Parts of a Sentence
Let's start by first reviewing the required parts of a sentence in Standard English. Next, we will look at each sentence part to understand which part of speech can be used to do that job in a sentence.
Sentence Basics: Parts of a Sentence
In this part of Unit 1, we look at how we use the parts of speech (word forms) together to create sentences. We discuss the jobs the different parts of speech do in a sentence. We learn how parts of speech are used in sentences for two main reasons:
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you'll better understand how to correct your own writing;
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you'll build your grammar vocabulary to better understand grammar explanations.
Let's start by first reviewing the required parts of a sentence in Standard English. Next, we will look at each sentence part to understand which part of speech can be used to do that job in a sentence.
Subject and Predicate
Every sentence must have a subject and a predicate. The subject is who or what the sentence is about, and the predicate is the action being done by the subject.
The simple subject of a sentence can be a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun, and the simple predicate is a verb or verb phrase showing the action being done by the simple subject. In many grammar lessons, the predicate is often called just the verb or main verb. However, it must have a subject and a tense that shows the time during which the action is taking place in order to be the predicate of a sentence.
| • Robert runs. | → subject: Robert = noun | | predicate: runs (verb) |
|---|---|---|
| • He walks. | → subject: He = pronoun | | predicate: walks (verb) |
| • His cute cats can swim. | → subject: His cute cats = noun phrase |
| predicate: can climb (verb phrase) |
A sentence may have more than one person, place, or thing as the subject. These subjects are called compound subjects. Compound subjects are useful when you want to discuss several subjects at once.
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Robert and Maria run. → compound subject: Robert and Maria | predicate: run
One common mistake with subjects is to use both a noun and a pronoun. This is called double subject and must be avoided as it is incorrect.
| • correct: | Robert runs. | → single subject = Robert |
|---|---|---|
| • incorrect: | Robert he runs. | → double subject = Robert / he |
| • correct: | Robert and Maria run. | → compound subject = Robert and Maria |
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• incorrect: |
Robert and Maria they run. |
→ double subject = Robert and Maria / they |
Similarly, one subject can perform more than one action in the same sentence. These predicates or main verbs that share one subject are called compound predicates.
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• Robert runs and walks. |
→ subject: Robert |
| predicate: runs and walks |
|---|---|---|
| • Robert runs, walks, and swims. | → subject: Robert |
| predicate: runs, walks, and swims |
The two videos below provide examples of using nouns as subjects or objects of a sentence and also of using verbs as predicates.
Direct and Indirect Objects
Other parts of sentences are direct and indirect objects. Both are related to the main verb of a sentence: a direct object takes the action of the main verb, while an indirect object receives the action expressed in the sentence. Objects can be nouns, noun phrases, or pronouns.
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Robert runs marathons.
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→ subject: Robert = noun | predicate: runs (verb) + marathon = direct object
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He walks to work.
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→ subject: He = pronoun | predicate: walks (verb) + to work = indirect object
In the video below, the teacher will explain direct and indirect objects using easy examples and give an exercise with its key at the end of the lesson.
Now that we know what job some parts of speech have in a sentence, let's look at the specific rules we must follow to put these sentence parts in the correct order.
Source:
Some text adapted from Karen Palmer, https://roughwritersguide.pressbooks.com/chapter/grammar-basics/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Noun and verb videos from Dan Reade, https://www.oercommons.org/courses/parts-of-speech-tutorial/view
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 License.
Objects video from Mr. P, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8ekdTgRb8c
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.