• to verb = infinitive

• Infinitives = to verb• Adjectives• Adverbs• Nouns

• Infinitives are NEVER PROPER VERBS!!• How can you tell when “to” is a

preposition or an infinitive?• Look at what comes after it:

• to noun = preposition• to verb = infinitive

Verbals (Verb Forms)Verbals (Verb Forms)

• Participles (Past and Present)• Gerunds• Infinitives

• Participles (Past and Present)• Gerunds• Infinitives

Part Two: Why was all that basic stuff important?

Part Two: Why was all that basic stuff important?

• Subject/Verb Agreement• Subject/Verb Agreement

Subject/Verb AgreementSubject/Verb Agreement

• Singular Nouns= ( ) no “S”• Singular Verbs=(S)• The girl walks.

• Plural Nouns= (S)• Plural Verbs=( )• The girls walk.

• Singular Nouns= ( ) no “S”• Singular Verbs=(S)• The girl walks.

• Plural Nouns= (S)• Plural Verbs=( )• The girls walk.

“I”“I”

• plural in the present tense• Except for “am”• Ex. I walk to the store. Walk w/ no “s”

=plural

• Singular in the past tense• I was at the store. Was=singular

• plural in the present tense• Except for “am”• Ex. I walk to the store. Walk w/ no “s”

=plural

• Singular in the past tense• I was at the store. Was=singular

“You”“You”

• Always plural in both past and present tenses.• Ex. You walk to the store.• Ex. You were in class.

• Always plural in both past and present tenses.• Ex. You walk to the store.• Ex. You were in class.

Compound Subjects Connected w/ and

Compound Subjects Connected w/ and

• If the two nouns connected are two separate things = plural verb

• If the two nouns connected comprise one idea = singular verb

• Ex. Peanut butter and jelly is / are my favorite sandwich.

• Ex. Peanut butter and jelly is / are what I need from the store.

• If the two nouns connected are two separate things = plural verb

• If the two nouns connected comprise one idea = singular verb

• Ex. Peanut butter and jelly is / are my favorite sandwich.

• Ex. Peanut butter and jelly is / are what I need from the store.

Compound Subjects Connected with nor, or, neither...nor, or

either... or

Compound Subjects Connected with nor, or, neither...nor, or

either... or• The part of the subject closest to the

verb determines if the verb is singular or plural.

• Ex. Neither the strawberries nor the milk is/are spoiled.

• Ex. Neither the milk nor the strawberries is/are spoiled.

• My parents or I am/is/are going to fill out the paperwork.

• The part of the subject closest to the verb determines if the verb is singular or plural.

• Ex. Neither the strawberries nor the milk is/are spoiled.

• Ex. Neither the milk nor the strawberries is/are spoiled.

• My parents or I am/is/are going to fill out the paperwork.

Other words that seem like connectors…

Other words that seem like connectors…

• As well as, together with, and along with

• These words seem like connectors but they are NOT; they all end with prepositions, so the first noun or pronoun after each of these is an OBJECT not part of the subject.

• Ex. The girl along with her mother is/are going to the store.

• The subject is “The girl” not “The girl along with her mother”

• As well as, together with, and along with

• These words seem like connectors but they are NOT; they all end with prepositions, so the first noun or pronoun after each of these is an OBJECT not part of the subject.

• Ex. The girl along with her mother is/are going to the store.

• The subject is “The girl” not “The girl along with her mother”

The Following Words are ALWAYS SINGULAR

The Following Words are ALWAYS SINGULAR

• Each, One, Neither, Either • Each, One, Neither, Either

Every Body One Thing

Any “ “ “

Some “ “ “

No “ “ “

Try these…Try these…

• Neither of the girls was/were happy.• Either of the cars is/are satisfactory.• Each of the students was/were present.• One of the students isn’t/aren’t present.• Everyone is/are happy.• Someone was/were in the room.

• Neither of the girls was/were happy.• Either of the cars is/are satisfactory.• Each of the students was/were present.• One of the students isn’t/aren’t present.• Everyone is/are happy.• Someone was/were in the room.

One of many…One of many…

• “One of many” when one is the subject =singular.• One of the dogs is/are brown.• One of the girls was/were on the team.

• “One of many that, which, or who” =plural.• In this case, that, which, or who is the subject and

refers to the many.• Ex. One of the dogs that is/are brown is sleeping. • Ex. She is one of the girls who is/are on the team.

• “One of many” when one is the subject =singular.• One of the dogs is/are brown.• One of the girls was/were on the team.

