Writing Simple Sentences Identifying Subjects Verbs and Prepositional

Writing Simple Sentences Identifying Subjects, Verbs and Prepositional Phrases

Finding the Subject(s) n The subject is the topic of the sentence, who or what is taking some action or being talked about. n Class starts early in the morning. n I am glad to be at school.

Subjects can be nouns or pronouns. n A noun is a word that names a person, place or thing: n n Abdullah, Lincoln University, classrooms… A pronoun is a word that stands for a noun: n he, it, they …

Subjects, like nouns, can be singular or plural. n This class is fun. singular n My classes are fun. plural n My teachers and my assignments are fun. Plural (compound)

Finding Prepositional Phrase(s) n n A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition (on, in, over, under, against, with, among…) and ends with a noun or pronoun. It gives extra information about another word in the sentence. n The student in the front row is smart.

To remember about prepositional phrases: Rule 1 A prepositional phrase doesn’t make sense by itself, so it can’t be a complete sentence. 1. n In the front row. n The student in the front row is smart. fragment sentence

To remember about prepositional phrases: Rule 2 The subject of a sentence will never be found inside a prepositional phrase. 2. n Each student in this room is intelligent. prepositional phrases subjects n All students in this room are intelligent.

Finding the Verb(s) n n All sentences have at least one verb. The verb explains what the subject is doing (action verb) or connects the subject to words that describe it (linking verb). n That student works hard. Action verb n That student is industrious. Linking verb

Many verbs are made up of more than one word. n I love grammar. main verb n n Everyone should love grammar. Soon you will be loving grammar too. We are loving it already. I have loved grammar all my life. Helping verbs

Word of caution: At times, verb forms (usually ending in –ing) can be the subject of a sentence. n I am going to the mall. Verb n Going to the mall is my favorite pastime. Subject! Verb

The End! That’s all you need to control the basic elements of your sentences.