Subjects, Objects, Predicates Introduction

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Sentences are like the pre-Leia Han Solos of clauses.

Translation: they make sense by themselves.

A sentence—also known as an independent clause—a word or group of words that expresses a complete thought, without other information. In order for a sentence to be a sentence, it needs to include both a subject and a predicate. A predicate is a verb and the object (or objects, that rascal) of the verb's affection. The tiniest sentence is just a subject and a verb. The biggest ones have a subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object.

So, in other words:

Always required:

  • Subject
  • Verb

Sometimes required:

  • Direct object
  • Indirect object
  • Other objects or modifiers

So what are these tricky little creatures: subjects, objects, and predicates? Don't be put off by their official-sounding titles—much like Professor Albus Dumbledore, they sound scary and intimidating, but they're totally approachable.

Quiz Yourself on Subjects, Objects, Predicates

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Which words are simple subjects in these sentences?

  1. The blizzard that hit our town dropped so much snow on the trees that some of them split right down the middle because of the weight on their branches!
  2. Driving down Main Street was like driving through a disaster zone.
  3. Many ranchers lost cattle in the storm, too.
(A) town, driving, cattle
(B) snow, Main Street, storm
(C) blizzard, Main Street, ranchers
(D) blizzard, driving, ranchers

Which word or words form the complete predicate in the following sentence?

Judi will go ice-skating next Tuesday with her imaginary friends Hampus and Valter.

(A) will
(B) will go
(C) will go skating
(D) will go ice-skating next Tuesday with her imaginary friends Hampus and Valter

Which words are objects in these sentences?

  1. The company the city hired to resurface the road hasn't finished the job yet, and it's been six months.
  2. I've had to drive my car two whole miles out of the way for months now.
  3. The city should refund my tax dollars to reimburse me for all the extra gas I'm using!
(A) job, car, dollars
(B) road, job, car
(C) company, miles, gas
(D) Both A and B

In which sentence does coffee function as the subject of the sentence?

(A) After living in Seattle in the '80s, my parents developed a taste for "Charbucks," which is what they call coffee that's super dark and roasted until it's almost burnt.
(B) But coffee like that makes my stomach hurt.
(C) I prefer my coffee light and sweet.
(D) Both B and C

In which sentence is a form of the word rain functioning as an object?

(A) I love it when a good storm brings the rain down on our roof.
(B) In fact, when it rains, I head up to the attic just to listen to it.
(C) Rain on the attic roof makes curling up with a good book even cozier.
(D) Both A and B

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