Simple Sentences

We have learned that a Simple Sentence is a set of words which makes complete meaning.

We also have learned that a Simple Sentence has two main parts- the Subject and the Predicate.

The Subject denotes the person or thing about which something is said.

The Predicate is what is said about the person or thing denoted by the Subject.

Examples-1:

• Dogs bark.

In this sentence, the Subject is a single word-‘dog’.

The Predicate is also a single word ‘bark’.

Example-2:

• The hour to prepare the lessons has arrived.

In this sentence, the Subject is a group of words ‘The hour to prepare lessons’.

The Predicate is also a set of words ‘has arrived’.

So the Subject may be a single word as in the Example-1 or may be a set of words as in the Example-2.

So the Predicate also may be a single word as in the Example-1 and may be a set of words as in the Example-2.

Examples:

You can find the Subjects and the Predicates in the following sentences.

• Stone walls do not make a prison.

• We heard a barking sound.

• No man can serve two masters.

• All matter is destructible.

• The cackling of geese saved Rome.

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Few sentences may have a set of words as the subject. The main subject may be qualified by an adjective.

Such an adjective is called ATTRIBUTE.

• The brooms sweep clean.
In this sentence, the subject is ‘the brooms’.

• The new brooms sweep clean.
In this sentence, an adjective ‘new’ has been added to give an attribute to the subject.

In the following sentences, the attributes are colored blue.

• Barking dogs seldom bite.

• My views are quite different.

• The Poet, Goners wrote the Shahs nook.

• The burnt child dreads the fire.

• Ill habits gather by unseen degree.

Sometimes, the verb in the predicate is an intransitive verb of incomplete Predication.

That means such a verb will require a noun or an adjective or a pronoun to make the predicate complete.

• The baby seems happy.

In the sentence, the part ‘The baby seems” does not make the sentence complete one.

In order to make the sentences complete one, the verb requires an adjective ‘happy’.

Only with the adjective, the whole sentence becomes a complete one.

Such a complement of an intransitive verb serves to describe the Subject and is therefore called SUBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT.

Examples:

In the following sentences the Subjective Complements are colored blue.

• The sky grew dark.

• The building is in a dilapidated condition.

• The house is to let.

• The man seems worried.

• Venus is a planet.

Sometimes When the Verb in the Predicate is a transitive verb, that verb may take two objects.

1. A direct Object

2. An indirect object

Look at this sentence.

• He eats.

In this sentence which is complete one, there is no object at all.

• He eats bread.

In this sentence, the verb takes object ‘bread’. The object is “bread”.

• He teaches us English.

In this sentence, the verb take two objects ‘us’ and ‘English’.

The Direct object is ‘us’ whereas the Indirect object is ‘English’.

Examples:

The following sentences have two objects (direct and indirect objects).

• My father bought me doll.

• I promised him a dinner.

• He gave us his car.

• They taught us how to swim.

Subject and Verb Agreement

Basic Rule.	The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
	Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.
	Example:	talks, talk Which one is the singular form? Which word would you use with he? We say, “He talks.” Therefore, talks is singular. We say, “They talk.” Therefore, talk is plural.

 

Rule 1. Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.   Example: My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.

 

Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb as in Rule 1.   Examples: Neither Juan nor Carmen is available. Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.

 

Rule 3. When I is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it second and follow it with the singular verb am.   Example: Neither she nor I am going to the festival.

 

Rule 4. When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.   Example: The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.

 

Rule 5. When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.   Example: Neither Jenny nor the others are available.

 

Rule 6. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.   Example: A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

 

Rule 7. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.   Examples: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly. Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

 

Rule 8. The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.   Examples: Each of the girls sings well. Every one of the cakes is gone. NOTE: Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every one is two words when the meaning is each one.

 

Rule 9. With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, and so forth —look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.   Examples: Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared. Pie is the object of the preposition of. Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared. Pies is the object of the preposition. One-third of the city is unemployed. One-third of the people are unemployed. NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions. All of the pie is gone. All of the pies are gone. Some of the pie is missing. Some of the pies are missing.     None of the garbage was picked up.     None of the sentences were punctuated correctly.     Of all her books, none have sold as well as the first one.