PARTS OF A SENTENCE

Every sentence in English is a combination of some elements that have their separate roles to play in the sentence. In this post, we will learn the basic elements that we need in order to form a sentence.

Let’s first understand what a sentence in English is.

What is a sentence in English?

A sentence is a group of words that have a particular meaning. It contains two main elements: 

1. Subject
2. Predicate

To be called a sentence, it (a group of words) must make sense.

Examples:

• I sleep.
• We eat.
• I have money.
• We are working.
• You me.
• She living is.
• I you love.

All these examples have a group of words. Notice the last three examples don’t make any sense; they don’t render a meaning. So, having a group of words doesn’t qualify into a sentence. It has to have the necessary elements, that too in the right order.

Let’s correct them and change them into sentences.

• You trouble me. (Added a necessary element)
• She is living. (Corrected the order)
• I love you. (Corrected the order)

Parts of a sentence

A sentence has two major elements:

1. Subject
2. Predicate

1. SUBJECT

A subject is something or someone the sentence is about. It is what the sentence focuses on. It is either a person who performs the action or a person or a thing that the sentence gives information about (descriptive information).

Examples:

• Rahul sings.
• Jon lives in Canada.
• Tom is working.
• I teach English.

In all the above examples, the subject (italicized) is the part (person) performing the action in the sentence. A sentence doesn’t always indicate an action that the subject performs. It also gives information about the subject.

Examples:

• Rahul is my English teacher. (Telling what the subject is)
• Jon is talented. (Describing the subject with an adjective).
• Tom is under pressure. (describing the subject with adjectival phrase)
• I am your boss. (telling what the subject is)

Types of subjects in English

There are three types of subjects in English:

1. Simple subject
2. Compound subject
3. Complete subject

Simple subject

A simple subject is a one-word subject. It does not include any modifiers.

• India is the biggest democratic country in the world.
• Jacob loves pancakes.
• The man in the white coat is a doctor.
• Rahul called me after the meeting.

NOTE: a simple subject does not have to be a single word. It can be a group of words, but it won’t have any modifiers.

• The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world.
• Justin Bieber is my sister’s favourite singer.

Here, the subject is a proper noun. It does not have any modifiers.

Complete subject

A complete subject is a combination of a simple subject and the words that modify it.

Examples:

1. Some people just make excuses for their failures.

Simple subject = people
Modifier = some
Complete subject = some people

2. People living in this area are very poor.

Simple subject = people
Modifier = living in this area (present participle phrase)
Complete subject = people living in this area

3. A wise man once said that money is an illusion.

Simple subject = man
Modifiers = a, wise
Complete subject = a wise man

A complete subject is formed using a simple subject and one or more modifiers. Here are the ways to form a complete subject:

1. Pre-modifier/s + simple subject
2. Simple subject + modifier/s
3. Pre-modifier/s + simple subject + post-modifier/s

Pre-modifier + simple subject

• My friends love me. (Premodifier = my)
• A school is being built here. (Premodifier = a)

Simple subject + post-modifier

• People in my village support each other. (post-modifier = in my village)
• Events of such nature kept happening. (post-modifier = of such nature)

Pre-modifier + simple subject + post-modifier

• The man looking at us looks strange. (premodifier = the, post-modifier = looking at us)
• The goal of this gathering is to raise money for some poor kids. (premodifier = the, post-modifier = of this gathering)

Compound subject

A compound subject is a combination of two or more (generally two) simple subjects or complete subjects. It is joined by a coordinating conjunction, usually with ‘and’, ‘nor’, and ‘or’.

Examples:

• Jon and Max came to see me the other day.
• Susan or I can go there and talk to the mangement about this.

A compound subject can also be joined with correlative conjunctions such as ‘not only…but also‘, ‘Both…and‘, and ‘neither…not’.

• Neither the doctors nor the patients were happy with the ongoing protests.
• Both the police and the protestors are working together.
• Not only my parents but I am also in support of this rule.

What can be a subject?

