Subjects (with Verbs)
Subject: Who/what is doing something
OR being something in the sentence
Verb: What the subject is doing or
being
The Coke can
glistened in the sunlight.
Subjects:
1. Simple:
Usually a single noun (can) or pronoun
(it; that)
2. Complete: Simple subject with all of its modifiers (the can on the table)
3. Compound subjects: Two + subjects, usually joined by and or or
Ex: Both Coke and Pepsi are
refreshing.
4. Implied subjects: The subject is implied.
Ex: (You) Get me a soda; (you) Open it for
me.
Trouble Spots:
1.
Prepositional phrases: A preposition and one or more nouns
or pronouns with their modifiers (in the cooler; under the wine)
*The noun or pronoun in a
prepositional phrase is not the subject.
Ex: The Pepsi in the car is warm.
2.
Here and There: These words are
adverbs and cannot be subjects.
Ex: There is my soda.
3.
This, That, These, Those: If they
stand alone, they are subjects. If they
describe other nouns, they are adjectives.
Ex:
That is mine. (That is
the subject; it stands alone.)
Ex: That soda
is mine. (That is not the subject; it describes the soda.)
Verbs:
1. Action Verbs: What the subject
is doing
2. Being Verbs: What the subject is being
3. Compound Verbs: Verbs joined by and
or or
Ex: I will
either walk to Safeway or go through a drive-through.
4. Verb Phrases:
A main verb and one or more helping verbs
Ex: I
may have another
Coke.
Ex: I
don’t want a
warm one.
Trouble Spots:
·
Never, Not, Hardly, Seldom: These are not verbs; they modify
verbs.
Ex: I never drink water.
·
Verbals: These are not verbs; they
function as other parts of speech
1.
Infinitives: to + a verb
Ex: I
prefer to drink
Pepsi. I want to have fun.
2.
Gerunds: Verbs ending in –ing that act like nouns
Ex: Drinking
soda is refreshing, but it isn’t good for you.
3.
Participles: Verblike
words that end in –ing or –ed
·
Present Participle: ––ing
verb
Ex: Forgetting
about fines and tickets, he threw the can out the window.
·
Past Participle: ––ed verb
Ex: Exhausted
beyond belief, she sank down onto the sofa.