The World English Dictionary defines a sentence as a sequence of words capable of standing alone to make an assertion, ask a question, or give a command, usually consisting of a subject and a predicate.
Another name for a sentence is an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
What is a subject?
A subject tells who or what the sentence is about.
The subject is the the completer of the action.
The subject is performing the verb.
The entire subject consists of the simple subject and all its modifiers.
The boy drove to the store.
In the sentence above, the boy is completing the action.
The boy is the subject of the sentence.
What is the simple subject?
The simple subject is always ONE WORD – the completer of the action.
The boy drove to the store.
Here, the word “boy” is the simple subject.
EXAMPLES OF SUBJECTS and SIMPLE SUBJECTS
Entire Subject = The white rabbit scurried across the field.
Simple Subject = The white rabbit scurried across the field.
Entire Subject = The twelve women studied all night long.
Simple Subject = The twelve women studied all night long.
What is a Compound Subject?
A Compound Subject is when more than one person or thing is completing the action.
EXAMPLE
Jerry and Jay went fishing in Lake Erie.
So, in this sentence, there would be two Simple Subjects – Jerry / Jay.
What is the predicate?
The predicate is the part of the sentence performed by the subject.
The entire predicate consists of the verb and all its modifers, objects, and complements.
The boy drove to the store.
In the sentence above, the blue portion is the entire predicate.
It tells us what the boy did.
What is the simple predicate?
The simple predicate is ONE WORD – the verb.
The boy drove to the store.
The word “drove” is the simple predicate.
EXAMPLES OF PREDICATES and SIMPLE PREDICATES
Entire Predicate = The cat ran under the porch.
Simple Predicate = The cat ran under the porch.
Entire Predicate = My favorite team won the game.
Simple Predicate = My favorite team won the game.
What is a Compound Predicate?
A Compound Predicate is when the subject is completing two or more actions.
EXAMPLE
The baby crawled into the cupboard and munched on the animal crackers.
In the sentence above, the baby is doing two things – crawling and munching
So, there would be two Simple Predicates – Crawled / Munched