• “One of many that, which, or who” =plural.• In this case, that, which, or who is the subject and

refers to the many.• Ex. One of the dogs that is/are brown is sleeping. • Ex. She is one of the girls who is/are on the team.

There and HereThere and Here

• There and Here are expletives: words that refer to a subject that comes AFTER the verb.

• Look for the first noun or pronoun after the verb to determine if the verb should be singular or plural.

• Ex. Here is/are your car keys.Vs.

• Ex. Here is/are your key.

• There and Here are expletives: words that refer to a subject that comes AFTER the verb.

• Look for the first noun or pronoun after the verb to determine if the verb should be singular or plural.

• Ex. Here is/are your car keys.Vs.

• Ex. Here is/are your key.

Portion WordsPortion Words

• When the subject of a sentence is a portion word (all, half, some, percent, none), look at what the portion word is referring to to determine if the verb should be singular or plural.• Ex. Half of the pie has/have been eaten.• Ex. Half of the pies has/have been eaten.

• When the subject of a sentence is a portion word (all, half, some, percent, none), look at what the portion word is referring to to determine if the verb should be singular or plural.• Ex. Half of the pie has/have been eaten.• Ex. Half of the pies has/have been eaten.

Lump Sums vs. Individual Units

Lump Sums vs. Individual Units

• Lump Sums=Singular• Twenty dollars is the price of the

item.

• Individual Units=plural• Twenty dollar bills are spread on the

table.

• Lump Sums=Singular• Twenty dollars is the price of the

item.

• Individual Units=plural• Twenty dollar bills are spread on the

table.

Singular words that sound plural

Singular words that sound plural

• School Subjects: Mathematics, Economics, Physics, Language Arts• Ex. Physics is my favorite subject.

• News• The news is always bad.

• School Subjects: Mathematics, Economics, Physics, Language Arts• Ex. Physics is my favorite subject.

• News• The news is always bad.

Singular Words that Sound Plural and Require a Plural

Verb

Singular Words that Sound Plural and Require a Plural

Verb• Glasses• Pants• Scissors

• My glasses are broken• My pants have a hole in them.

• Keep in mind that if you add “Pair of” before these words they are singular because “pair” is now the subject and pair singular.

• Glasses• Pants• Scissors

• My glasses are broken• My pants have a hole in them.

• Keep in mind that if you add “Pair of” before these words they are singular because “pair” is now the subject and pair singular.

Basic Sentence StructureBasic Sentence Structure

• Clauses and Phrases• Clauses and Phrases

ClausesClauses

• A group of words with a subject/verb relationship.

• There are two types of clauses:• Independent: can stand alone as a

complete sentence.• Dependent: cannot stand alone

because it has a dependent connector in front of it.

• A group of words with a subject/verb relationship.

• There are two types of clauses:• Independent: can stand alone as a

complete sentence.• Dependent: cannot stand alone

because it has a dependent connector in front of it.

Dependent ConnectorsDependent Connectors• Although• Though• That• Which• Who/Whom• Because• When• If• Where

• Although• Though• That• Which• Who/Whom• Because• When• If• Where

• Before• After• Why• As• Like• Despite• What• How

• Before• After• Why• As• Like• Despite• What• How

ExamplesExamples

• She is going to the park.• Independent Clause

• Because she is going to the park• Dependent Clause

• I went to the store.• Independent Clause

• After I went to the movies• Dependent Clause

• She is going to the park.• Independent Clause

• Because she is going to the park• Dependent Clause

• I went to the store.• Independent Clause

• After I went to the movies• Dependent Clause

PhrasesPhrases

• A group of words with NO subject/verb relationship

• Purpose: to describe/modify• Ex. In 2006, the country…• Ex. After dinner, we…• Ex. The boy running down the

street was…• Ex. One must have a business plan

to run a company.

• A group of words with NO subject/verb relationship

• Purpose: to describe/modify• Ex. In 2006, the country…• Ex. After dinner, we…• Ex. The boy running down the

street was…• Ex. One must have a business plan

to run a company.

A sentence must have…A sentence must have…

• An independent clause to be complete.• I went to the store.

• Complete

• Driving to the movies after dinner, when she saw an accident.• Fragment

• Fragment: a sentence without an independent clause

• An independent clause to be complete.• I went to the store.

• Complete

• Driving to the movies after dinner, when she saw an accident.• Fragment

• Fragment: a sentence without an independent clause