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 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

Fill in the blanks: Emily and ______ decided to make fettuccine Alfredo for Michael's birthday dinner. When _____ and _____ started eating it, they discovered we had forgotten the cheese.

(A) me, she, him
(B) me, her, him
(C) I, she, he
(D) I, she, him

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.

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

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

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