Parts of speech & sentence parts · Topic 2 of 17

Sentence Parts: Subjects, Predicates, Objects, Clauses & Phrases

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Grammar · sentence parts

Sentence Parts: Subjects, Predicates, Objects, Clauses & Phrases

Find the verb, then its subject; objects receive the action, linking verbs lead to a renaming or describing word, and phrases lack a subject-verb pair.

01 · Two halvesSentence = subject + predicate

02 · Find the subjectVerb first, then who or what does it

03 · Clause vs phraseClause = subject + verb; phrase = no pair

What it is

Subject = who or what; predicate = verb + the rest: The nurse | checked the chart must know

Direct object = receives the action (verb + what?): Sam rinsed the cups must know

Indirect object = to/for whom, before the direct object: handed the patient a cup must know

Clause has a subject + verb; a phrase does not: when the alarm rang · after the alarm must know

Independent clause stands alone; dependent clause can't: because the van was late

Linking verb connects, not acts: is · seems · becomes · looks — The room seems cold

Predicate nominative = noun after a linking verb that renames the subject: Ana is a medic

Predicate adjective = the adjective after a linking verb: seems drowsy → drowsy

Phrase types: prepositional (on the cart) · verb (has been sleeping) · noun (a tall cart)

Right vs wrong

Dr. Lee | gave | the intern | a checklist = subject · verb · indirect obj. · direct obj.

The tea | tastes | bitter = subject · linking verb · predicate adjective

Don't confuse

Action verb + noun = direct object; linking verb + noun = predicate nominative

Direct or indirect object?

Commonly confused

	Direct object	Indirect object
Answers	verb + what? or whom?	to whom? or for whom?
Position	after the verb (or after the indirect object)	between the verb and the direct object
Needs the other?	No, it can stand alone	Yes, only with a direct object
Example	handed the patient a cup → cup	handed the patient a cup → patient

Common mistakes

The subject is never inside a prepositional phrase: The box of gloves → box

to + verb is never the main verb: She hopes to rest → main verb = hopes

Also know

Verb first, then ask who or what does it: Down the hall rolled a cart → cart must know

Indirect-object test: add to or for: gave Raj a pen = gave a pen to Raj

More detail

Show 3 more facts

Simple subject = key noun; complete subject = it + describers: the tired night nurse

Helping verbs belong to the verb: has been resting · will arrive · can lift

After to/for, the noun is the object of the preposition: gave a pen to Raj

Pearl

Find the verb first, then ask who or what does it.

Sources · GrammarBook.com — Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects · GrammarBook.com — Clauses and Phrases · Excelsior OWL — Linking Verbs · GrammarBook.com — Pronouns · GrammarBook.com — Adjectives and Adverbs · GrammarBook.com — Subject-Verb Agreement · Grammar Monster — Predicate Adjectives · Grammar Monster — Predicate Nominative · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide p3: grammar terms, subject-verb agreement · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide p2: verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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