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

In which sentence is plant functioning as a direct object?

(A) My Great Aunt Edna's cymbidium orchid was the prize-winning plant at our state fair's horticultural competition.
(B) I was afraid she would lose, because when I carried the plant into the exhibition hall, I accidentally tore some of its petals off.
(C) I'm just glad I didn't mention to Aunt Edna what happened to her plant.
(D) Both A and C

In which sentence does the word journey function as the subject of the sentence?

(A) Columbus may have failed to find India on his journey, but he did happen to stumble on the entire other half of the world.
(B) I was scared for the fate of the baby turtles as I watched their epic journey to the ocean on the Discovery Channel.
(C) When John Cabot did not return from his latest journey, his Italian comrades ate gelato to make themselves feel better.
(D) With my entire left leg in a cast, a journey to my bedroom upstairs might take me all afternoon.

Which words are subjects in these sentences?

  1. The word "doozie" comes from an advertising campaign for the Duesenberg.
  2. It was a super tricked-out luxury car produced in America in the 1930s.
  3. The ad campaign made "Duesie" American slang for something really impressive.
(A) campaign, it, campaign
(B) "doozie," America, something
(C) word, it, campaign
(D) word, it, slang

Which words are objects in these sentences?

  1. It's too bad you forgot the marshmallows!
  2. We're planning to make s'mores tomorrow night.
  3. But I guess we can just use peanut butter instead.
(A) you, night, instead
(B) I, planning, s'mores
(C) marshmallows, s'mores, peanut butter
(D) you, s'mores, peanut butter

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