Finding the Subject and the
Predicate of a Sentence
And Some Rules for Compound and
Hard to Find Subjects
The Sentence
• A sentence is a group of words with two main
parts: a complete subject and a complete
predicate. Together these parts express a
complete thought.
Complete Subjects
Complete Predicates
Cowboys
roamed.
Buffalo Bill
delivered mail.
Pony Express riders
carried packages more than
2,000 miles.
lasted for only eighteen months.
The service
The Simple Subject
• The simple subject is the ESSENTIAL noun,
pronoun or group of words acting as a noun
that cannot be left out of the complete
subject.
– Tickets for the rodeo sold quickly.
– The writer’s children published all of his early
poetry in 1868.
– The tiny nation of San Marino has always received
most of its income from the sale of postage
stamps.
Where does the complete subject of
the following sentence end?
- Cattle herders worked up to
twenty hours a day.
Where does the complete subject of
the following sentence end?
- Sources of water were sometimes
not easily found.
Where does the complete subject of
the following sentence end?
- The famous Transcontinental
Railroad connected the two coasts.
What is the simple subject?
- Cattle herders worked up to twenty
hours a day.
What is the simple subject?
- Sources of water were sometimes
not easily found.
What is the simple subject?
- The famous Transcontinental
Railroad connected the two coasts.
Guided Practice (Grammar Book)
• Grade 9: Complete ALL of Exercise 2 on page
281
• Grade 10: Complete Exercise 2 on page 276
– Copy the sentence. Split the sentence in half
between the subject and predicate. Underline
the simple subject, circle the verb.
• Grade 11: Complete the odd numbers from
Exercise 6 on page 277
Compound Subjects
• A compound subject is two or more subjects
that have the same verb and are joined by a
conjunction such as and or or.
– You and she take the entrance tests tomorrow.
– Snow, ice, and flooding make the roads
treacherous.
• Special Note: Notice that compound subjects
joined by and are considered plural (more than
one) and take a plural verb.
– She takes the entrance test tomorrow.
– You and she take the entrance tests tomorrow.
Simple or compound subject?
• The physical therapist and his patient
plan exercises.
Simple or compound subject?
• Stroke victims have to relearn basic
skills, such as walking.
Simple or compound subject?
• In occupational therapy, tools and
hands-on materials are used rather
than exercise aids.
Guided Practice (Grammar Book)
• Grade 9: Numbers 1-5 of Exercise 6 on page
285
• Grade 10: Complete Exercise 3 on page 278
– Copy the sentence. Split the sentence in half
between the subject and predicate. Underline
the simple subject(s), circle the verb(s).
• Grade 11: Exercise 3 on page 276 (Only write
the subjects.)
Hard to Find Subjects
• There and here are never the subject of a
sentence.
– There are the downtown buildings.
– Here is the ticket for your trip.
These sentences are inverted, which means the
subject follows the verb. Rearrange the sentence to
make locating the subject easier:
- The downtown buildings are there.
- The ticket for your trip is here.
Finding The Subject in Questions
• In questions, the subject often follows the
verb:
– Is the Chicago Zoo open in the morning?
– When will the coffee be done?
• Rephrase the question as a statement in order
to find the subject.
– The Chicago Zoo is open in the morning.
– The coffee will be done soon.
Where on Earth is the Subject?
• There are few buildings in Chicago
taller than the John Hancock
Building.
Where on Earth is the Subject?
• Where could you have more fun?
Where on Earth is the Subject?
• Does the elevated train go to the
Zoo?
Guided Practice (Grammar Book)
• Grade 9: Complete the odd numbers in Exercise
15 on page 291
• Grade 10: Complete Exercise 12 on page 281
– Do not copy the sentences. Create a T-chart to list
the subject and verb. Complete the odd numbers.
• Grade 10: Complete Exercise 13 on page 282
– Do not copy the sentences. Create a T-chart to list
the subject and verb.
• Grade 11: Complete the odd numbers 1-9 in
Exercise 12. (Only write the subjects.)