A subject is generally a noun or a noun phrase but can be any of these:

• Noun
• Noun phrase
• Pronoun
• Noun clause
• Gerund
• Infinitive

Noun as a subject

A noun is a name given to something or someone. It’s generally a name of a person, place, thing, animal, emotion, concept, subject, activity, etc.

Examples:

• Mohit loves chocolates.
• Dubai is a beautiful city.
• Love overpowers hate.
• Honestly is the best policy.

Noun phrase as a subject

A noun phrase is a group of words headed by a noun. It has a noun and a word or words that modify it.

Examples:

• A man can do anything.
• A motivated man can achieve anything.
• Your house looks amazing.
• A tall girl came to my house yesterday.
• The man in the blue coat is waving at you.

Click here to study noun phrases in detail.

Pronoun as a subject

• You are amazing.
• She is studying right now.
• Everyone loves Ashish.
• There are 15 students in the classroom. All are studying.
• That is my house.

Noun clause as a subject

A subject can be a clause. Here are some examples:

• What he is eating is pancakes.
• What he wants is uncertain.
• Who you are hanging out with is a criminal.
• How she did this is shocking to us.

Click here to study noun clauses and noun clauses as the subject.

Gerund as a subject

A gerund is a progressive form of a verb that functions as a noun. 

Examples:

• Dancing is my passion. (We are talking about an action: dancing. This action is not happening right now.
• Smoking can kill you.
• Teaching English is my passion.
• Talking to kids makes me happy.

The last examples of subjects are gerund phrases.

Study these topics in detail by clicking on them:

• Gerunds 
• Gerund phrases

Infinitive as a subject

An infinitive is the ‘TO + V1’ form of a verb that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb. 

Examples:

• To go home is what I want right now.
• To start an NGO is my dream.
• To bring her back is difficult.

Related lessons to study:

• Infinitives in English
• Bare Infinitives
• Forms of Infinitives

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2. PREDICATE

A predicate is a part of the sentence that gives information about the subject. It either indicates what the subject is doing or gives information about the subject in terms of giving it a name (using a noun) or modifying it (using an adjective).

Examples:

• She slept.
• She is working.
• You are a great human being.
• She is extremely talented.

Types of predicates in English

There are three types of predicates in English:

1. Simple predicate
2. Compound predicate
3. Complete predicate

Simple predicate

A simple predicate is a verb or a verb phrase (a combination of an auxiliary verb and the main verb). It does not include ant objects or modifiers.

Examples:

• She works.

Here, ‘she’ is the simple subject, and ‘works‘ is the simple predicate.

• You can go.

In the sentence, ‘can go’ is the simple predicate. It is a combination of the auxiliary verb (can) and the main verb (go). You is the simple subject here.

• Jon has been sleeping.

Here, ‘Jon’ is the simple subject, and ‘has been sleeping‘ is the simple predicate.

• My mother is cooking my favorite dish.

In this sentence, the simple predicate is ‘is cooking’. The complete predicate is ‘is cooking my favorite dish’. The complete predicate is a combination of a simple predicate and the object of the verb.

• She called me right after the meeting ended.

‘Called’ is the simple predicate here. It is the main verb. Notice that the verb called has its object and modifier after it, but a simple predicate does not include anything other than a verb (main verb) and a verb phrase (auxiliary verb + main verb).

More examples of simple predicates

• She cries.
• It works.
• He finished the work.
• You have done this beautifully.
• Some of you may get a call in the evening.
• Some people never learn from their mistakes.

Compound predicate

A compound predicate is a combination of two verbs or verb phrases. The verbs of a compound predicate share the same subject. The verbs are joined with coordinating conjunctions such as ‘and‘, ‘or‘, or ‘but‘. Forming a compound predicate is a way to avoid repeating the subject.

Study the following example to see how a predicate fits into a sentence.

These are two sentences where the doer of both the actions is the same: Rahul. Calls and tells. These are two simple predicates. When a subject performs two or more actions, we can bring them together and avoid mentioning the subject again in a new clause.

Now, we have brought these two predicates using the coordinating conjunction ‘and’.

