Identify the simple subject or simple predicate of a sentence

Key Notes :

Simple Subject

  1. Definition: The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. It can be a single word or a group of words, but it does not include any modifiers.
  2. Finding the Simple Subject: To identify the simple subject, ask “Who or what is the sentence about?”
    • Example: In the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,” the simple subject is “fox.”
  3. Avoiding Confusion: The simple subject is not the entire subject; it is just the noun or pronoun without any descriptive words.
    • Example: In “The tall, athletic player scored a goal,” the entire subject is “The tall, athletic player,” but the simple subject is “player.”

Simple Predicate

  1. Definition: The simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase that tells what the subject is doing. It is the core action or state of being in the sentence.
  2. Finding the Simple Predicate: To identify the simple predicate, ask “What is the action or state of being?”
    • Example: In the sentence “The cat sleeps on the windowsill,” the simple predicate is “sleeps.”
  3. Verb Phrase: Sometimes the simple predicate is part of a verb phrase, which may include helping verbs.
    • Example: In “She has been studying for her exams,” the simple predicate is “has been studying.”

Examples

  1. Simple Subject: “The dog barked loudly.”
    • Simple Subject: “dog”
    • Simple Predicate: “barked”
  2. Simple Predicate: “The students will complete their projects tomorrow.”
    • Simple Subject: “students”
    • Simple Predicate: “will complete”

Combining Simple Subject and Predicate

  • Sentence Structure: The simple subject and simple predicate together form the basic structure of the sentence.
  • Example: “The dog barked.”
    • Simple Subject: “dog”
    • Simple Predicate: “barked”

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