Definitions
What is the definition of Subject?
The subject is what or who the sentence is about.
This is how a subject and predicate is diagrammed in a sentence.
A vertical line separates the subject and predicate.
The ducks waddle.
The ducks - Subject
Waddle - Predicate
Ethan, what are you doing?
Ethan - Vocative
You - Subject
are doing what - Predicate
He is a doctor
He - Subject
is - verb
a - adjective/article
doctor - predicate NOMINATIVE
What is the definition of Predicate?
The predicate includes the verb and every action that occurs to the subject.
This is how we diagram a direct object.
The direct object has a vertical line AFTER the verb on the predicate side.
The tired baby sleeps.
The baby - Subject (tired adjective)
Sleeps - predicate
I'd love to go!
I - subject
would love to go - predicate
MUST SEPARATE THE CONTRACTION!!!
The Duke was very proud.
The - Article/Adjective
Duke - Subject
was - Verb
Very - Adjective
Proud - Predicate ADJECTIVE
What is the definition of a direct object?
This is the direction of the line we use to diagram adjectives and adverbs.
The line always leans (diagonal) from the word it is describing on the horizontal line.
Where is Melissa?
Melissa - Subject
is where - predicate
They can't run home.
They - Subject
Can't run home - Predicate
DO NOT SEPARATE the Contraction!
The old teacher is Nigerian.
The, old - Adjectives
teacher - subject
is - verb
Nigerian - Predicate NOMINATIVE
What is the definition of an indirect object?
It is an object that precedes the direct object and tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done and who is receiving the direct object.
This is how we diagram the Vocative within a sentence.
A HORIZONTAL line ABOVE the original subject/s of the sentence.
Thomas Edison works diligently.
Thomas Edison - Subject
Works - Predicate Verb
diligently - adverb (predicate side)
Where are you going, Alfred?
Alfred - Vocative
You - Subject
are going where - Predicate
The new mother is extremely exhausted.
The, New - Adjectives
Mother - Subject
Is - Verb
Extremely - Adjective
Exhausted - Predicate ADJECTIVE
What is the definition of a VOCATIVE?
The person or group who is being directly spoken to within a sentence.
This is the purpose of diagramming sentences.
To better understand the parts of speech and how they work in a sentence?
Did the penguin fly?
The (article/adjective) Penguin - Subject
did fly - Predicate
He's not just kind, Ain, but caring.
Ain - Vocative
He - Subject
is not just kind but caring - Predicate
Predicate 1 - kind But Coordinating Conjunction
Predicate 2 - caring
She'll be a fine swimmer.
She - Subject
Will be - Verbs
a, fine - adjectives
swimmer - Predicate NOMINATIVE