1-    What is a Sentence

A sentence is a group of words which makes a complete sense or conveys a complete message.

(1)    The elephant was eating grass.

MAJOR PARTS OF A SENTENCE

Basically, a sentence is divided into two major parts i.e., subject and predicate. However, some sentences may be without a subject.

(1)    The girl was washing her hands.     (subject + predicate)

         (Subject)                   (Predicate)

(2)    Help me! (predicate without subject)

         (Predicate)

2-    What is a Subject

The subject of a sentence may be the doer of an action or the experiencer of some happening.

2.1-    Agent

When a subject functions as the doer (the subject of a dynamic verb= it passes its action through the verb onto the object) of an action, it is termed as an ‘Agent’.

(1)           The candle burnt the carpet. (What was burnt = Carpet)

(Agent)                      (Dynamic verb)        (Object)

2.2-    Experiencer

The subject plays the role of an ‘Experiencer’ when the action of the verb is reversed to the subject (=the subject receives the action of a stative verb).

(1)    The candle burnt. (What burnt = Candle)

         (Experiencer)           (Stative verb)

3-    What is a Predicate

The part of sentence which gives information about the subject is called predicate. In other words, if the subject is left out, the rest of the sentence is termed as predicate.

(1)           The elephant destroyed the entire paddy field.

(Predicate)

COMPONENTS OF PREDICATE

A predicate usually contains a verb, object, complement, adjective, adverb or a prepositional phrase. Verb is the integral part of predicate however; the occurrence of other components may vary from sentence to sentence.

3.1-    What is a Verb

A verb is a word which describes an action or state. A predicate cannot stand without a verb being its most essential part. Hence, a predicate which contains only a verb (with no other components) is called simple predicate.

(1)           The girl smiled.

(Simple Predicate)

3.2-    What is an Object

A word which comes after the transitive verb (a verb which requires an object to complete the meaning of the sentence) is called an object. It may be a noun, pronoun, gerund or an infinitive.

(1)    They learn English.  (Noun)

(2)    The rich man helped them.     (Pronoun)

(3)    Olivia went boating.        (Gerund= verb+ing functioning as noun)

(4)    Finally, they decided to go.     (Infinitive= to+verb which functions as noun, adjective or adverb)

3.2.1-    Direct Object

A noun or noun phrase which receives the action of the verb is called a direct object. A direct object is, in fact, the word which fulfills the requirement of the transitive verb.

(1)           She teaches French.    (Noun)

(2)           She gave me a gift.      (Noun Phrase)

3.2.2-    Indirect Object

An indirect object is a word which receives the direct object. They cannot stand alone and therefore, depend on the occurrence of the direct object. They typically answer ‘to whom’ or ‘for whom’.

(1)    Bring me a glass of water.

(2)    She teaches us English.

3.3-    What is a Complement

A word, phrase or a clause which completes the meaning of the sentence by providing more information about the subject or the object.

3.3.1-    Subject Complement    (subject + linking/stative verb + complement)

Subject complement appears only in the sentences which contain a linking verb (be, become, seem, appear and sensory verbs) or a stative verb. Subject complement may be a noun, adjective, gerund, infinitive or a prepositional phrase.

3.3.1.1-    Noun as Subject Complement

When a noun defines or renames the subject, it functions as a subject complement which is also termed as Predicate Nominative. They are preceded by a linking verb.

(1)    She is Susan.    (subject + linking verb + noun)

(2)    Susan is a doctor.    (subject + linking verb + noun)

3.3.1.2-    Adjective as Subject Complement

When an adjective describes the subject, it functions as a subject complement which is also termed as Predicate Adjective. They are preceded by a linking verb or a stative verb.

(1)    Susan is pretty.        (subject + linking verb + adjective)

(2)    Her eyes grew blue.         (subject + stative verb + adjective)

3.3.1.3-    Gerund as Subject Complement

When a gerund (verb+ing used as a noun) describes the subject, it functions as a subject complement which is also termed as Predicate Nominative. They are preceded by a linking verb.

(1)    Her job is teaching. (subject + linking verb + gerund)

(2)    Her hobby is swimming. (subject + linking verb + gerund)

3.3.1.4-    Infinitive as Subject Complement

When an infinitive (verb preceded by ‘to’) works as a noun and renames the subject, it functions as a subject complement which is termed as Predicate Nominative. They are followed by a linking verb.

(1)    Her job is to fetch flowers.      (subject + linking verb + infinitive)

(2)    She seems to understand.       (subject + linking verb + infinitive)

3.3.1.5-    Prepositional Phrase as Subject Complement

When a prepositional phrase is preceded by a linking verb and describes or provides more information about the subject, it functions as a subject complement.

(1)    Her dress is of silk.  (subject + linking verb + prepositional phrase)

(2)    Her favourite time is after midnight.         (subject + linking verb + prepositional phrase)

3.3.2-    Object Complement    (subject + transitive verb + object + complement)

Object complement comes only in the sentences which contain a transitive verb and its direct object. It completes the meaning of the verb and renames or describes the direct object.

If the object complement renames the direct object, it is a noun and if the object complement describes the direct object, it is an adjective.

(1)    They make him president every year.

                  (Direct Object)    (Noun Complement)

(2)    Susan made her pizza spicy.

                           (Direct Object)    (Adjective Complement)