The subject is a noun or pronoun and it tells who or what the sentence is about

The verb will be either an action verb (telling what the subject did) or a linking verb that links the subject with a description of the subject

Example: My new puppy eats peanut butter My new puppy is cute.

Cross out prep phrases and identify subjects and verbs.

1. During the movie, some teenagers giggled at the love scenes.

2. The strawberry jam in my brother’s sandwich dripped onto his lap.

3. Before the test, I glanced through my notes.

Sometimes the main action or linking verb has a helping verb in front of it. Include that when you identify the verb.

◦Reminder: Helping verbs include do, does, will, should, could, was, has, have, is, can

Example: The little boy has been climbing out of bed every night.

Do not include adverbs as part of the verb. Adverbs include lots of the –ly words (slowly, quietly,

etc.) and words such as not, just never, only, and always

So not include infinitives (to+verb) as part of the main verb.

Example: Supernanny was slowly convincing the parents to implement discipline strategies.

1. Tony has just agreed to feed his neighbor’s fish over the holiday.

2. Many students have not been giving much thought to selecting a major.

3. I would have preferred a movie with a happy ending.

1. Tony has just agreed to feed his neighbor’s fish over the holiday.

2. Many students have not been giving much thought to selecting a major.

3. I would have preferred a movie with a happy ending.

Sometimes you will find more than one subject or verb in the sentence.

Hint: Look for a conjunction (usually “and”)

Example of compound subject: Both the son and the daughter threw temper tantrums.

Example of compound verbs: The little boy climbed out of bed, ran down the hall, and hit his mother.

1. We bought a big bag of peanuts and finished it by the movie’s end.

2. Canned salmon and tuna contain significant amounts of calcium.

3. The magician and his assistant bowed and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

1. We bought a big bag of peanuts and finished it by the movie’s end.

2. Canned salmon and tuna contain significant amounts of calcium.

3. The magician and his assistant bowed and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.