Basics of Grammar

Parts of Sentence:
Sentences are created by parts of speech. A sentence at its raw form can contain only a noun and a verb:

Asif(n) died(vb).

Or a sentence can contain several or all of the parts of speech.

As we have seen, some words can function as several different parts of speech.

It is imperative to understand the seven parts of speech. Not only they are the foundation of grammar and usage, but also they are the key to understanding specific errors on the test. You can review each part of speech now, or refer back to those pages as you encounter specific errors in the following chapters.

The Subject and the Predicate:
A sentence can be divided into to parts: a subject and a predicate.
Subject(subj) – the part of the sentence that contains the word or phrase which performs the action of the verb in the sentence. The subject is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase and names whom or what the sentence is about.

Predicate(pred) – the part of the sentence that contains the verb as well as the objects and phrases controlled by the verb.

All sentences must have both a subject and a predicate. The subject can be simple, containing only a noun or pronoun:

Bilal(subj)           |           won the race(pred).

Or the subject can be more complex:

Bilal, the boy who had spent a year on training(subj)           |           won the race(pred).

The complete subject of this sentence is Bilal, the boy who had spent a year on training. On exams like this, you’ll usually only need to locate the simple subject, which is the main noun or pronoun with its modifiers removed. The simple subject of the sentence in the example is simply Bilal.

Bilal and Imran(subj)           |           ran in the race(pred).

In this sentence, Bilal and Imran is a compound subject.

To find the subject, find the verb and ask yourself “who or what [insert verb]?”

The little girl waved to the crowd.

Who waved? The little girl
Simple subject? girl

The little girl(subj)           |           waved to the crowd(pred).

Predicates can also be simple:

The little boy(subj)           |           pouted(pred).

Or more complex:

The little boy(subj)           |           pouted about the split milk(pred).

A simple predicate contains just the verb, verb phrase, or compound verb. In the previous sentence, the simple predicate is pouted.

A complex predicate formed when two or more verbs are performed by the same subject:

The little boy(subj)           |           pouted about the split milk(pred) and cried in the corner(pred).

In this sentence, the little boy completed two actions: pouted about the split milk and cried in the corner. The sentence also has a simple compound predicate: pouted and cried.

Inverted sentences

These sentences exist when a predicate come before its subject:

At the end of the movie are the credits.

Inversion can be dangerous to the novice test taker who is searching for the subject. Many students are tempted to choose end or movie as the subject. However, if this sentence were rearranged, the subject is more obvious:

The credits(subj)           |           are at the end of the movie(pred).

Inverted sentences often (but not always) begin with words here or there:

There were eight people in the office.

Rearranged:

Eight people(subj)           |           were in the office(pred).

Inversion also comes with a split predicate, in which part of the predicate comes after the subject and other part comes before the subject. Authors might split a predicate to add variety to their writing:

At the height of its popularity, the TV show went off the air.

The beginning clause at the height of its popularity is actually a part of the predicate:

The TV show(subj)           |           went off the air at the height of its popularity(pred).

Look at one more example of a split predicate:

In 2005, despite my recent knee surgery, I ran a marathon.

The previous sentence creates more drama than its rearranged counterpart:

I(subj)           |           ran a marathon in 2005 despite my recent knee surgery(pred).

Locating the subject of a sentence and its predicate verb is an important skill on such exams which we will discuss in more detail later on.

Direct and Indirect Objects:

Many predicates contain a direct object or indirect object.

Direct Object(do.)

The noun or pronoun in the predicate that receives the action of the verb.

Indirect Object(io.)

The noun or pronoun in the predicate that is indirectly affected by the verb.

While the subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action, the direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action.

Bilal(subj)           |           hit(vb) th all(do) out of the park.

Who hit? Bilal. Bilala is the subject. But what received the action? i.e what was hit? The ball. Ball is the direct object.

To locate the direct object, ask “What was [insert verb]?” Look at another example and ask yourself, “what was found?”

Imran found the keys(do.) in the backyard.

Sentences may also have an indirect object:

Mom(subj)           |           gave(vb) me(io) my allowance(do).

Who gave? Mom. Mom is the subject. What was given? The allowance. Allowance is the direct object. But what about the word me? Me cannot be the direct object because Mom did not give me, rather she give allowance.

In short, direct object is that object which is directly related to the verb, as allowance is directly related to gave; While indirect object is that object which is not directly related to the verb, as me is not directly related to gave, there is a gap between gave and me. And that gap fills by the direct object. In other words, if you are confused with which one should be direct object and which one is indirect object, just eliminate that object and see whether the sentence makes sense, if it does it means it’s a direct object which directly relates to the verb. If the sentence doesn’t make sense and requires something that need to fill the gap between verb and the object, then that object is indirect object.

For instance from above example, if you are confused which one is direct object, just eliminate one object, for instance if we eliminate ‘me’:

Mom           |           gave my allowance.

This sentence makes sense and stands alone; you don’t feel anything as gap, so my allowance is direct object.

On contrary, if we eliminate ‘my allowance’:

Mom           |           gave me.

Well, she gave me what? It doesn’t make sense and it creates a gap between game and me, i.e what thing was given, me? or something else?

Similarly look at few examples and spot direct object and indirect object:

1.   The agent sold Mrs. Shahzad the house by the lake.

2.   The city raised the speed limit by 15 miles per hour after conducting a traffic study.

3.   Bilal sent his mother flowers on her birthday.

4.   Upon her death, the lonely old woman left her gardener her entire estate, causing the neighbors to speculate on their relationship.

5.   While the catcher chased the overthrown ball, one runner easily stole third base and another scored.

6.   As a homework assignment, each student in the school wrote the governor a letter about the loss of the statewide music program.

Solution:

1.   The agent sold Mrs. Shahzad(io) the house(do) by the lake.

2.   The city raised the speed limit(do) by 15 miles per hour after conducting a traffic study.
   (there is no indirect object in this sentence, because object must be noun or pronoun)

3.   Bilal sent his mother(io) flowers(do) on her birthday.

4.   Upon her death, the lonely old woman left her gardener(io) her entire estate(do), causing the neighbors to speculate on their relationship.

5.   While the catcher chased the overthrown ball(do), one runner easily stole third base(do) and another scored.

6.   As a homework assignment, each student in the school wrote the governor(io) a letter(do) about the loss of the statewide music program.