Sentence Parts

Lesson 4 Sentence Parts

Essential Question

What two things do we need to build a complete sentence?

Grammar in the World

image of subject alone on a teeter totter

cartoon of the "predicate" asking to join the subject on the other side of the teeter totter

What Do I Know?

What do you already know about how to build a sentence? Use this interactive to find out.

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Part 1

photo courtesy of Canva

Part 2

Read each question and choose the best answer.

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

Learn About Sentence Parts

As a writer and communicator, it’s up to you to decide how to design your sentences. As you can learn in our simple, compound, and complex sentences modules, mixing types of sentences helps you create variety, hold others’ attention, and create interest in your message.

No matter what type of sentence you create, though, it will have two main parts—a subject and a predicate. There are some exceptions, of course, and we will cover those, as well.

The Subject

In general, the subject of a sentence is what or who the sentence is about. There are two ways to think about subjects in a sentence.

The simple subject is usually the person, place, or thing that is the topic of the sentence. It typically is a single word or group of words if it is a title or name.
The complete subject is the simple subject plus the adjectives and modifiers that give us more information about it.
Sometimes, the simple subject and complete subject are the same; if a simple subject has no modifiers, it stands as the complete subject.

For example:

My dog Tater Tot runs around in circles.

- - Simple Subject: dog
  - Complete Subject: My dog tater Tot

Tater Tot is a 78-pound Boxer.

- - Simple Subject: Tater Tot
  - Complete Subject: Tater Tot

The most recognizable feature of a Boxer is its head.

- - Simple Subject: feature
  - Complete Subject: the most recognizable feature of a Boxer

The Boxer’s lower jaw juts out beyond the upper jaw.

- - Simple Subject: jaw
  - Complete Subject: the Boxer’s lower jaw

The Predicate

The predicate typically refers to the action or state of being of the subject. We also refer to the predicate as the verb.

The simple predicate is a single word or group of words in a verb phrase like these forms of the verb “walk”: walk; is walking; will be walking
The complete predicate is the predicate plus the adjectives and modifiers that accompany it.
Sometimes, the simple predicate and the complete predicate are the same. If a simple predicate has no modifiers, it stands as the complete predicate.

For example:

My dog Bea barks loudly any time the doorbell rings.

- - Simple Predicate: barks
  - Complete Predicate: barks loudly any time the doorbell rings.

Havanese dogs like Bea become very attached and loyal to their owners.

- - Simple Predicate: become
  - Complete Predicate: become very attached and loyal to their owners

Most Havanese dogs are known for their friendly and playful behavior.

- - Simple Predicate: are known
  - Complete Predicate: are known for their friendly and playful behavior

Bea rushes to greet us every time we walk through the door.

- - Simple Predicate: rushes
  - Complete Predicate: rushes to greet us every time we walk through the door

TIPS

Here are a few things to keep in mind when determining how to use subjects and predicates in sentences.

Simple Sentences

Simple sentences have one subject and one predicate:

Tater Tot runs around in circles.

- - Simple Subject: Tater Tot
  - Simple Predicate: runs

A simple sentence may also have a compound subject and/or a compound predicate:

Tater Tot and Bea make us laugh.

- - Simple Subject: Tater Tot, Bea
  - Simple Predicate: make

Tater Tot and Bea are friendly and playful.

- - Simple Subject: Tater Tot, Bea
  - Simple Predicate: friendly, playful

Compound and Complex Sentences

Compound and complex sentences will have more than one subject and predicate.

When he is excited, Tater Tot runs around in circles.

- - Simple Subject: he; Tater Tot
  - Simple Predicate: is; runs

Bea is a small Havanese, and Tater Tot is a big Boxer.

- - Simple Subject: Bea; Tater Tot
  - Simple Predicate: is; is

Exceptions

Complete subjects and predicates are used in formal and standard writing. In other words, for the most part, you’ll want to use complete sentences. As always, there are some exceptions to the rules.

INTERJECTIONS

Interjections are words or phrases that express strong emotion. Often, they don’t have a subject or verb, or the subject is implied.

Stop that! (The subject “you” is implied.)

Hi!

Wow!

Oh, no!

Ouch!

Wheeeeee!

Ugh.

DIALOGUE

We often speak in incomplete sentences when having a conversation. It would sound awkward and unnatural if we always spoke in full sentences.

For instance, look at the difference between these two short conversations. Notice how the second conversation flows more naturally even though it uses incomplete sentences.

What’s your dog’s name?

My dog’s name is Bea.

What kind of dog is she?

She is a Havanese.

How old is she?

Bea is 11 years old.

She sounds cute!

She is very cute. Her barking can be annoying, though.

What’s your dog’s name?

Bea.

What kind of dog is she?

She is a Havanese.

How old is she?

About 11 years old.

She sounds cute!

She is! Except for her annoying barking.

Knowing how to form complete subjects and predicates when you communicate helps you create the best messages for your audience. They allow you to use sentence variety to help you keep listeners interested in what you’re saying.

image source Links to an external site.

Havanese dogs

Do I Get It?

Check your knowledge of sentence parts in this short quiz.

Which term best describes the part of the sentence in bold?