Instructions: Read, study, and learn this lesson. Then do the exercise.  When you are satisfied that you understand the lesson, take the test.

1. The complete subject of a sentence is the part the verb refers to and can consist of one or more words.

2. The main word or word-group within the complete subject is called the simple subject.

Example: [Good] friends {usually} .have. /something/ {in common with each other}. 

3. The simple subject is marked with a single underline.  When marking the simple subject, consider compound nouns as one word:

Example: The [baseball] hall of fame .is. a [great] \place\ to visit.

How to Find the Subject of a Sentence

1. You must remember that even though both a noun and subject are marked with a single underline, they do not mean the same thing.

2. A noun can be found in both the subject and predicate parts of the sentence.

3. It is much easier to find the subject if you identify the verb first.

Example: The lights on this tree .are. green and red.

4. The verb in this sentence is .are.  Now ask yourself: Who or what are?  The answer is lights, so lights is the subject.  In the sentence “Across the street lies the Federal Building,” the verb is .lies.  Who or what lies?  The answer is the Federal Building; Federal Building is the subject.

Exercise, Lesson 27

Instructions: On a separate sheet of paper, mark the subject and verb in the following sentences. Mark each subject with a single underline and mark each verb with periods.

1. Pat took her car in to the service department this morning to have it repaired.

2. Charles has a doctor’s appointment at 3:00 PM this afternoon.

3. I have a gray cocktail named Toots, and he is 18 years old.

4. Our neighbors were having a party last night and they made lots of noise.

5. My husband’s family is from Mobile, Alabama.

6. Someone next door has a very bad cold because I could heard them coughing most of the night.

7. I have computer classes next week, so I’ll be able to do some shopping after school.

8. Mr. Ed Moore is an excellent computer instructor.

9. I have to leave now and make lunch for my coworkers.

10. You are never too old to learn something new.

Test, Lesson 27

Instructions: On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions.

1. What is the complete subject of a sentence?

2. What is the main word or word-group within the complete subject called?

3. How is the simple subject marked?

4. Do both the noun and subject mean the same thing?

5. How can you find the nouns in a sentence?

6. What is the easiest way to find the verb in a sentence?

7. To find the subject, what are the questions you ask after the verb?

Instructions: Mark the subject and verb in the following sentences. Mark each subject with a single underline and mark each verb with a period.

1. Pat took her car in to the service department this morning to have it serviced.

2. Bobby has a doctor’s appointment at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.

3. I have a grey cocktail named Toots, and he is 18 years old.

4. Our neighbors were having a party last night and they made lots of noise.

5. My husband’s family is from Mobile, Alabama.

6. Someone next door has a very bad cold because I could heard them coughing most of the night.

7. I have computer classes next week, so I’ll be able to do some shopping after school.

8. Mr. Ed Moore is an excellent computer instructor.

9. I have to leave now and make lunch for my coworkers.

10. You are never too old to learn something new.