Nouns Unit Notes

Review of the Simple Sentence

Part 1 Sentence or Fragment

A SENTENCE is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.

A sentence has a Subject – which tells “who” or “what” the sentence is about.

A sentence also has a Verb – which tells “what the subject is doing” for an action verb.

- a verb also may be a linking verb and express a “state of being.”

Look for: is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being

A FRAGMENT is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. Fragments may be missing subjects, verbs, or both.

Part 2 Subjects and Verbs

A Subject tells “WHO” or “WHAT” the sentence is about.

A Verb tells “what the subject is doing” for an action verb.

-a verb also may be a linking verb and express a “state of being.”

Look for: is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being

Part 3 Helping Verbs and Main Verbs

A verb phrase consists of the main verb with its helper verbs.

You should have seen her play tennis.

helpers main verb

Some Common Helper Verbs: be, is, am, are, was, were, has, had, have, has been, had been,

do, does, did, done, may, might, can, could, shall, should, will, would, must.

Watch out for split verbs in question sentences.

Did you call me?

Should I have gone home?

Words telling where and most words ending in –ly ARE NOT VERBS.

NOT is not a verb; NEVER is never a verb.

In contractions, name only the verb. Drop the “not” part of any helping verb.

Part 4 Subjects and Verbs

Unusual Positions of Subjects

Sentences beginning with THERE or HERE.

There is never the subject. In these sentences, the subject will often come after the verb.

There should be some food.

Here is your pencil.

Sentences beginning with phrases or adverbs.

With a sentence that has an unusual word order, first find the verb. Then as WHO or WHAT.

Under the couch darted the mouse.

Up came the waves.

Imperative (Command) Sentences.

In imperative sentences, which state commands or requests, the subject may not be stated. The word you is understood as the subject.

(You) Join us for supper.

(You) Sit down!

Interrogative (Question) Sentences.

Often, the verb will be split into two parts, with the subject coming between the verb.

Have you seen my jacket?

Part 5 Direct Objects

The word that receives the action of a verb is called the Direct Object. First, find the subject; next, find the verb. Then ask whom or what after the verb. The answer will be the Direct Object.

Maria bought six oranges. Who or What are we talking about? Maria is the subject.

What was Maria doing? Bought is the verb.

Maria bought whom or what? Oranges is the Direct Object.

Part 5 Indirect Objects

The Indirect Object tells “to whom” or “to what”, ; “for whom” or “for what”.

There can be NO indirect object unless there is a direct object in the sentence.

The best strategy to find the Indirect Object is to:

First- find the subject.

Second- find the verb.

Third- see if there is a direct object. If there is, then

Fourth- check for an indirect object.

Sam bought Tina some seashells from Florida.

First – find the subject. Who or What is the sentence about? Sam

Second – find the verb. What is Sam doing? Bought

Third- check for a D.O Sam bought What seashells

Fourth- check for an I.O. Sam bought seashells “for Whom?” Tina

Part 6 Direct Objects or Predicate Words

A Direct Object follows an action verb in a sentence. But some verbs do not express action. They tell of a state of being. These “linking verbs” are not followed by direct objects; rather, linking verbs are followed by Predicate Words. Predicate adjectives, predicate nouns, and predicate pronouns are predicate words.

One easy way to sort this all out is this method:

Find the subject.

Find the verb.

Check for the “who” or “what” after the verb.

Now compare the subject and the object. If they are the same, the verb is linking and the object is a predicate word.

If they are different, the verb is action and the object is a direct object.