Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure • Every sentence contains a subject & a predicate verb • Sentence subjects – are always either a noun or a pronoun • Sentence predicates – are always verbs • Predicate verbs – are either action or linking verbs

Action & Linking Verbs • Action verbs – Sentences in which the predicate verb is an action verb the subject is the doer of the action • Linking verbs – Sentences in which the predicate verb is a linking verb the subject is what the sentence is about • In imperative sentences (command) the subject is understood to be “YOU”

Transitive Action Verbs • Transitive verbs – sentences where the action verb has a direct object • Only action verbs can have a direct object • The direct object is the receiver of the action • If there is a direct object there can also be an indirect object • There can never be an indirect object without a direct object • The indirect object is whom or what the action is done for

Direct & Indirect Objects • The direct object receives the action and always comes after the verb • Direct objects are always nouns or pronouns • The indirect object is whom or what the action is done to or for and always comes between the verb and the direct object • There can only be an indirect object if there is a direct object • Indirect objects are always nouns or pronouns • Pronouns used as a direct or indirect object are always in the objective case

Example 1 Transitive Verb • The coach blew the whistle. • Coach (noun) is the subject – doer of the action – What did the coach (subject) do? • Blew (action verb) is the predicate verb – the action - The coach (subject) blew (predicate) – what? • Whistle (noun) is the direct object – receiver of the action – The coach (subject) blew (predicate) whistle (direct object) • Note: this sentence does not have an indirect object – the action was not done for someone or thing – it was only done to the whistle

Example 2 Transitive Verb • The coach gave the team new uniforms. • Coach (noun) is the subject – doer of the action – The coach (subject) did what? • Gave (action verb) is the predicate verb – the action – The coach (subject) gave (predicate) – what? • Uniforms (noun) is the direct object – receiver of the action – the coach (subject) gave (predicate) uniforms (direct object) – to whom or what did the coach give the uniforms • Team (noun) is the indirect object – The Coach (subject) gave (predicate) team (indirect object) uniforms (direct object) • Note: If the sentence was written this way there is not an indirect object. The coach gave new uniforms (to the team.) Team is in a adverbial prepositional phrase – team becomes the object of the preposition not the indirect object – (to the team) acts as an adverb, modifying the predicate (gave) telling the reader where the coach gave the uniforms • Direct & Indirect objects are never in a prepositional phrase

Intransitive Verbs • Sentences in which an action is not done to someone or thing are intransitive – there is not a direct object. • Remember if there is not a direct object then there can not be an indirect object • The coach ran down the field to the injured player. • Coach (noun) is the subject, ran (action verb) is the predicate expressing an action – but nothing is receiving the action – the coach ran where? (down the field) (to the injured player) – are prepositional phrases (adverbial) answering the question - where the coach ran?

Linking Verbs • Sentences with a linking verb make a statement about the subject. • Linking verbs do not express an action • Linking verbs will link either a noun or adjective back to the subject of the sentence • Either a predicate nominative (noun) or predicate adjective will be linked back to the subject through the predicate verb • Pronouns used as predicate nominative are in the subjective case

Example Predicate Nominative • The new coach is Mr. Smith • Coach (noun) is the subject of the sentence • Is (linking verb) is the predicate – is does not express an action – coach (subject) is (predicate) what? • Mr. Smith (noun) is the predicate nominative identifying Mr. Smith as the new coach • Mr. Smith (predicate nominative) is linked back to coach (subject) through the linking verb is (predicate)

Example Predicate Adjective • The new coach appears happy with the team’s performance. • Coach (noun) is the subject • Appears (linking verb) is the predicate, but appears does not express an action in this sentence – appears what? • Happy (adjective) – predicate adjective describes how the coach appears or is • Happy (predicate nominative) is linked back to coach (subject) through the linking verb appears (predicate) • (With the team’s performance) is an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying the adjective happy telling the reader why the coach appears happy

