Elements of Sentence Construction
Subjects and Predicates
Parts of speech have specific tasks to perform when they are put together in a sentence.
A noun or pronoun functions as the sentence subject when it is paired with a verb functioning as the sentence predicate.
Every sentence has a subject and predicate.
A subject can be a noun or pronoun that is partnered with an action verb. Example: Sometimes a verb will express being or existence instead of action. Example: Sometimes we use sentences in which a subject is not actually stated, but is, nevertheless, understood in the meaning. Example: A sentence like this gives an order or a request to someone. Because we use such statements when we are talking directly to someone, we omit the word you. It is understood in the sentence. Therefore, in statements like this one, we say the subject is you (understood).
This kind of sentence is an imperative sentence. A predicate is a verb that expresses the subject's action or state of being. Example: Sometimes the predicate will be composed of two or three verbs that fit together - the main verb preceded by one or more auxiliary (helping) verbs. IMPORTANT NOTE: To be a predicate, a verb that ends in -ing must ALWAYS have a helping verb with it. An -ing verb WITHOUT a helping verb cannot be a predicate in a sentence. A subject and predicate may not always appear together or in the normal order, as the following examples show:
Phrases
A phrase is a group of related words