Analysis of simple sentences
Break a simple sentence into subject, predicate and their parts.
Analysis means taking a sentence apart to see how each piece works. You already know nouns, verbs and adjectives; now you will see how they combine into the subject and predicate of a simple sentence.
To analyse a simple sentence is to divide it into its subject and predicate and then name the job of each part within them.
Examples
- The little puppy | chased the ball across the lawn.
- My uncle from Indore | sells spices.
- Arjun | seems happy today.
- A cool breeze | blew from the sea.
- Grandma | waters the tulsi plant every morning.
How it works
Subject and head word
The subject names who or what the sentence is about. Its main noun or pronoun is the head word, and the verb agrees with it.
The keys to the cupboard are missing.
Enlargement of the subject
Articles, adjectives, possessives and phrases that describe the head word together form the enlargement. Remove them and the sentence still stands.
Our new neighbour from Assam plays the guitar.
Object or complement
The predicate holds the finite verb. It may contain an object, which receives the action, or a complement, which completes verbs such as be, seem, become, look.
Rani became the captain.
Extension of the predicate
Words that tell how, when, where or why the action happens extend the predicate. They are usually adverbs or prepositional phrases.
The train left on time.
Quick reference
| Part | Words | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Subject (head word) | cricketers | who the sentence is about |
| Enlargement of subject | The, young, from Kanpur | describes the head word |
| Verb | practised | the finite verb of the predicate |
| Object / complement | none | practised needs no object here |
| Extension of predicate | hard, on the ground | tells how and where |
Common mistakes
✕The price of onions have gone up.
✓The price of onions has gone up.
The head word is price, so the verb is singular.
✕One of my friends live in Surat.
✓One of my friends lives in Surat.
The head word is one, which is singular.
✕In "Kiran looks tired", the word tired is the object.
✓In "Kiran looks tired", the word tired is the complement.
Looks is a linking verb here, so the word after it completes the sense rather than receiving an action.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the head word of the subject.
Our old neighbour grows roses.
✓neighbour
Neighbour is the main noun of the subject; our and old enlarge it.
Unlock practice for this lesson
- Quick check with 5 questions and solutions
- 7 interactive exercises, from easy to hard, checked as you go
- How to use this in your own writing
- Progress tracking and a certificate when you finish
Already Premium?
Practice
7 exercises in this lesson
Practice is part of Premium. Lesson 1 is free if you want to try the format first.