Elements of a Sentence

Elements of a Sentence Subject Verb Object Complement Adverbial

Subject:

• He is smart.• A group of boys is making noise in the veranda.• The doctors and the nurses are off this week.• The doctor, as well as the nurses, is off this week.• The founder and CEO of the company (is are) on leave today.• A clean driving license, the ability to operate under pressure, and 5 years' experience in marketing, are the only criteria stipulated by the selection panel.• Under no circumstances should we accept these terms.• Are you ready?• There are six rooms in this house.• Traveling is the best source for learning.

Object:

Objects are typically noun phrases (a noun or pronoun and any dependent words

before or after it). Objects normally follow the verb in a clause:

Direct objects

• A direct object shows who or what the action of the verb affects:

• That computer hasn’t got a mouse.• Nobody writes letters these days.Indirect objects • An indirect object is usually a person or an animal. The indirect object (underlined) receives or is affected by the direct object (in bold). An indirect object always needs a direct object with it and always comes before the direct

object:

• She gave the dog its dinner.• Do I owe you some money?Transitive verbs (Vt) need an object to complete their meaning. Intransitive verbs (Vi) do not take an object. Some verbs need both a direct object and an indirect object.Some verbs can take a wh-clause or a that-clause as an object.He killed a snake.She smiled.I gave him a gift.He said that life is a bubble.She normally prefers what others don’t.

Complement:

A complement is a part of a clause that usually follows the verb in English and adds more information about the subject or object

Subject Complement:

• A subject complement gives us more information about the subject. It usually comes after linking verbs and sense verbs (including be, seem, smell, taste), and after change of state verbs (including go, get, become) • Subject complements can be adjective phrases, noun phrases, adverb phrases

or prepositional phrases:

• That rice tastes quite sweet. (subject + adjective phrase) • It seems a long time since this morning. (subject + noun phrase) Pronouns as subject complements

• When we use a pronoun as a subject complement after be, we usually use an

object pronoun (e.g. me, him, us):

• The dog barked before we even came to the door. He knew it was us.

Object Complement:

• An object complement is a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective that follows a direct object to rename it or state what it has become.• Verbs of making (e.g., "to make," "to create") or naming (e.g., "to name," "to call," "to elect") often attract an object complement.• To make her happy • To name her Heidi • I found the guard sleeping.• We all consider her unworthy.• I declare this center open.• We consider fish spoiled once it smells like what it is.

Adverbials:

An adverbial answers the questions why, how, where, and when about the verb.An old man walked slowly to the market to buy food items. He left quite early to be in time. He lives in a small town in Islamabad. His son arrived at the airport on 25 June 2020.

Note: Date in a computer is written in American pattern (month—day—year)

June 25, 2020.The Object of the Preposition The cat is looking at the fish.She is thinking about your idea.The wall collapsed

• Subject -- Verb
• Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• Subject -- Verb -- Indirect Object -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- (Adjunct)
• During the war, many people lost their homes
• Subject -- Verb
• Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• Subject -- Verb -- Indirect Object -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- (Adjunct)

• I promised the children a trip to the zoo
• Subject -- Verb
• Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• Subject -- Verb -- Indirect Object -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- (Adjunct)
• When he was 12, David moved to London
• Subject -- Verb
• Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• Subject -- Verb -- Indirect Object -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- (Adjunct)
• Paul hired a bicycle
• Subject -- Verb
• Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• Subject -- Verb -- Indirect Object -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object
• (Adjunct) -- Subject -- Verb -- (Adjunct)

Discuss the elements of the following sentences.

• Being fed up with multiple exams every month, he decided to switch to

the annual system.

• The grapes seemed ripe.
• Ironically, the judiciary was lamenting about corrupt judicial system.
• Criticizing government’s policies is not allowed in some countries.
• Charity begins at home.
• When a cat senses danger, it attacks.
• They made him the boss.
• Playing on Astroturf needs a lot of skill.
• In the afternoon the snow pelted Raymond on his little bald head.
• Little Jane bounced the rubber ball in the hallway and bedroom.