Definitions
sentence
A group of words that expresses a complete thought. It must have a subject and a predicate.
simple subject
the noun or pronoun that tells who or what the sentence is about.
complete predicate
includes the verb (simple predicate) and all the words that go with it to tell about the subject
subject
tells who or what the subject is about.
complete subject
the simple subject and all the words that modify the simple subject.
predicate
the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is
skeleton
The simple subject and simple predicate together
three examples of prepositions
above
across
after
around
at
before
behind
below
beside
between
by
down
for
from
in
inside
into
near
of
off
on
over
to
toward
under
up
upon
with
fragment
a group of words that does not express a complete thought
prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that includes a preposition and the object of the preposition.
simple predicate
the verb or verb phrase in the sentence. The simple predicate is the most important part of the predicate.
helping verb
a verb that precedes the main verb in a sentence and supports it by adding grammatical information such as tense, mood, or voice. The most common helping verbs are be, do, can, should, would, may, and have.
direct object
a word or phrase that receives the action of the verb. It answers "whom?" or "what?" in regards to the verb.