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 kinds of sentences that can cause confusion are those that begin with there and here and those that ask a question.

2. When the words there and here begin a sentence, they may seem to be the subject, but they are not.  The best way to find the subject is to use the who or what question after the verb.

Example: There are two people in the store. Who are? People .are. in the store?, Poeple

Who is. this man?   

A sentence that asks a question usually begins with words like what, when, where, how, and why.

Examples:

What is on your schedule today?
When did she come home?
Where is the fire?
How .can. I .help. you?
Why .is. he crying?

3. Questions may also begin with a verb or a helper verb.  In questions that begin with a helping verb, the subject always comes between the helping verb and the main verb.

Example: .Have. you .seen. my brother?

4. Another way to find the subject is to turn the question (q) into a statement (s), find the verb. and ask the question “who” or “what” in front of it.

Examples:

q: Were your parents at home?
s: Your parents were at home.
Who was at home?  Subject: Parents

q: Has Mr. Johnson finished his report?
s: Mr.  Johnson has finished his report.
Who has finished his report?  Subject: Mr. Johnson

q: Have they left for the day?
s: They have left for the day.
Who left for the day?  Subject: They

Exercise, Lesson 29

Instructions: On a separate sheet of paper, write the ten sentences and mark the subject and verb for each sentence.

1. There were three books left on the shelf.

2. Did you find our project folder?

3. Here is the report you were asking about.

4. Everyone arrived early.

5. Are there any new newspaper articles about the war?

6. Have you started writing your report?

7. Where are we going for dinner tonight?

8. Where do we deposit the mail?

9. Here is the last slice of cheesecake.

10. I saved it just for you.

Test, Lesson 29

Instructions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What two kinds of sentences can cause confusion?

2. When the words there and here begin a sentence, they may seem to be the subject, but they are not.  What is the best way to find the subject in this type of sentence?

3. In questions that begin with a helping verb, where is the subject of the sentence found?

4. What is another way to find the helping verb in a sentence?

Instructions: Write the ten sentences on your paper and mark the sentence:

1. There were three books left on the shelf.

2. Did you find our project folder?

3. Here is the report you were asking about.

4. Everyone arrived early.

5. Are there any new newspaper articles about the war?

6. Have you started writing your report?

7. Where are we going for dinner tonight?

8.  Where do we deposit the mail?

9. Here is the last slice of cheesecake.

10. I saved it just for you.