More examples:

• They will hire you or let you go.
• The company has changed their policy and opened 5 new posts.
• I wanted to help you but didn’t have money.
• Joanna fell off the roof and broke her foot.
• Some of my friends moved to Dubai and bought houses there.
• I will call your parents and tell them everything you did.
• The movie was long but had an amazing storyline.

Complete predicate

A complete predicate is a combination of a simple predicate (verb) and the others parts of the sentence: objects, complements, and modifiers.

Examples:

• Jon Jones finished his career at the top.

Simple predicate = finished
Complete predicate = finished his career at the top

• You owe me 500 dollars.

Simple predicate = owe
Complete predicate = owe me 500 dollars

• You have been working hard lately.

Simple predicate = have been working
Complete predicate = have been working hard lately

I should have listened to my father that day.

Simple predicate = should have listened
Complete predicate = should have listened to my father that day

• They are sleeping.

‘Are sleeping’ is the simple predicate here. It does not have a complete sentence.

Parts of a predicate

Here are the things we have in a predicate:

• Verb or verb phrase
• Object
• Complement
• Adverb or adverbial

NOTE: A sentence can be formed using a subject and a verb or verb phrase, at minimum. 

• Ron dances.
• She sings.
• We are working.

But sometimes, with the other information we want to render, that’s not enough.

• We are having dinner.
• Your sister wants some money.
• She has finished the assignment.

But it’s important to note that we need only two things to form a subject: a subject and a verb.

Verb and verb phrase

A verb in English either indicates the action the subject performs, or shows the state of the subject, or links the subject to its complement.

Examples (action):

1. My parents help everyone.
2. Ashish teaches amazingly.
3. I am reading a book. 

Examples (stative):

• We love this concept. 
• I understand you.
• Jon appreciates your work.

A stative verb shows the state of the subject. Click here to study stative verbs and their types in detail.

Examples (linking):

• Ashish is a teacher. (Ashish = a teacher)
• Jon was a writer.
• You are great.
• These boys are notorious.

Linking verbs link the subject to a word or a group of words (subject complement) that gives information about the subject. Click here to study subject complement in detail.

Verb phrase

All these verbs (action, stative, and linking) are main verbs. Sometimes, main verbs are combined with an auxiliary verb to show the tense and the number of the subject.

Examples:

• They are playing there.

Verb phrase = are playing
Main verb = playing
Auxiliary verb = are

• Some students were dancing in the corridor.

Verb phrase = were dancing
Main verb = dancing
Auxiliary verb = were

• I have been sitting here.

Verb phrase = have been sitting
Main verb = sitting
Auxiliary verb = have been

• I have done it.

Verb phrase = have done
Main verb = done
Auxiliary verb = have

• You can do this.

Verb phrase = can do
Main verb = do
Auxiliary verb = can

Verbs phrases and tenses

TENSES	VERB PHRASES	EXAMPLES
Present Indefinite tense	Do + V1 Does + V1 (only in negative and interrogative sentences)	I do not like cheese. Do you have my number? Does she know you? Also used in an emphatic way: I do want to work with you.
Present Continuous tense	Is/am/are + present participle (V1+ing)	Jon is sleeping.
Present Perfect tense	Has/have + past participle (V3)	I have completed the project. Max has left the company.
Present Perfect Continuous tense	Has/have + been + present participle (V1+ing)	I have been teaching English since 2014. Sneha has been waiting for some time.
Past Indefinite tense	Did + V1 (only in negative and interrogative sentences)	Did you see her last night? I did see you her night. (emphatic)
Past Continuous tense	was/were + present participle (V1+ing)	I was sleeping. We were studying.
Past Perfect tense	had + past participle (V3)	I had left his place when you called.
Past Perfect Continuous tense	Had + been + present participle (V1+ing)	We had been playing video games before the light went out.
Future Indefinite tense	Will/shall + V1	I will call you soon. We shall do it.
Future Continuous tense	Will/shall + present participle (V1+ing)	We will be studying.
Future Perfect tense	will have + past participle (V3)	He will have left before us reaching.
Future Perfect Continuous tense	will have been + present participle (V1+ing)	He will have been sleeping.

