Direct object A direct object will follow a transitive verb [a type of action verb].

Direct objects can be nouns, pronouns, phrases, or clauses. If you can identify the subject and verb in a sentence, then finding the direct objectif one existsis easy. Just remember this simple formula:

subject + verb + what? or who? = direct object

Here are examples of the formula in action:

Zippy and Maurice played soccer with a grapefruit pulled from a backyard tree.

Zippy, Maurice = subjects; played = verb. Zippy and Maurice played what? Soccer = direct object.

Zippy accidentally kicked Maurice in the shin.

Zippy = subject; kicked = verb. Zippy kicked who? Maurice = direct object.

Sometimes direct objects are single words like soccer and Maurice; other times they are phrases or clauses. The formula nevertheless works the same.

Sylina hates biting her fingernails.

Sylina = subject; hates = verb. Sylina hates what? Biting her fingernails [a gerund phrase] = direct object. Direct objects can also follow verbalsinfinitives, gerunds, and participles. Use this abbreviated version of the formula:

verbal + what? or who? = direct object

Here are some examples:

To see magnified blood cells, Gus squinted into the microscope on the lab table.

To see = infinitive. To see what? Blood cells = direct object.

Indirect object

This example illustrates how to diagram an indirect object. An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that answers the questions: To whom? For whom? To what? For what? the action of the verb is done. It is always the noun or pronoun that follows an action verb and is in the position between the action verb and the direct object. A direct object has to be in the sentence for there to be an indirect object.

In this sentence, "them," is the indirect object. "Them" indirectly receives the action of the verb, "bought". Note that the slanted line coming down from the verb has nothing on it. In some books, the slanted line might have on it an (x) or the word, (to) or (for) in parentheses. But most of the time, there is nothing on that slanted line. The indirect object is on the horizontal line.

Complete subject What is Complete Subject? It is the noun which acts as the subject of any sentence, along with all the adjectives which describe it in detail. A subject is a string of words, which includes the actual subject along with words describing it.

On the other hand, the complete predicate is made up of the verb, the object on which it acts, along with any added clauses. A complete subject is called so, as it provides a complete and exact description of the subject of a sentence.

Difference Between Complete and Simple Subject If you take away all the adjectives or descriptive words from the complete subject, what remains is the 'Simple Subject'. Stripped of all its descriptive epithets, it's transformed into a simple subject.

How to Identify it? The best way to find the subject of the sentence is to first locate the verb. Then ask questions to the verb like 'What' or 'Who', to know who is the doer of the action, described by the verb.

Once you find the simple subject in this fashion, the complete subject will also be revealed to you. It is just the simple subject, along with all its descriptors.

Examples There is no better way to learn rules of English grammar, than by solving exercises, whereby you can learn how to identify things like the 8 parts of speech and differentiate the subject from its predicate. Here are some examples where the complete subject is identified in italics. The big bad wolf pounced over its prey. The placid lake suddenly rippled. The intelligent investor doesn't rely on speculation. Massive stones dropped down to block the highway. Energetic electrons emit photons to lose energy. Absolute self belief is the key to success. Pure intuition sometimes leads to great discoveries. Insurmountable odds are a myth. Complete subject is the complete identification of the subject, along with all of its epithets. The best way to understand this grammar concept in greater detail is to work out an exercise of identifying it in sentences which you find in various texts and books that you read.

Simple subject simple subject is the person or thing doing the action of the verb for example: The boy is day dreaming, In this sentence the boy is the person doing the action ( day dreaming ) the boy is the simple subject.

The big dog ate the rat.

The dog ate, the dog is the simple subject. The simple subject of a sentence is who or what the sentence is about. Example 1: Brandon collects baseball cards. Who is this sentence about? The sentence above is about Brandon. Brandon is the simple subject of this sentence. Example 2: The dog was bathed and fed. What is this sentence about? The sentence above is about a dog. Dog is the simple subject of this sentence.

Complete predicate The complete predicate is the action of the sentence and all its modifiers (adverbs and prepositional phrases) and complements. The big, fluffy cat scratched on its post. What did the cat do? scratched The complete predicate of the sentence scratched on its post simple predicate The simple predicate of a sentence tells what the simple subject does, is doing, did, has done, or will do. Example 1: Melissa went to the doctor. Melissa is the simple subject of this sentence. Went is the simple predicate. It tells what Melissa did. Example 2: Mrs. Miller jumped over the fence. Mrs. Miller is the simple subject of this sentence. Jumped is the simple predicate. It tells what Mrs. Miller did