Subjects and Verbs

1. Subjects and Verbs

2. Review • The subject is a noun or pronoun and it tells who or what the sentence is about • The verb will be either an action verb (telling what the subject did) or a linking verb that links the subject with a description of the subject • Example: My new puppyeats peanut butter • My new puppyis cute.

3. Tricky Situation 1: Prep Phrases • Sometimes people mistake the OOP in a prepositional phrase for the subject. To avoid this, you should cross out the prepositional phrases in the sentence before you find the subject. • Example: The parentson Supernannyare clueless.

4. Practice Cross out prep phrases and identify subjects and verbs. • During the movie, some teenagers giggled at the love scenes. • The strawberry jam in my brother’s sandwich dripped onto his lap. • Before the test, I glanced through my notes.

5. Practice • During the movie, some teenagersgiggledat the love scenes. • The strawberry jamin my brother’s sandwich drippedonto his lap. • Before the test, Iglancedthrough my notes.

6. Tricky Situation 2: Verbs of More than One Word • Sometimes the main action or linking verb has a helping verb in front of it. Include that when you identify the verb. • Reminder: Helping verbs include do, does, will, should, could, was, has, have, is, can Example: The little boyhas been climbing out of bed every night.

7. Verbs of More than One Word • Do not include adverbs as part of the verb. • Adverbs include lots of the –ly words (slowly, quietly, etc.) and words such as not, just never, only, and always • So not include infinitives (to+verb) as part of the main verb. • Example: Supernannywas slowly convincing the parents to implement discipline strategies.

8. Practice • Tony has just agreed to feed his neighbor’s fish over the holiday. • Many students have not been giving much thought to selecting a major. • I would have preferred a movie with a happy ending.

9. Practice • Tonyhas just agreed to feed his neighbor’s fish over the holiday. • Many studentshave not been giving much thought to selecting a major. • Iwould have preferred a movie with a happy ending.

10. Tricky Situation 3: Compound Subjects and Verbs • Sometimes you will find more than one subject or verb in the sentence. • Hint: Look for a conjunction (usually “and”) • Example of compound subject: Both the son and the daughterthrew temper tantrums. • Example of compound verbs: The little boyclimbed out of bed, ran down the hall, and hit his mother.

11. Practice • We bought a big bag of peanuts and finished it by the movie’s end. • Canned salmon and tuna contain significant amounts of calcium. • The magician and his assistant bowed and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

12. Practice • Webought a big bag of peanuts and finished it by the movie’s end. • Canned salmon and tunacontain significant amounts of calcium. • The magician and his assistantbowed and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.