OBJECT

An object is a noun or a pronoun that receives the action. It is something or someone that the action is acted upon. It sometimes is needed to complete the meaning of the verb. Only transitive verbs take an object. Intransitive verbs can’t do that.

• I have a lot of money.

Have what? The sentence doesn’t give a clear meaning without the object. Here, the object (a lot of money) is needed to complete the sentence.

• Do you want my help?

Want what? The sentence again looks incomplete with the object (my help).

But an object is not always needed for the grammatical sanctity of the sentence. Intransitive verbs don’t take an object. Here are some examples:

• Jon slept late.
• Keep smiling.
• You can sit on my seat.
• I was shivering whem you called.

Can you sleep someone or something? No, right? You can sleep with someone or something but someone/something can’t receive this action directly. Similarly, smile, sit, and shiver are intransitive verbs. You can’t smile, sit and shiver someone or something.

Sometimes, you can avoid using a direct object after a transitive verb either. The sentence remains grammatical without it. Here are some examples to study:

• I am studying right now. Call me later.

You study something (direct object). But here, the object has not been mentioned as it’s not important or the speaker does not want to share it.

• I don’t feel like eating right now.

Eat is a transitive verb; you can eat something. But here, the object of the verb hasn’t been used, and the sentence is still grammatical without it.

Notice, the sentences make sense without the objects (italicized). But adding the object does make the sentence better. But it’s important to note that with some verbs, objects need to be used always.

A few verbs: want, love, need, have, hate, desire, admire, make

Types of objects

There are two types of objects in English:

• Direct object
• Indirect object

A direct object is someone or something that directly receives the action. It answers the question ‘what’ or ‘whom’.

An indirect object receives the direct object. It is generally a person whom the action is done for. It answers the question ‘for whom’ or ‘to whom’.

Examples:

• I love you. 

Direct object (love ‘whom’)= you

• Max plays the piano.

Direct object (play ‘what’) = the piano

• My mother gave me a phone.

Direct object (gave what) = a phone
Indirect object (who received it) = me

• Jon gifted us a dog.

Direct object (gifted what) = a dog
Indirect object (who received it) = us

Notice, in the last two examples, the indirect object receives the direct object.

Some verbs always take both direct and indirect objects, and that’s why they become a part of a sentence. Here are a few of them:

• Gift
• Give
• Pass
• Lend
• Get

Related posts:

• Direct and objects
• 4 types of objects in English
• Ditransitive verbs

COMPLEMENT

A complement is a word or a group of words that gives information about something in a sentence and completes its meaning. The core meaning of the sentence changes if the complement is removed from it.

Types of complements in English

1. Subject complement
2. Object complement
3. Verb complement
4. Adjective complement
5. Adverbial complement

TYPES OF COMPLEMENTS	DEFINITION	EXAMPLES	WHAT CAN PLAY THE ROLE?
Subject complement	A subject complement is a word or a group of words that comes after a linking verb and gives information about the subject. It either renames the subject (using a noun) or modifies it (using an adjective).	1. Tarang is a businessman. Subject complement = a business (noun phrase, renaming the subject) 2. His journey has been very difficult. Subject complement = very difficult (adjective phrase, modifying the subject)	Predicative nominative (noun or noun equivalent) or Predicative adjective (adjective or prepositional phrase)
Object complement	An object complement is something that complements the direct object: indicates that the object has become. It either renames the object (using a noun) or modifies it (using an adjective).	1. My friends call me a genius. Direct object = me Object complement = a genius (noun phrase) 2. You made Ashish upset Direct object = Ashish Object complement = upset (adjective)	Noun or adjective
Verb complement	A verb complement is usually an object that comes after a verb and completes its meaning. Without the verb complement, the sentence stops giving the same meaning and looks incomplete.	1. We enjoyed watching this show. You enjoy something. You need something to enjoy. This verb is incomplete without it. Here, ‘watching this show’ (gerund phrase) is the complement to the verb ‘enjoy’.  2. She gave me a beautiful car. Try imagining the sentence (She gave) without the objects. The sentence doesn’t make sense without the objects working as the complement to the verb.	direct object and indirect object (noun/pronoun)
Adjective complement	An adjective complement is a phrase or a clause that completes the meaning of an adjective by giving more information about it. The information helps the readers or listeners to understand the situation better. So, the information it provides is necessary in order to complete the meaning of the adjective.	1. I am not happy with your performance. Here, ‘with your performance’ is a prepositional phrase that’s working as an adjective complement. If we ended the sentence with the adjective happy, we wouldn’t have more clarity about the sentence. We wouldn’t know what the speaker is unhappy with. 2. I am happy to see you again. ‘To see you again’ is an infinitive phrase that’s coming next to the adjective ‘happy’ and telling us the reason for this state of existence.	1. Prepositional phrase 2. Adjective clause 3. Infinitive phrase
Adverbial complement	An adverbial complement is an adverb or an adverbial that completes the meaning of a verb. It helps the sentence renders the meaning it intends to give. Taking an adverbial complement out of a sentence changes the core meaning of the sentence.	1. Don’t put me in his group. In this example, the prepositional phrase ‘in his group’ is a complement to the verb (verb complement). It completes the meaning of the verb. Removing it makes the sentence incomplete and takes away its meaning. 2. I love coming here. Here, the adverb ‘here’ is a complement to the verb ‘coming’. You don’t just come; you come to a place. So, mentioning the place is important.	1. Prepositional phrase 2. Adverb

SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

A subject complement is a word or a group of words that comes after a linking verb and gives information about the subject. It either renames the subject (using a noun) or modifies it (using an adjective).

Examples:

• My father is an accountant.

Linking verb = is
Subject complement = an accountant (noun phrase, renaming the subject)

• Aakriti was the head of my team.

Linking verb = was
Subject complement = the head of my team (noun phrase, renaming the subject)

• You are amazing.

Linking verb = amazing
Subject complement = amazing (adjective, modifying the subject)

• I am happy.

Linking verb = am
Subject complement = happy (adjective, modifying the subject)

A prepositional phrase can also act as a subject complement, modifying the subject.

Examples:

• We are under pressure.
• She is in heavy debts.
• Max is in London.

Related posts:

• Linking verbs
• Subject complement

OBJECT COMPLEMENT

An object complement is something that complements the direct object: indicates that the object has become. It either renames the object (using a noun) or modifies it (using an adjective).

Examples:

• My friends call me a genius.

Direct object = me
Object complement = a genius (noun phrase)

Removing the object complement changes the meaning of the sentence. Here, the verb ‘call’ doesn’t mean to ring. It’s used differently. They call me what? We need to know that. 

• My company made him the branch manager.

Direct object = him
Object complement = the branch manager (noun phrase)

Ask again: the company made him what? The sentence looks incomplete without the object complement.

• You made Ashish upset

Direct object = Ashish
Object complement = upset (adjective)

Here, the object complement indicates what Ashish has become: upset. It refers to the change in his state of being.

Verbs that take a direct object and an object complement: 

• Make
• Call
• Name
• Consider
• Elected

VERB COMPLEMENT

Verb complement definition: a verb complement is usually an object that comes after a verb and completes its meaning. Without the verb complement, the sentence stops giving the same meaning and looks incomplete.

• Do you mind switching our seats?

‘To mind’ means to dislike. You just can’t mind; you mind something. There has to be something that you mind. I can mind your behavior, living with you, your touching me, someone living in my house, and so on. But I can’t just mind.

• I hope that you win this competition.

Here, the noun clause coming after the verb ‘hope’ is its complement. You don’t just hope; you hope something. Here, the noun clause is the verb’s complement. Without the complement, the sentence (I hope) looks incomplete.

ADJECTIVE COMPLEMENT

An adjective complement is a phrase or a clause that completes the meaning of an adjective by giving more information about it. The information helps the readers or listeners to understand the situation better. So, the information it provides is necessary in order to complete the meaning of the adjective.

The infinitive phrase (in red) gives us information about the adjective (unhappy) and working as its complement. Without it, the sentence gives a different meaning.

