Simple Sentences

Simple sentences are independent clauses.

They contain a subject and a predicate.

(Part 5)

Rule 5: Simple sentences can have a compound subject.    e.g: Simon and Garfunkel recorded an album that year. (compound             subject)           America’s best known novelists, journalists, and editors attended a           conference in New York last week. (compound subject)           Yellow-throated warblers, red-breasted robins, and flightless rails             Were pictured in her new bird identification guide.            (compound subject; nouns separated by modifiers)

Exercise D. Identify the subject and predicate in these simple sentences.

Circle the nouns in the subject and underline the simple predicate.

1. You and I know the names of these kinds of flowers.

2. Frisky squirrels, tiny, jewel-like hummingbirds, white-tailed deer, quick little

    wild bunnies, and small black voles were hiding in the garden.

3. Barbara Kingsolver and Amy Tan are two of my sister’s favourite novelists.

4. Every six weeks or so, her next-door neighbours, younger cousins, and

    grade school classmates came over to her house for a little tea party.

5. Are the violinists and the cellists ready to begin playing the nocturne yet?

6. The daily newspapers, television news, and other media were not given

    enough information about the emergency.

7. Even in the middle of the summer, Jan and her dog liked to stay outdoors

    all afternoon long.

8. Could you and your mother please meet with me after school next

    Wednesday?

9. Three eggs, two cups of milk, a package of cheese, and chopped ham

    went into the bowl to make a quiche.

10. Are tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and garlic your favourite foods?

 

Answer Key

Exercise D

(subject / verb)

1. you and I / know

2. squirrels, hummingbirds, deer, bunnies, and voles / were hiding

3. Barbara Kingsolver and Amy Tan / are

4. neighbours, cousins, and classmates / came

5. violinists and cellists / are

6. newspapers, news, and media / were given

7. Jan and dog / liked

8. you and mother / meet

9. eggs, cups, and package / went

10. tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and garlic / are