Identify the complete subject or complete predicate of a sentence

Learning Objectives Accurately identify the main verb (simple predicate) in complex and compound-complex sentences. Distinguish between the simple subject and the complete subject by identifying all related modifiers. Isolate the complete subject and the complete predicate in sentences with standard and inverted word order. Analyze sentences from literary texts to deconstruct their grammatical structure. Apply the understanding of complete subjects and predicates to improve clarity and precision in their own analytical writing. Correctly identify the subject in sentences containing prepositional phrases that come between the subject and the verb. Ever read a sentence in a legal document or a classic novel and had to reread it three times to figure out who was doing what? 🤯...

TermDefinitionExample SentenceA complete grammatical unit that contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought.The weary traveler from an antique land described the colossal wreck. Simple SubjectThe main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, without any descriptive words.In the sentence 'The relentless, pounding waves crashed against the shore,' the simple subject is 'waves'. Simple Predicate (Verb)The main verb or verb phrase that tells what the subject is or does.In the sentence 'The student has been diligently researching the topic,' the simple predicate is 'has been researching'. Complete SubjectThe simple subject plus all the words and phrases that modify or describe it.In the sentence 'The relentless, pounding wa...

The Verb-First Identification Method To find the subject and predicate, always identify the main verb (simple predicate) first. The verb is the anchor of the sentence. Once you find it, you can ask 'Who or what is doing the action?' The answer will be the simple subject. This method prevents you from being misled by nouns in introductory phrases. The 'Everything Else' Principle The Complete Subject = The Simple Subject + All Its Modifiers. The Complete Predicate = Everything Else. Once you have definitively identified the complete subject, the rest of the sentence automatically constitutes the complete predicate. This binary division simplifies the process for even the most complex sentences. The Inverted Sentence Rule In inverted sentences (often s...