Chapter 3

The Sentence

3.1 Subjects and Verbs

The subject of a sentence is the person or the thing the verb is asking or telling about. The subject may be a noun or a pronoun. Every sentence must have at least one subject and one verb and express a complete thought.

Example: The tourists have returned home. Subject = tourists.

To find the subject ask, “Who have returned home?” The answer, “The tourists,” is the subject.

Finding Subjects and Verbs

1. First, find the verb. Underline the auxiliary verb once and the main verb twice.

Fish swim.        They can play.

2. Then, find the noun or pronoun subject by asking who or what with the verb, Circle the subject.

What swim? swim.        Who can play? can play.The answer gives you the noun or pronoun ...

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