Name: _________________________

Subjects and Predicates

Subject – __________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Simple subject: Most wildlife biologists disapprove of crossbreeding wolves and dogs. (Just the noun.)

Complete subject: Most wildlife biologists disapprove of crossbreeding wolves and dogs. (The entire noun phrase.)

Compound subject: Most wildlife biologists and breeders disapprove of crossbreeding wolves and dogs. (Both nouns.)

For the following sentences, circle the simple subject and underline the complete subject.

1. Off the coast of Portugal, a truly unique power plant is starting to generate electricity.

2. Ocean waves are the source of energy.

3. Giant sausage-shaped generators float on the water, using its wave motion to create electricity.

4. A Norwegian energy company and a Scottish manufacturer combined resources to build generators.

5. The wave farm, consisting of about 30 generators, produces clean, renewable energy.

6. The system can generate plenty of energy.

7. Three generators can produce enough electricity to supply 1,500 homes.

8. For countries on oceans, renewable wave energy seems like the “wave” of the future.

Predicate – ________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Simple predicate – One giant squid measured nearly 60 feet long. (Just the verb.)

Complete predicate – One giant squid measured nearly 60 feet long. (The entire verb phrase.)

Compound predicate – One giant squid measured nearly 60 feet long and weighed 500 pounds. (Both verbs.)

For the following sentences, circle the simple predicate and underline the complete predicate.

1. A series of terrible earthquakes rattled the ground in the Mississippi Rive valley in the winter of 1811-1812.

2. The series of quakes are named after the town most affect by them, New Madrid, Missouri.

3. New Madrid lies on the Mississippi River at the confluence of southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and northwest Tennessee.

4. Few structures within 250 miles of the town escaped damage.

5. People as far away as Charleston, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. felt the tremors.

6. The quakes disrupted the bed of the Mississippi and changed its course in two places.

7. The strongest of the three quakes of the series are estimated to have measured at least 8.0 on the Richter scale.

8. The area was sparsely settled and so suffered few fatalities.

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Complete the following sentences by adding either the subject or the predicate.

1. The police officer ________________________________________________________________________________.

2. The rusty old car ________________________________________________________________________________.

3. The lady with the green dress ______________________________________________________________________.

4. ________________________________________________________________________ was singing a cheerful song.

5. ___________________________________________________________________________ made a creaking sound.

6. ___________________________________________________________________________ wouldn't eat her dinner.

Circle the complete subject and under the predicate for each of the following sentences.

1. The city gradually brightened as the sun rose above the horizon.

2. The soldier dove behind the brick wall when he heard the shot being fired.

3. Korea exports many cars and trucks to other nations.

4. Few people believed that the crazy new rocket design would actually work.

5. Sean suddenly burst into the room with the news.

6. Steven caused a lot of trouble for his teammates during the big game.

7. The emergency lights flickered on, just as Kenneth had predicted, when the power went out.

8. The empty swimming pool slowly filled with rain water.