Special Sub-Topic: The Parts of a Sentence Click Here To Play: The Parts of a Sentence

The "parts of the sentence" and the "parts of speech" are the same thing.

f. The "parts of speech" are individual words, classified as nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections. The parts of speech combine together to make sentences. The sentence can be divided into different sections called "the parts of the sentence". The parts of the sentence include the following: subject, predicate, subject complement, and object complement.

Identify the subject of the following sentence: The dog chased the trespassing cat.

dog. One way to find the subject of a sentence involves two steps. First, find the verb of the sentence. The verb in the sentence "The dog chased the trespassing cat" is "chased." Next, ask "who" or "what" in front of the verb. What chased? The dog chased. "Dog" (or "the dog") is the subject of the sentence. The cat -- the animal being chased -- is the object of the main verb.

Identify the predicate of the following sentence: The girl walked into the room.

walked into the room. The predicate includes the verb of the sentence. It is the part of the sentence that says something about the subject. The subject is the "girl." What about the girl? She "walked into the room."

What are the two types of subject complements?

predicate adjective and predicate noun. Subject complements are nouns or adjectives found in the predicate that follow a linking verb. They refer back to the subject. Take this sentence as an example: John was unhappy. "Unhappy" is an adjective in the predicate that is preceded by the linking verb "was". It refers to the subject, "John". "Unhappy" is considered a predicate adjective.

Identify the predicate adjective in the following sentence: Sebastian will be extremely pleased to hear about his promotion.

pleased. "Pleased" is an adjective in the predicate that follows the linking verb "will be". "Pleased" refers back to the subject, "Sebastian". "Extremely" is an adverb qualifying the predicate adjective.

Identify the predicate noun in the following sentence: Laurie is the best soccer player on our team.

player. "Player" is a noun in the predicate that is preceded by the linking verb "is". "Player" refers back to the subject, "Laurie". "Soccer" is an adjective describing "player". "Team" is the object of the preposition in the prepositional phrase "on our team". The entire predicate phrase "the best soccer player on our team" is referred to as a predicate nominative, as its entirety is a description of Laurie, the subject.

What are the two types of object complements?

direct object and indirect object. To find out if a sentence has a direct object, first find the verb. Next use the verb in a question followed by "who" or "what" after it. Use this sentence: Jake kicked the door. The verb is "kicked." Jake kicked what? The answer is "the door". "Door" is the direct object. To find out if a sentence has an indirect object, first determine if the sentence has a direct object. Is there a recipient of the direct object? Find the verb and ask "to whom" or "for whom." Use this sentence as an example: Tammy gave James a blanket. Gave a blanket to whom? The answer is James. James is the indirect object.

Identify the direct object in the following sentence: My boss fired me.

me. Fired whom? Me. The direct object is going to be a noun or pronoun. "Me" is a pronoun.

Identify the indirect object in the following sentence: The principal awarded Connor the medal.

Connor. Awarded to whom? Connor. "Principal" is the subject. "Awarded" is the verb. "Medal" is the direct object.

The verbs of sentences that do not have object complements are called "intransitive".

t. Verbs of sentences without object complements are considered intransitive. Verbs of sentences with object complements are considered transitive. Take this sentence as an example: The dog barked. No direct object follows the verb "barked." Therefore, it is an intransitive verb. Now, take this sentence as an example: Our team beat the competition. "Beat" what? The competition. "Competition" is a direct object in that sentence. The verb "beat" is therefore considered transitive.