Question

subjects & predicates
practice assignment
name:
date:
class:
directions: for each sentence below, circle the simple subject, box the simple predicate, and draw a vertical line between the complete subject and complete predicate. you may want to begin by crossing out any prepositional phrases and infinitives (remember...a subject and verb will never be in a prepositional phrase or an infinitive).

1. jeff pushed his sister sally off the twisty slide.
2. in a fit of anger, sally bit jeff on the knee.
3. their mother put them both in timeout and withheld their supper.
4. you should never fight with your siblings.
5. michael decided to go for a trail run in the woods.
6. while on the shady path, he tripped over a branch.
7. angry, he kicked the tree root and broke his big toe.
8. meanwhile, michael’s wife laughed at his crazy behavior.
9. jacob enjoys games that require his imagination.
10. a popular one is the dog on a boat activity.
11. in this scheme, jacob and elle pretend to combat great white sharks.
12. sometimes the sharks win; other times the dogs are victorious.
13. one time i bought ice cream cones to limit my scoop size.
14. that plan backfired.
15. i just ate multiple cones.

Explanation:

First, eliminate prepositional phrases/infinitives, then identify the simple subject (core noun/pronoun), simple predicate (core verb/verb phrase), and split complete subject/predicate with a vertical line.

Answer:

1. Complete split: Jeff | pushed his sister Sally off the twisty slide.

• Simple subject (circled): Jeff
• Simple predicate (boxed): pushed

1. Complete split: Sally | bit Jeff on the knee. (Cross out "In a fit of anger,")

• Simple subject (circled): Sally
• Simple predicate (boxed): bit

1. Complete split: Their mother | put them both in timeout and withheld their supper. (Cross out "in timeout")

• Simple subject (circled): mother
• Simple predicate (boxed): put; withheld

1. Complete split: You | should never fight with your siblings. (Cross out "with your siblings")

• Simple subject (circled): You
• Simple predicate (boxed): should fight

1. Complete split: Michael | decided to go for a trail run in the woods. (Cross out "to go for a trail run in the woods")

• Simple subject (circled): Michael
• Simple predicate (boxed): decided

1. Complete split: he | tripped over a branch. (Cross out "While on the shady path,", "over a branch")

• Simple subject (circled): he
• Simple predicate (boxed): tripped

1. Complete split: he | kicked the tree root and broke his big toe. (Cross out "Angry,", "the tree root", "his big toe")

• Simple subject (circled): he
• Simple predicate (boxed): kicked; broke

1. Complete split: Michael’s wife | laughed at his crazy behavior. (Cross out "Meanwhile,", "at his crazy behavior")

• Simple subject (circled): wife
• Simple predicate (boxed): laughed

1. Complete split: Jacob | enjoys games that require his imagination. (Cross out "games that require his imagination")

• Simple subject (circled): Jacob
• Simple predicate (boxed): enjoys

1. Complete split: A popular one | is the dog on a boat activity. (Cross out "on a boat")

• Simple subject (circled): one
• Simple predicate (boxed): is

1. Complete split: Jacob and Elle | pretend to combat great white sharks. (Cross out "In this scheme,", "to combat great white sharks")

• Simple subject (circled): Jacob; Elle
• Simple predicate (boxed): pretend

1. First clause split: the sharks | win; Second clause split: the dogs | are victorious. (Cross out "Sometimes", "other times")

• Simple subject (circled): sharks; dogs
• Simple predicate (boxed): win; are victorious

1. Complete split: I | bought ice cream cones to limit my scoop size. (Cross out "One time", "ice cream cones", "to limit my scoop size")

• Simple subject (circled): I
• Simple predicate (boxed): bought

1. Complete split: That plan | backfired.

• Simple subject (circled): plan
• Simple predicate (boxed): backfired

1. Complete split: I | just ate multiple cones. (Cross out "just", "multiple cones")

• Simple subject (circled): I
• Simple predicate (boxed): ate