Appositive • Appositive – is a word or group of words that immediately follows a noun or pronoun and identifies or explains it • The new coach, Mr. Smith, appears happy with the team’s performance. • In this sentence coach (noun) is the subject • Mr. Smith (proper noun) is the appositive identifying the coach (subject), but it is not being linked back through the (predicate) appears • Appears (linking verb) is the predicate linking happy (predicate adjective) back to coach (subject) • Mr. Smith, the new coach, appears happy with the team’s performance. • In this sentence Mr. Smith is the subject – the new coach - become the appositive identifying Mr. Smith as the new coach • Appears (linking verb) is the predicate linking happy (predicate adjective) back to Mr. Smith • Note: An appositive comes immediately after the noun it identifies, there is not a linking verb connecting the two words

Example: Predicate Nominative / Appositive Predicate Nominative: The new coach is Mr. Smith. (predicate nominative) Mr. Smith is linked back to the (subject) coach through the (predicate) is – the predicate nominative (Mr. Smith) identifies the subject (coach) Appositive: The new coach, Mr. Smith, appears happy with the team’s performance (appositive) Mr. Smith still identifies the coach, but immediately follows the (subject), it is not linked back through the predicate Mr. Smith, the new coach, appears happy with the teams performance Mr. Smith become the (subject) in this sentence and the new coach becomes the (appositive) – the phrase immediately follows the noun explaining that Mr. Smith is the new coach Note: Predicate Nominatives & Predicate Adjectives - are linked back to the subject through the predicate which is a linking verb Appositives – identify or explain a noun, but come immediately after the noun

Action & Linking Verbs Some verbs can be used as an action verb and a linking verb Action verb – The coach appeared ten minutes before the start of the game. Coach is the subject – appeared is the predicate that shows an action – there is not a direct object – the action is not being done to anyone or thing – ten minutes (before the game) tells the reader when the coach arrived – the sentence is intransitive Linking verb – The coach appeared happy with the team’s performance Coach is the subject – appeared is the predicate but does not express an action - it links the adjective happy (predicate adjective) back to the subject (coach) to describe him Note: Linking verbs could be replaced by is or was – The coach was happy with the team’s performance. Appeared could be replaced by was without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Prepositional Phrases • A phrase is a group of words used as a single part of speech • A phrase does not contain a subject or a verb • A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with the object of the preposition which is always a noun or pronoun • Pronouns used as the object of the preposition are always in the objective case • A prepositional phrase is used either as an adjective or a adverb

Adjective Phrases • An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun • Adjective phrases answer the question which one or what kind • The coach from the opposing team shouted instructions to his players on the field. • Coach (noun) is the subject - doer • (from the opposing team) is an adjective phrase telling the reader which coach - (from) is the preposition – (team) is the object of the preposition • Shouted (action verb) is the predicate - action • Instructions (noun) is the direct object – receives action • (to his players) is an adverb phrase telling the reader where the coach shouted • (on the field) is an adjective phrase telling the reader which players (on) is the preposition – (field) is the object of the preposition • Note: objects of the preposition are always nouns or pronouns - the objective case of a pronoun must be used in prepositional phrases

Adverb Phrases • An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb • An adverb phrase answers the question; how, when where, to what extent / how long or why • From the sidelines the coach shouted instructions to his players on the field. • Coach (subject) - shouted (predicate) – instructions (direct object) • (From the sidelines) is an adverb phrase telling the reader where shouted (from) is the preposition – (sidelines) is the object of the preposition • (to his players) is an adverb phrase also telling where the coach shouted (to) is the preposition (players) is the object of the preposition • (on the field) is an adjective phrase telling the reader which players • Note: prepositional phrases do not contain a subject or predicate verb

Sentence Breakdown • From the sidelines the coachof the opposing teamshoutedinstructionsto his playerson the field. • Subject (coach) did what – doer of action • Adjective phrase (of the opposing team) - which coach • Predicate verb (shouted) - action • Direct Object (instructions) – shouted what • Adverb phrase (From the sidelines) & (to his players) – where shouted • Adjective phrase (on the field) - which players • Note: (the) is an article which is a form of an adjective pointing to a noun (coach)

