English 7 · Grammar · U4-L6
Every sentence has two halves. One says who or what it is about, the other says something about it. Finding the line between them is the whole skill.
Not started yet.
Every sentence splits into two parts. The complete subject is all the words that tell who or what the sentence is about. The complete predicate is all the words that tell what that subject does, or what is true about it.
Almost everything later in this unit depends on being able to see those two halves. Simple subjects, compound subjects and finding the subject in an unusual sentence are all this same skill, narrowed down.
Stopping the subject too early. A student marks the first noun and leaves the rest behind, so The old floorboards near the register becomes The old floorboards. Ask them which floorboards, and they usually fix it themselves.
Green is the complete subject. Orange is the complete predicate. The line is where one ends and the other begins.
The man behind the paint counterhas already mixed nine cans of paint.
Customers waiting nearbywatch as he carefully matches each color.
A woman in a green jacketis comparing two different door handles.
Her young sonspins the rack of keys while he waits for her to decide.
The old floorboards near the registercreak every time someone walks across them.
The workers at the storehave heard those squeaky boards for years.
The busy hardware storehas helped dozens of customers find what they need by the time noon arrives.
There are seven sentences. Place the line where the complete subject ends and the complete predicate starts, then check it.
There are five sentences, already divided. One half is shaded. Say which half it is.
Now do it on paper. Writing the sentences out yourself is where this really sticks.
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