Sentences and Clauses: Parts of a Sentence

All sentences share several key parts, and by understanding these key parts you will improve your writing and use words more effectively to convey meaning.

Subject

The simple subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. For example:

I walk.

In this sentence, the subject is I. The information provided in the sentence relates back to I. There is also something called a complete subject, which includes all the information that comes before the predicate, such as prepositional phrases; however, in this sentence I is the complete subject because no other information is given.

Predicate

The simple predicate consists of the verb or verb phrase that somehow describes the subject. For example:

I walk.

In this sentence, we already established that I is the subject. Now we know that walk is the predicate. There is also something called a complete predicate, which includes the entire phrase “walk the dog.”

Predicate Nominatives

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that comes after an auxiliary verb and renames the subject of the sentence. For example:

Sylvia Plath is a poet.

In this sentence, Sylvia Plath is the subject, the auxiliary verb is makes up the simple predicate and poet is the predicate nominative because it renames the subject.

Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is an adjective that comes after an auxiliary verb and describes the subject of the sentence. For example:

Sylvia Plath is a famous poet.

In this sentence, Sylvia Plath is the subject, the auxiliary verb is makes up the simple predicate, poet is the predicative nominative, and because famous describes the subject, it is the predicative adjective.

Objects

In addition to the simple subject, other nouns exist in sentences known as objects.

Direct Object

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb. For example:

I walk the dog.

In this sentence, dog is direct object because the dog is what is being walked by “I”. It should be noted that the direct object is never located at the end of a prepositional phrase. Nouns in prepositional phrases are known as prepositional objects.

Indirect Object

The indirect object is a noun or pronoun that follows the action verb before the direct object. It names the noun or pronoun that something is done for, or given to. For example:

The teacher taught the students mathematics.

In this sentence, the studnets is the indirect object because the action is done for the students.

Objective Complements

An objective complement is a noun, group of words acting like a noun, or an adjective that renames the direct object. For example:

I walk the dog Rover.

In this sentence, Rover is the objective compliment because it renames the direct object dog.

Phrases

A group of words in a sentence without a subject or verb is known as a phrase. There are four main types of phrases.

Prepositional Phrases

A group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun is known as a prepositional phrase. Every prepositional phrase has an object, the noun the preposition relates to. Prepositional phrases act as either adjectives or nouns within a sentence.

Adjectival phrases modify a noun or pronoun by answering the question “what kind?” or “which one?” For example:

Sylvia Plath is a poet with fame.

In this sentence, the prepositional phrase “with fame” modifies the noun poet.

Adverbial phrases modify a verb, adverb or adjective by showing where, in what fashion, to what extent, or when something occurs. For example:

The hero was afraid of nothing.

In this sentence, the phrase “of nothing” modifies the verb was by explaining in what fashion the action occurred.

Participial Phrases

A participial phrase is a participle, either present or past, that is modified by an adverb or has a complement. For example:

Writing passionately, Sylvia Plath became a famous poet.

In this sentence, writing passionately acts as an adjective describing Sylvia Plath, making it a participal phrase.

Gerund Phrases

A gerund phrase is a phrase that contains a verb that is functioning as a noun. Gerunds always end in -ing For example:

Writing was my favorite subject.

Writer’s block makes efficient writing a difficult activity.

In both sentences, writing is the gerund. As shown, a gerund can occur in any part of the sentence. The second sentence exemplifies a gerund phrase by including an adjective with the gerund.

Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive verb is a verb that comes after the word to and functions as a noun, adverb or adjective within the sentence. An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive verb with modifiers. For example:

To write without getting distracted was a challenge for me.

In this sentence, to write without getting distracted acts as an infinitive phrase.

It should be noted that there are some exceptions regarding infinitive phrases starting with "to". Some verbs, such as dare, help, make, see, hear, let, please, and watch will omit the to when used in an infinitive phrase. For example:

I dare not go without permission!

In this sentence, go without permission is an infinitive phrase.

Appositive Phrases

An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed after another noun or pronoun that somehow renames the first noun or pronoun. For example:

My greatest feature, wits, is a lovely gift.

In this sentence, wits modifies the first noun, feature. It should be noted that the appositive is set off with commas because the information it provides is not essential to the sentence structure.

An appositive phrase can occur as well when the appositive is accompanied by modifiers. For example:

My greatest feature, outstanding wits, is a lovely gift.

In this sentence, outstanding wits acts as an appositive phrase. It should be noted that the appositive phrase is set off with commas because the information it provides is not essential to the sentence.