Theme: "Subject and predicate" begin to study from the second grade. But is it really that easy to understand? Can you easily answer the question of how subject and verb agree, or when a dash is placed between them? If not, read this article.
The main feature of any sentence is the presence of a grammatical basis, that is, a predicate and a subject or one of them.
In a sentence, the subject answers the question "what?" or who?" and can be expressed by a noun in the nominative case, as well as by another part of speech in the meaning of a noun.
The subject, which is the main member of the sentence, as well as the grammatical subject, denotes the character, though not always. For example, brush your hair.
Predicate (predicate) answers the questions "what to do?" or "what to do?" and is what the sentence says about the subject: a sign, action, quality of an object, its quantity or state.
The dash between the subject and the predicate is put in cases:
- if they are expressed by a numeral in the nominative case. Twice eight -sixteen;
- if one of the main members is expressed by an indefinite verb or a numeral, which is in the nominative case, and the second is expressed by a noun in the nominative case;
- if they are expressed by an indefinite verb. To teach a fool is not to spare a fist;
- if the subject and predicate are expressed by a noun in the nominative case. Paris is the capital
There is no dash between the predicate and the subject in the following cases:
- if the subject is expressed in a sentence by a personal pronoun: I am a lawyer.
- if the role of the predicate is played by an adjective: The child is fresh and clean, like an angel from heaven.
- if the predicate is preceded by a particle not, an introductory word or a comparative union: Money is not happiness. The sky is like a river. He seems to be the nicest person.
Dash is always put before the words: this, here, this is, which means that they attach the predicate to the subject: Speech is a mirror of the human soul. To love is to live for the beloved.
In an incomplete sentence, a dash can stand instead of a verbal predicate: The lake beckons us with its specularity, the sea with infinity, the river with speed.
Subject and verb agreement
- With a subject that is expressed by an adverb, particle, conjunction or interjection, the predicate is put in the singular: “Why?” most often heard in his speech.
- With a subject that is expressed by a combination of proper and common nouns,the predicate is agreed with the proper name: Secretary Sidorova brought a report to the leader.
- When the subject, which is expressed as a numeral, with a genitive noun, the predicate is used in the plural, if necessary, to emphasize the activity of each of the subjects (270 students from all district schools participated in the Olympiad), in the singular, if it is necessary to emphasize integrity subjects (27 students participated in the Olympiad).
- When pronouns nothing, that, something predicate, standing in the past tense put in the form of the neuter singular: Something big fell from the roof.
- With negative, interrogative, indefinite pronouns, someone, nobody, who put the predicate in the masculine singular: Someone in a white shirt entered the class.
- If the subject is expressed by collective nouns, for example, junk, kids, which denote many objects or persons as a whole, the predicate is used in the singular. Various junk hung in the closet.
- When the subject is expressed by a pronoun or a noun in the nominative case with a pronoun or a noun in the instrumental case, the predicate is put only in the plural: The teacher and the students spent all their free time together.
I think now you know how the subject and verb agree, and you can help your children with their studies. Good luck!
