Lesson 95

Parts of the Sentence - Subject/Verb

A simple sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought, and it must have a subject and a verb (predicate - some grammar books use the word predicate, but I will use verb).  A verb shows action or state of being.  The subject tells who or what about the verb.  When finding the subject and the verb in a sentence, always find the verb first and then say who or what followed by the verb.

Example:
The bell rang.
Find the verb - rang
Who or what rang?
The bell rang, so bell is the subject.
The bell rang.

 
 
 

Sometimes a sentence is in inverted order so the subject may come in the middle or at the end of the sentence.

Example:
Out of the woods came a bear.
Find the verb - came
Who or what came?
The bear came, so bear is the subject.
Out of the woods came a bear.

Example:
With it, were her cubs in a rolling pile.
Find the verb - were
Who or what were?
The cubs were, so cubs is the subject.
With it, were her cubs in a rolling pile.

 
 
 

Instructions: Find the subject and verb in these sentences.

1. Just around the corner was the parade.

2. In the fall the leaves cover the ground.

3. In the city lived many poor people.

4. Over the fireplace were hanging the stockings for Santa.

5. From the thicket appeared the deer.