Level 2: Parts of the SentenceA.K.A. Handling COMPLEMENTSThe Magic Lensby Michael Clay Thompson

The SENTENCEA group of words that contains a SUBJECT and its PREDICATE, and makes a COMPLETE THOUGHT.

For Example: Ratrug and I put crayons on the radiator.

Etymology of SentenceThe word sentence comes from the Latin sententia, meaning way of thinking, or opinion.

That etymology is appropriate because a sentence is the structure with which we think about and communicate opinions and ideas.

Parts of the SentenceWhen we study the parts of the sentence, we are studying the structure itself.

Sentences do not occur in nature; they are thought, expressed.

Understanding how sentences are thoughts can give us clarity of sentence, clarity of paragraph, and clarity of thesis.

In order to say anything clearly, we must say two things . . . 1st: We must say what we are talking ABOUT.

2nd: We must say what we are saying ABOUT IT.

Each thought must have these two things!

The SENTENCE gives the mind a two-piece idea.The two pieces are:

Complete Thoughts, Complete SentencesCheck out these complete sentences. Notice how they express complete thoughts.1. I cant imagine why anyone would want to ride on top of a Zamboni.

2. Ludwig bought a genuine Zamboni just for that purpose.

3. Ludmilla melted the ice on purpose.

1. The SUBJECTThe SIMPLE SUBJECT is the noun or subject pronoun that the sentence is about.Example: EggworthyThe COMPLETE SUBJECT includes the simple subject and all its modifiers.Example: The excellent EggworthyThe COMPOUND SUBJECT is a double subject: more than one noun or pronoun used as the subject of the same clause.Example: The excellent Eggworthy and his assistant, Grusilda

2. The PREDICATEThe PREDICATE is the side of the sentence that says something about the subject.The SIMPLE PREDICATE is the verb.Example: Eggworthy scrambled.The COMPLETE PREDICATE is everything that is said about the subject.Example: Eggworthy scrambled the bowl of eggs for a ham, swiss, and eggplant omelet.The COMPOUND VERB may be taken by the subject of a sentence.Example: Eggworthy scrambled the bowl of eggs and flipped the bacon.

The SENTENCE and its COMPLEMENTSSpeeding down the grammar highway, the sentence is a flatbed truck carrying meaning to the reader. The VERBS are the wheels, and the SUBJECT is the driver.

Complements are the common, not-always-essential parts of the truck perhaps the odometer or the turn signals. These words are a little more important than the fuzzy dice some people hang from their rearview mirrors or bumper stickers declaring I stop at railroad tracks.

You can sometimes create a sentence without complements, but their presence is generally part of the driving (COMMUNICATING) experience.

3. Receiving the Action: Direct ObjectsA noun or object pronoun that receives the action of the action verb.Example: Griselda kissed the giant frog.When there is a direct object, we call the action verb TRANSITIVE.When the action verb does not act on a direct object, we call the action verb INTRANSITIVE.The direct object answers the question WHAT.

Direct Object PRACTICE!Read each sentence. Circle the subject-verb pair. Underline the direct object.

1. The defective X-Ray machine took strange pictures of the giant frog.

2. Legghorn hissed the secret word in the middle of the graduation ceremony.

3. Green marking pens draw naturally beautiful lines.

4. Leroys laser printer spurted ink all overhis favorite shirt.

S-AV-DOYou may be able to recognize direct objects more easily if you think of them as part of a pattern in the sentence structuresubject (S) action verb (AV) direct object (DO)For Example:machine took picturesLegghorn hissed wordpens draw linesprinter spurted ink

Of course, just to make your life a little bit harder . . . . . . a sentence can have more than one DO.Check out these examples:Algernon bought posters and books for his many admirers.Ratrug will buy a dozen doughnuts and a few slabs of cheesecake for her breakfast.Lochness sent spitballs and old socks flying across the room.Ludmilla bought orange juice, tuna, aspirin, and a coffee table.

4. Rare, but Sometimes There: Indirect ObjectsA noun or object pronoun that is indirectly affected by the action verb, and that is located between the action verb and the direct object. The structure is:S-AV-IO-DOIf there is an indirect object, there MUST be a direct object, so the action verb is transitive.

Indirect Object PRACTICE!Read each sentence. Circle the subject-verb pair. Underline the direct object once. Underline the indirect object twice.

Gruhilda will tell me the whole story tomorrow.Murgatroyd promises Lulu everything.As a grammarian, I should have given you better sample sentences.Ludmilla radioed Ludwig a tart message.The crooked politician, Polyphemus, offered Agnes a bribe for dropping out of the crazy campaign.

5. Finishing the Equation:Subject ComplementsA noun, subject pronoun, or adjective that is linked to the subject by a linking verb and tells more about the subject.A predicate nominative is a subject complement that is a noun or subject pronoun.A predicate adjective is a subject complement that is an adjective.

Subject Complement PRACTICE!Read each sentence. Circle the subject-verb pair. Underline the subject complement.

Nerdo is upset by the bankruptcy of the pocket protector manufacturer.Gruhilda was a cheerleader before the dog bite incident.Nasalhoff should have been head of the allergy committee.The little orange book will be sufficient for all of your firework information.It is I, the master of the universe.

The Logic of Sentence AnalysisFind the subject/predicate set.Is the verb ACTION or LINKING?If the verb is ACTION, thenDo NOT look for a subject complement.Look for a direct object.If you find a direct object, thenlook for an indirect object.If the verb is LINKING, thenDo not look for a direct object.Look for a subject complement.

Pop the Question: Locating the ComplementFlossie maintains the cleanest teeth in Texas.The ancient lawn gnome appeared worn and tired.Mildred will tell me the secret shortly.Sasquatch seemed soggy after his semi-final swim, so we gave him a towel.The babbling burglar told her everything.

Common Linking Verbs

Works CitedThompson, Michael Clay. The Magic Lens Volume 3 Teacher Manual. Unionville: Royal Fireworks Press, 2003.

Woods, Geraldine. English Grammar for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc., 2001.