Sentence Parts

What are the Parts of the Sentence?

Within a sentence, there are three main parts that make up a sentence: the subject, the verb, and the complement.

1. Subject. The subject is either a noun or pronoun and answers the question "Who?" or “What?" before the verb. The subject performs action, receives action, or is in the state of being.
   

   Ex: Jamie plays soccer

2. Verb: The verb indicates whether the subject performs action, receives action or is in a state of being. The verb may include helping words called auxiliaries.
   

   Ex: The bus stopped for us.
   (subject performs action.)

   Ex: Diane was paid for her car.
   (subject receives action.)

   Ex: The grocery list is on the table.
   (subject is in the state of being.)

   Note: Any form of the verb be indicates the state of being when used alone (is, am are, was, were).

   Note: The verb usually comes after the subject, but in some cases it precedes the subject. This occurs when a question is asked or when a sentence begins with there or where.

3. Complement. Many sentences also contain a complement, which completes the meaning of the sentence and answers the questions "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb.
   

   Ex: The fire has destroyed the house.
                                                            (what?)

   Ex: The new vice president is Michael Gates.
                                                            (whom?)

There are Three Types of Complements: the Direct Object, the Predicate Nominative, and the Predicate Adjective.

• A direct object is a noun or pronoun that completes the meaning of the sentence and answers "Whom?" or "What?" after the verb. It receives the action of the verb; it never refers back to the subject. It can only occur when the verb indicates action.
  

  Ex: Jeremy hit the ball.
                                  (what?)

• A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that completes the meaning of a sentence and answers "Whom?" or "What?" after the verb. It refers back to and renames the subject; it does not receive the action of the verb. It can only occur when the verb indicates state of being.
  

  Ex: Jeremy is my teacher.
                              (who?) (what?)

• A predicate adjective completes the meaning of a sentence and answers "What?" after the verb. It refers back to and describes the subject; it does not receive the action of the verb. It can only occur when the verb indicates state of being.
  

  Ex: Jeremy is smart.
                          (what?)

Remember: Within a sentence, there are three main parts that make up a sentence: the subject, the verb, and the complement.