Select the complete subject in each sentence.

People have studied dolphins for years. *

⭕ people

⭕ have studied dolphins for years

⭕ have

⭕ dolphins

 

The ancient Greeks drew pictures of dolphins.

1. MAKE SURE EVERY SENTENCE HAS A SUBJECT AND A VERB.

1. Joe works at a bank.

The verb, works, tells what kind of action the subject, Joe, takes.

Another way to identify the verb is to test if it can be changed to past, present, and future tenses. Joe worked at a bank (past tense). Joe will work at a bank (future tense).

EXERCISE

In each of the following complete sentences, draw one line under the subject and two lines under the verb.

1. 1. Ozone levels are decreasing over the north pole.

1. A pickle lies neglected in the refrigerator.

1. Many people read best-selling novels during the summer.

1. The dictionary provides writers with useful information.

1. Exercise improves one's health.
   1. MAKE SURE EVERY SENTENCE HAS A SUBJECT AND A VERB.

    

   1. Joe works at a bank.

    

   The verb, works, tells what kind of action the subject, Joe, takes.

   Another way to identify the verb is to test if it can be changed to past, present, and future tenses. Joe worked at a bank (past tense). Joe will work at a bank (future tense).

   EXERCISE

   In each of the following complete sentences, draw one line under the subject and two lines under the verb.

   1. 1. Ozone levels are decreasing over the north pole.

    

   1. A pickle lies neglected in the refrigerator.

    

   1. Many people read best-selling novels during the summer.

    

   1. The dictionary provides writers with useful information.

    

   1. Exercise improves one's health.

Complex Sentences and Subordinate Clauses

A complex sentence has a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. A main clause has a subject and a predicate, and it can stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate clause also has a subject and a predicate, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence. It depends on the main clause to complete its meaning. It can act as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun.

MAIN CLAUSE                                                          SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

They are playing music                                             that I like to hear. (adjective)                              

We must stop skating                                               when the music stops. (adverb)

I will tell you                                                            what happened at the rink. (noun)

Write in the blank simple or complex to identify the type of sentence.

   complex            February 2, which is the midpoint of winter, is an unusual holiday.

__________   1. It is Groundhog Day and is celebrated all over the country.

__________   2. The groundhog, which is actually a woodchuck, emerges from hibernation on that day.

__________   3. If the groundhog sees it shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather.

__________   4. After the groundhog sees it shadow, it returns to its burrow until spring.

__________   5. If the day is cloudy and the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will come early.

__________   6. The groundhog stays outside because it expects spring.

__________   7. People enjoy this customer although most do not believe in it.

__________   8. Statistical evidence does not support this popular superstition.

__________   9. The groundhog that most people watch for is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

__________   10. Its name is Phil, probably from the word fillip, which means "anything that stirs or liven up."

__________   11. About seven thousand townspeople gather on February 2 and watch for the famous groundhog.

WATCH OUT FOR "ING" WORDS. NO WORD ENDING IN "ING" CAN EVER BE THE COMPLETE VERB OF A SENTENCE.

The following examples are fragments:

1. Sitting on the bench feeding the pigeons.

1. Wondering about his future.

1. The woman running down the street.

1. Was calling his friends, rounding them up, and handing out tickets for the game.

None of the above is a complete sentence. However, each can be completed by adding a subject and/or verb. Don't be fooled by length. There is much action in the last example, but we don't know who is doing all of it.