Sentence Structure
1
Do you understand the different elements of a sentence?
Test your knowledge with the exercises below.
PRACTICE WORKSHEET
SUBJECT OR PREDICATE?
For each of the following, underline the subject &
enclose the predicate in brackets.
e.g. The old man stumbled on the uneven sidewalk.
2
1. Stephanie would never understand her father.
DIRECT OR INDIRECT OBJECT?
For each of the following, identify whether the
underlined is a direct or an indirect object.
Ken reluctantly handed the lucky
pencil to Susan.
1
My uncle greeted me with a forceful
handshake.
2
My father gave me a stern lecture
about the dangers of driving.
3
Laura and Graham sent their aunt a
postcard from Paris.
4
The malicious teacher gave the
students a surprise exam.
7. The students and their angry teachers faced
each other across the hall.
5
Geoff surreptitiously handed Sam
the classified folder.
8. Sam’s wild dreams kept him up all night.
6
The boy gave his mother a gift and a
card for her birthday.
9. The clock glared down at Stephanie from above
the teacher’s desk.
7
For their anniversary, Kenneth
painted Eva a picture of their cabin.
10. Never again would Josh and Harry steal ice
cream from their older brother.
8
The anxious parents shut the door
to the baby’s room.
2. In their youth, they were painfully naïve.
3. The children and I braved the storm together.
4. She accepted the news with heroic resignation.
5. Without realizing it, the children and their
grandmother stumbled into a wolf’s den.
6. The tattered old book lay rejected on the table.
3
Direct
PHRASE OR CLAUSE?
For each of the following, identify whether the
underlined is a clause or a phrase.
The water cascaded over the wall
into the manicured garden.
Phrase
4
INDEPENDENT
OR SUBORDINATE CLAUSE?
For each of the following, underline the independent
clauses, and enclose the subordinate/dependent
clauses in brackets.
e.g. After the movie had finished, we went home.
1. We have repainted the kitchen since the last
time you visited.
1
After a long day, I like to relax in
front of the television.
2
Because she knew him well, she left
him to contemplate alone.
3
In a disguising manner, the cat
regurgitated a hairball.
4
My cousin, who is an archeologist, is
currently in Rome.
5
Gerry handed over the exam, even
though it was clearly incomplete.
6
Working for himself, Bob rarely left
his apartment.
7
Jill found the children jumping up
and down on the bed.
8. If he ever calls, I will tell him off.
8
Until I find a car, I will not be able to
start working.
9. Whenever it get cold, Harriet likes to go
swimming in the lake, as it is invigorating.
2. Bill’s son, who is in the Army, is home this week.
3. Although I speak French quite well, I couldn’t
understand Veronique’s accent.
4. My mother, who is amazing, gave me this
necklace, even though it was her favorite.
5. The teacher called in Dave’s parents last week.
6. Before the sunset, we ran down to the beach.
7. Because I love chocolate, we went to the Lindt
factory, even though we had just eaten.
© Stacey Lloyd 2015
Sentence Structure
1
ANS
WE
RK
EY?
DIRECT OR INDIRECT OBJECT
Do you understand the different elements of a sentence?
Test your knowledge with the exercises below.
PRACTICE
WORKSHEET
SUBJECT OR PREDICATE?
For each of the following, underline the subject &
enclose the predicate in brackets.
2
For each of the following, identify whether the
underlined is a direct or an indirect object.
Ken reluctantly handed the lucky
pencil to Susan.
Direct
1
My uncle greeted me with a forceful
handshake.
Direct
2
My father gave me a stern lecture
about the dangers of driving.
3
Laura and Graham sent their aunt a
postcard from Paris.
4
The malicious teacher gave the
students a surprise exam.
7. The students and their angry teachers faced
each other across the hall.
5
Geoff surreptitiously handed Sam
the classified folder.
Direct
8. Sam’s wild dreams kept him up all night.
6
The boy gave his mother a gift and a
card for her birthday.
Direct
9. The clock glared down at Stephanie from above
the teacher’s desk.
7
For their anniversary, Kenneth
painted Eva a picture of their cabin.
Indirect
10. Never again would Josh and Harry steal ice
cream from their older brother.
8
The anxious parents called the
police to report the crime.
e.g. The old man stumbled on the uneven sidewalk.
1. Stephanie would never understand her father.
2. In their youth, they were painfully naïve.
3. The children and I braved the storm together.
4. She accepted the news with heroic resignation.
5. Without realizing it, the children and their
grandmother stumbled into a wolf’s den.
6. The tattered old book lay rejected on the table.
3
Indirect
Direct
Indirect
Direct
PHRASE OR CLAUSE?
For each of the following, identify whether the
underlined is a clause or a phrase.
4
INDEPENDENT
OR SUBORDINATE CLAUSE?
For each of the following, underline the independent
clauses, and enclose the subordinate/dependent
clauses in brackets.
e.g. After the movie had finished, we went home.
The water cascaded over the wall
into the manicured garden.
Phrase
1
After a long day, I like to relax in
front of the television.
Phrase
2
Because she knew him well, she left
him to contemplate alone.
Clause
3
In a disguising manner, the cat
regurgitated a hairball.
Phrase
4
My cousin, who is an archeologist, is
currently in Rome.
Clause
5
Gerry handed over the exam, even
though it was clearly incomplete.
Clause
6
Working for himself, Bob rarely left
his apartment.
Phrase
7
Jill found the children jumping up
and down on the bed.
Phrase
8. If he ever calls, I will tell him off.
8
Until I find a car, I will not be able to
start working.
Clause
9. Whenever it get cold, Harriet likes to go
swimming in the lake, as it is invigorating.
1. We have repainted the kitchen since the last
time you visited.
2. Bill’s son, who is in the Army, is home this week.
3. Although I speak French quite well, I couldn’t
understand Veronique’s accent.
4. My mother, who is amazing, gave me this
necklace, even though it was her favorite.
5. The teacher called in Dave’s parents last week.
6. Before the sunset, we ran down to the beach.
7. Because I love chocolate, we went to the Lindt
factory, even though we had just eaten.
© Stacey Lloyd 2015