Definitions: Parts of a Sentence
What does the main verb do in a sentence?
It tells what is happening--the action.
Where does the subject go in a sentence?
The subject is the first noun or pronoun in a sentence (and the adjectives that come before it) that isn't part of a prepositional phrase. The subject comes before the main verb.
Identify the subject and the main verb:
Because of blood sugar problems, Rosa always eats before leaving for school.
Subject = Rosa
Main Verb = Eats
Identify the direct object, indirect object, and/or prepositional phrase:
Sylina hates spiders.
Direct Object = spiders
What is a transitive verb?
A transitive verb is a verb that needs a direct object to make a complete sentence. (Julio makes chairs.)
What does the subject do in a sentence?
It tells who or what is doing the action.
Where does the main verb go in a sentence?
Identify the subject and the main verb:
During cross-country practice, Damien runs over hills, through fields, across the river, and along the highway.
Subject = Damien
Main Verb = Runs
Identify the direct object, indirect object, and/or prepositional phrase:
After dinner, the family ordered a cake from the bakery.
Direct Object = cake
Prepositional Phrase = after dinner, from the bakery
What is an intransitive verb?
An intransitive verb is a verb that cannot have a direct object. An intransitive verb can only be followed by a noun if there is a preposition between the verb and the noun. (Julia talks. OR Julia talks with me.)
What parts of speech can you find in a prepositional phrase? What does a prepositional phrase do in a sentence?
A prepositional phrase is a preposition followed by a noun--sometimes there are adverbs and adjectives in between. A prepositional phrase gives more information about a noun or a verb.
Where does the direct object go in a sentence?
The direct object comes after the main verb (sometimes there are adjectives or adverbs in between).
Identify the subject and the main verb:
The judge sentences the man to five years in prison.
Subject = the judge
Main Verb = Sentences
Identify the direct object, indirect object, and/or prepositional phrase:
The speaker read the audience his speech and answered some questions.
Direct Object = speech, questions
Indirect Object = audience
Is the verb in this sentence transitive or intransitive? If the verb is transitive, what is the direct object?
I wrote the clerk a check for the groceries.
The verb "write" is a transitive verb in this sentence because it has a direct object. The direct object is "check".
What part of speech is a direct object? What does a direct object do in a sentence?
A direct object is always a noun or a pronoun. A direct object is the thing or person the verb is happening to (the receiver of the action).
Where does the indirect object go in a sentence?
The indirect object comes after the main verb and before the direct object.
Identify the subject and the main verb:
The defendant could not provide an alibi.
Subject = the defendant
Main Verb = could not provide
Identify the direct object, indirect object, and/or prepositional phrase:
If you would like, we can give Anh the tickets to tonight's game.
Direct Object = tickets
Indirect Object = Anh
Prepositional Phrase = to tonight's game
Is the verb in this sentence transitive or intransitive? If the verb is transitive, what is the direct object?
Isra paid 200 dollars to the mechanic to fix the squeaky brakes.
The verb "paid" is a transitive verb in this sentence because it has a direct object. The direct object is "dollars".
What part of speech is an indirect object? What does an indirect object do in a sentence?
An indirect object is always a noun or a pronoun. An indirect object is the person who gets the direct object (the receiver of the direct object).
Where does a prepositional phrase go in a sentence?
A prepositional phrase comes after the noun or the verb that it is giving more information about.
Identify the subject and the main verb:
In the spring, Vanessa is going to run her first marathon.
Subject = Vanessa
Main Verb = is going to run
Identify the direct object, indirect object, and/or prepositional phrase:
Oksana hates the vet because every time she has to pull her seventy-five pound German shepherd through the door.
Direct Object = vet, shepherd (dog)
Prepositional Phrase = through the door
Is the verb in this sentence transitive or intransitive? If the verb is transitive, what is the direct object?
Jim relaxed and read the whole day on the beach.
The verbs "relaxed" and "read" are intransitive verbs in this sentence because there are no direct objects for either verb. "The whole day" answers "when?" and is an adverb phrase. The direct object of "read" needs to answer "what did he read?". (Jim read a magazine. Here the verb is transitive because this sentence has a direct object.)