CHAPTER 1: BASIC SENTENCE ELEMENTS AND WORD TYPES
PART I: BASIC SENTENCE ELEMENTS
1. Subject 5. Complement
2. Predicate 6. Adverbial
3. Verb 7. Vocative
4. Object 8. Exclamation
1. SUBJECT
- is the word or group of words that names the person or thing being talked about in a
sentence
- comes before the main verb of the sentence
For example:
John is running in the park.
Larry’s father sold their old house two weeks ago.
Anna’s mother bought her a car on her last birthday.
Where he lives is unknown to everyone.
2. PREDICATE
- is everything that is not part of the subject of the sentence
For example:
My sister is an accountant.
That man drives very carefully.
3. VERB
- is a word or group of words that says something about what the subject of the
sentence is doing, what is happening to the subject of the sentence, etc.
- two kinds of verbs: action and stative
For example:
He couldn’t pass this year’s University Entrance Exam. (action)
She looks gorgeous. (stative)
Dr. Thomas is my dentist. (stative)
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4. OBJECT
- receives the action or the state of the verb
- helps provide more information about the action or state being performed or
described in the sentence
- two kinds of objects: Direct and indirect
For example:
Please pass me (IO) the pencil (DO).
Her best friend gave her (IO) a doll (DO) on her birthday.
Her cousin is teaching her (IO) English (DO).
4.1. DIRECT OBJECT
- comes after an action or stative verb
- is the person or thing that is most directly affected by the action or state described
by the verb
For example:
He is watching a movie.
She’s found the key under the bed.
4.1. INDIRECT OBJECT
- receives the action of the verb indirectly
- comes before the direct object
- shows the person or thing that the direct object is given to or done for, etc.
For example:
She baked Mr. Smith (IO) a pie (DO).
Should I buy my daughter (IO) a bicycle (DO)?
The teacher gave the girl (IO) a book (DO).
5. COMPLEMENT
-
- is the word or group of words that says something about the subject or object of a
sentence
- two kinds of complement: Subject Complement (S.C) and Object Complement
(O.C)For example:
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She is a doctor (S.C).
He appears nervous (S.C) before the performance.
I call my dog (O) Lou (O.C).
5.1. SUBJECT COMPLEMENT
- comes after a linking verb
- is equivalent to the subject but renames it in different terms / describes the subject
For example:
My friend is a doctor.
Mike will remain the president of the company.
5.2. OBJECT COMPLEMENT
- completes or adds to the meaning of the direct object
- follows the object it equivalent to the subject but renames it in different terms /
describes the subject
-
- is used when the direct object would not make complete sense by itself
- answers the question "What?" after Direct Object
For example:
The country elected Mike president. (The country elected Mike what?)
The parents named the girl Sandy.
6. ADVERBIAL
- is a word / group of words that
✔ provides information about when, where, why, how, etc. to the action / state
described (adjunct)
✔ makes some comment about what is being said (disjunct)
✔ serves as a link between sentences (conjunct)
For example:
Adjunct: She sings beautifully.
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Disjunct: Fortunately, she didn’t hurt herself when she fell.
Conjunct: I missed the train. Therefore, I was late for my English class.
7. VOCATIVE
- is the word or group of words that is used to address someone or something
directly
For example:
Would you like a cup of tea, John?
Come here, my dear!
8. EXCLAMATION
- is the word or group of words that
✔ expresses strong emotion, such as surprise or pain or pleasure,
✔ is used to attract someone’s attention
For example:
Look, he is coming!
My goodness, this is a heavy box.