Sentence Outlined

Participle • A participial is an verb that acts as both a verb and an adjective • A present participial ends in: ing • A past participial ends in: ed, d, t, en, or n • Although participles are formed from verbs they can function as an adjective rather than a verb in the sentence • Screaming, the coach ran onto the field to argue the referee’s call. • (Screaming) is a participle used as an adjective to modify/describe (coach) the subject • Even though (screaming) shows an action like a verb it is functioning as an adjective/describing the coach as he (ran) predicate verb / action of the sentence • (ran) is the predicate verb – coach ran is the action • (onto the field) is an adverb phrase telling the reader where ran • (to argue) is not a prepositional phrase it is an infinitive (another type of verbal) – We will address infinitives & the rest of this sentence later in the year – Remember prepositional phrases always end in an noun or pronoun

Participial Phrase • A participial phrase is a group of words containing the participle – the participle usually introduces the phrase and the entire phrase acts as an adjective • Running onto the field, the coach screamed at the referee about the call. • (Running onto the field) is a participial phrase modifying/describing (coach) subject as he (screamed) predicate verb / action – the entire phrase is used as an adjective • (screamed) is the predicate verb – the action • (at the referee) is an adverb phrase telling the reader where screamed (about the call) is another adverb phrase telling why screamed

Verb Phrase • If a participial functions in the sentence as a verb it is used with a helping verb to form a verb phrase • The coach was screaming at the referee about the missed call. • (coach) is the subject • (was screaming) is the verb phrase showing the action • (at the referee) is an adverb phase telling where screaming (about the missed call) adverb phrase telling why screamed

Participial & Verb Phrase • The worried coach was running to the injured player laying on the field. • (coach) is the subject – did what • (worried) is a past participle used as an adjective to modify/describe (coach) • (was running) is the predicate – (running) is a participle used with the helping verb (was) to form the verb phrase • (to the injured player) adverb phrase telling where running • (laying on the field) participial phrase used as an adjective modifying/describing player

Gerund • A gerund is an ing verb that acts as both a noun and a verb • Since a gerund acts as a noun it may be used as the subject, direct object, predicate nominative, or object of the preposition • Coaching his son’s team is Mr. Smith’s weekend job. • (Coaching) is a gerund used as the subject of the sentence • Even though (coaching) shows an action like a verb it is functioning as a noun/subject – what the statement is about. • (is) a linking verb is the predicate verb – Coaching is what? • (job) is the predicate noun which is linked back to the subject (coaching)

Gerund • Remember a gerund may be used in any way a noun functions in a sentence; predicate nominative, direct object or object of the preposition. • Mr. Smith’s weekend job is coaching his son’s team. • (coaching) is the predicate nominative in this sentence (job) is the subject (is) is the predicate verb • Mr. Smith enjoys (coaching) his son’s team – direct object • (Mr. Smith) subject does (enjoys) predicate verb what (coaching) direct object (his son’s team) modifier of gerund (coaching) • Mr. Smith goes to classes to learn the techniques (of good coaching) - object of the preposition • (Mr. Smith) subject does what (goes) where (to classes) intransitive sentence no direct object why (to learn) infinitive/adjective what (techniques) object of infinitive (of good coaching) what type of techniques (coaching) object preposition

Gerund Phrase • A gerund phrase is a phrase containing a gerund • A gerund phrase is made up of a gerund and its modifiers and complements. • Coaching his son’s team is Mr. Smith’s weekend job. • (Coaching his son’s team) (Coaching) gerund (complement) his son’s team completes phrase the entire phrase is the complete subject of the sentence • Mr. Smith can be found (coaching) (on Sunday mornings) • (coaching on Sunday mornings) the entire phrase is the direct object in this sentence (coaching) gerund (on Sunday morning) modifies tells the reader when coaching • (Mr. Smith) subject is doing (can be found) predicate verb doing what (coaching) direct object when (on Sunday morning) prepositional phrase modifying coaching

