JS Tip 531: The Grammar Series, Part II
We promised a series on language basics and grammar.
Last week, we talked about the frustrations—but also the need—for grammar.
This week, we’ll go deeper into the woods. Wow. Spooky.
Grammar begins with two concepts: One, the parts of a sentence, and two, the parts of speech. Separate, but related.
We’ll start with the parts of a sentence. Four parts (easy) with some smaller parts (relatively easy).
Today we’ll talk about one of the two most important parts: the subject. (The other important part is the predicate. We’ll talk about that next week.)
So here it goes: The subject of a sentence is the word or words the sentence is about.
For example: “My friend Amy is a master carpenter.”
The sentence is about my friend Amy. So “My friend Amy” is the subject of the sentence.
The simple subject is “Amy” (the key word in the subject).
The complete subject is “My friend Amy” (the key word and its modifiers, its “describers”).
A Brutal Test
Identify the subjects—simple and complete—in these sentences:
In 1980, a workers’ union in the Gdansk shipyard in Poland went on strike.
The communist government tried to disrupt the strike by declaring martial law.
Eventually, the regime was forced to negotiate with the union.
The Ready Answers
Simple subject: “union.” Complete subject: “a workers’ union in the Gdansk shipyard in Poland.” (The complete subject is considerably longer than the simple subject. That’s okay. It happens sometimes.)
Simple subject: “government.” Complete subject: “The communist government.”
Simple subject: “regime.” Complete subject: “the regime.”
How’d you do? You probably maxxed it.
If you have questions, let us know. We love this stuff.
Next week: Predicates.