Parts of a Sentence

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. The word groups below do not express a complete thought:

  • Connecticut.
  • Became a state in 1788.
  • Fifty states.
  • Make the United States.

While we often hear such groups of words in conversation, they are not sentences. They do not express a complete thought. However, we can combine the word groups above to make the following complete sentences:

  • Connecticut became a state in 1788.
  • Fifty states make the United States.

Two Parts of a Sentence

A sentence has two parts, (1) the subject and (2) the predicate. Both parts are necessary to make a complete sentence.

Subject Part

The subject of a sentence tells whom or what the sentence is about. Subjects are underlined below.

  • Connecticut became a state in 1788.
  • Fifty states make the United States.

Predicate Part

The predicate of a sentence tells what the subject does, is, or is like. Predicates are underlined below.

  • Connecticut became a state in 1788.
  • Fifty states make the United States.

Examples 1

1. Write the subject of this sentence:

My sister visited New Hampshire last summer.

2. Write the predicate of this sentence:

The United States bought Alaska from Russia.

Solutions

  1. We write, "My sister," for it is the subject of the sentence; it tells who visited New Hampshire.
  2. We write, "bought Alaska from Russia," for it is the predicate of the sentence; it tells what the United States did.

Examples 2

Show that you recognize the two parts of a sentence. Rewrite the sentences below. Then, draw a vertical line between the subject and the predicate of each sentence.

  1. My large, colorful map shows all fifty states.
  2. The President lives at the White House.
  3. Two sneaky pirates hid their treasure in a cave.
  4. Many grizzly bears live in national parks.
  5. My sister saw a black bear in the forest.
  6. Two bear cubs slept in their den.
  7. A polar bear can swim.
  8. Giant pandas eat bamboo.
  9. An angry bear bares its teeth.
  10. Some bears hibernate until spring.
  11. The sloth bear eats termites.

Solutions

We rewrite the sentences and draw vertical lines between the subjects and predicates:

  1. My large, colorful map/shows all fifty states.
  2. The President/lives at the White House
  3. Two sneaky pirates/hid their treasure in a cave.
  4. Many grizzly bears/live in national parks.
  5. My sister/saw a black bear in the forest.
  6. Two bear cubs/slept in their den.
  7. A polar bear/can swim.
  8. Giant pandas/eat bamboo.
  9. An angry bear/bares its teeth.
  10. Some bears/hibernate until spring.
  11. The sloth bear/eats termites.