Infinitive • An infinitive is a verbal consisting of (to) followed by the verb • An infinitive is generally used as a noun, but may also be used as an adjective or an adverb. • To coach his son’s team to the league championship is Mr. Smith’s dream • (To coach) is the subject of the sentence (is) linking verb (dream) predicate nominative • Mr. Smith hopes to coach his son’s team to the league championship • (to coach) is the direct object • (Mr. Smith) subject action (hopes) predicate verb what (to coach his son’s team) direct object (team) is the object of (to coach) (his son’s team) complement/clarifies (to coach) what entire phrase is the direct object (to the league championship) prepositional phrase/adverb modifying (to coach) telling reader why • Remember since an infinitive acts as a noun it can be used any way a noun functions in a sentence; subject, predicate nominative, direct object, or object of the preposition

Infinitive as Adjective or Adverb • Mr. Smith went to the game to coach • (to coach) modifies the predicate (went) telling the reader why Mr. Smith went - since the infinitive modifies the predicate verb (went) it is being used as an adverb

Infinitive Phrase • An infinitive phrase in a phrase containing an infinitive, its modifiers and complements. • To coach on the college level is Mr. Smiths dream. • (To coach) infinitive (on the college level) adjective phrase tell reader to coach what. The entire phrase (To coach on the college level) is the subject (is) predicate verb links (dream) predicate nominative back to the subject. • Remember since an infinitive acts as a noun it can be used any way a noun functions in a sentence; subject, predicate nominative, direct object, or object of the preposition

Video Clip - The Sentence www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dr5lN1jqRE Video clip explains clauses, types of sentences and the parts of a sentence

Clauses • A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and a predicate • There are two types of clauses: • Independent / main – expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence • Dependent / subordinate – contains a subject & predicate verb but does not express a complete thought and can not stand by itself as a sentence, it must be attached to a main clause

Main / Independent Clause • Every complete sentence must contain an independent / main clause. • A main clause contains a subject and predicate and expresses a complete thought – by itself it can be a sentence. • The referee blew his whistle. referee (subject) blew (predicate) his whistle (completes the thought) – main clause makes sense and can stand alone as a sentence.

Compound Sentence A compound sentence contains two main clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction; and, or, but The referee blew his whistle and he stopped the game after the play. referee (subject) blew (predicate) his whistle (completes thought), and (coordinating conjunction) he (subject) stopped (predicate) the game after the play. (completes thought) Both clauses express a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence the clauses are connected by coordinating conjunction (and) The referee blew his whistle. He stopped the game after the play.

Subordinate / Dependent ClauseComplex Sentences • A subordinate clause contains a subject & predicate verb but does not express a complete thought and can not stand by itself as a sentence, it must be attached to a main clause. • A (subordinate clause) begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. . A complex sentence is a sentence which contains one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Relative Pronoun • Relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, what, that • The referee blew his whistle at the player who committed the foul. • (main clause) The referee blew his whistle at the player (subordinate clause) who committed the foul. • (who) relative pronoun begins subordinate clause - who committed the foul • who committed the foul (subordinate clause) who (relative pronoun-subject) committed (predicate) but does not express a complete thought, must be attached to the main clause to make sense.

Subordinating Conjunctions • after before unless • although if until • as in order that when • as if since whenever • as long as so that where • as though than wherever • because though while

Subordinating Conjunction • When the play was over the referee blew his whistle. • (When) subordinating conjunction begins subordinate clause – when the play was over. • When the play was over (subordinate clause) the referee blew his whistle. (main clause) • when the play was over (subordinate clause) play (subject) was (predicate) but does not express a complete thought, must be attached to the main clause to make sense.

Placement Subordinate Clauses • Remember: A subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause and can also split the main clause. • Before: (When the play was over) the referee blew his whistle • After: The referee blew his whistle at the player (who committed the foul.) • Split: The player (who committed the foul) was thrown out of the game • (main clause) The player was thrown out of the game player (subject) was thrown (predicate) out of the game completes the thought – (subordinate clause) who committed the foul – who (subject) committed (predicate) but does not express a complete thought.

Sentence Structure