Finding Subjects and Verbs

Along with a complete thought, the subject and the verb of a sentence are its primary components. The basic key to becoming an effective writer is to make certain that all three required components are in place for each sentence. To do that, recognizing subjects and verbs is necessary.

When we talk, we are not going to parse what we say and identify separate components of our speech; but if a person fails to include a subject, a verb, and a complete thought when talking, someone is bound to ask, “Huh? What, a wave? What happened?”

Because any given sentence may include several nouns and verbs, difficulties can occur when identifying which words are the actual subject and accompanying verb.

First, ask what the sentence is really about—the person, place, object or idea—in order to identify the subject. Then ask what is happening to that subject or what the subject is doing in order to identify the verb. Cross out all the other words, which may be dependent clauses, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, etc., which are used to add information. When all else is removed, what remains is the subject and verb. Together they should express a complete, if somewhat limited, thought.

I’ll place in parentheses the extra words in the next sentence:

(Even when the weather was not as sunny and warm as usual,) I went (to the beach to enjoy the sound of the waves.)

The subject "I" and the verb "went" are all that is left. While it is not always perfectly easy or simple to determine the subject and verb of a sentence, doing so can prevent fragments from appearing when the writer intends to compose a complete sentence.

Sunny days and great essays, that’s the main idea!

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. ‘Til then, hang ten!