Examples:

• We are excited to attend the party.
• His family and friends were devastated to hear the news of his death.
• We are really excited about Jon’s wedding.
• I am delighted that all my students have passed the exams.

ADVERBIAL COMPLEMENT

An adverbial complement is an adverb or an adverbial that completes the meaning of a verb. It helps the sentence renders the meaning it intends to give. Taking an adverbial complement out of a sentence changes the core meaning of the sentence; it takes an essential part of the sentence, unlike an adjunct.

• Don’t aim for a money fight.

‘For a money fight’ is the adverbial complement here. It is a prepositional phrase that is complementing the verb and helping it complete the correct meaning of the sentence. When used as an intransitive verb, it is followed by a prepositional phrase starting with either ‘for’ or ‘at’.

• We are aiming at the manager’s post.

When you aim at something; you plan to achieve it. Without using the prepositional phrase starting (at + object), this meaning can’t be delivered. Without the verb complement (We are aiming), the sentence is incomplete and does not render the intended meaning.

ADVERB

An adverb is a word or a group of words that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb.

When it modifiers a verb, it tells us the following things:

1. Time of the action
2. Place of the action
3. Manner of the action
4. Reason of the action

Adverbs (verb modifiers) are not usually essential for the sentence, but they make the sentence more informative.

Examples:

• I went there in the evening. (place, time)
• Sam is playing upstairs. (place)
• She acts like a small baby. (manner)
• Jon is doing this to earn some extra bucks. (reason)

Adverbs can modify adjectives too. Here are some examples:

• We are not positive about the next game. (modifying the adjective ‘positive’)
• Ashish is delighted to work with us. (modifying the adjective ‘delighted’)

Adverbs can modify adverbs or complete sentences. Here are some examples:

• Fortunately, I was there to help her. (modifying the main clause)
• Jacob runs very fast. (modifying the adverb ‘fast’)

Important points to note

A) A sentence can be formed only with a subject and a verb.

There are two things we need in order to form a sentence, that is a subject and a verb.

Examples:

• We work.
• Jon cries.
• I am typing.

Note that it’s not always possible to form a sentence with these two elements. Sometimes, you need other parts like objects, subject complements, and object complements too. The selection of the elements you need to form a sentence is decided by the information you want to render.

B) A linking verb takes a subject complement.

If a sentence has a linking verb (main verb), it has to follow a subject complement. The sentence would be incomplete without a subject complement if the main verb is a linking verb.

Examples:

• My father is a doctor.

Here, my father is a subject complement. The sentence without it (My father is) incomplete. So, it’s not that you can always form a sentence with a subject and a verb. The type of the verb and what you want to say decide the elements that need to be there in a sentence (essential elements).

More examples:

• You will be very successful someday.
• We are grateful to you.
• They were great dancers.

C) Some verbs must have an object to complete the meaning of the sentence.

• I have.
• We need.
• My brother owns.

Do these sentences make complete sense? These are incomplete without the direct object. Let’s complete them adding an object of the verb.

• I have his number.
• We need some food.
• My brother owns this house.

PRACTICE SET!

Find out the subjects in the following sentences:

1. The main problem with you is your ego.
2. Some people don’t listen to anyone.
3. Either you or Max can get it done.
4. Looking at the old pictures of his mother, he started crying.
5.No-one wants to work with you anymore.
6. People who do yoga daily rarely get sick.
7. What I really want is to help you in this.
8. To go there at this time can be really dangerous.
9. Arresting his family would not help him to confess the crime.
10. Identifying the problem is the first step to remove the problem.

Answers:

1. Complete subject = the main problem with you, simple subject = problem
2. Complete subject = some people, simple subject = people
3. Compound subject = either you or Max
4. Simple subject = he
5. Simple subject = no-one
6. Complete subject = people who do yoga daily, simple subject = people
7. Complete subject = what I really want
8. Complete subject = to go there alone at this time
9. Complete subject = arresting his family
10. Complete subject = identifying the problem

Now you know what a sentence is and what essential parts it has. Do share the lesson with others to help, and do share your questions and doubts in the comment section.

For one-on-one classes, contact me at [email protected].

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