Simple Sentence 簡單句

The understanding of the basic construction of the sentence will help us to write and speak effectively and correctly. How do we construct a simple English sentence? A simple English sentence is like as follows:

The subject + The predicate.

1. The subject: the unit about which something is said.
2. The predicate: the unit that says something about the subject.
For example:
a. John runs. => John + run.
b. A beautiful bird flies over the blue sky. => bird + fly.
c. The rusty bumper on the front of my truck rattles noisily. => bumper + rattle.

When we have problems to understand a sentence, ask ourselves two questions: "What happens in the sentence?" and "Who or what performs the action in the sentence?" These two questions may lead us to the search of the subject and the verb in the sentence. By identifying the subject and the verb, we can establish the meaning of the sentence, and then we may realize what the sentence is talking about. This is why we need to learn English grammar, starting with the simple sentences.

To know a simple sentence is to know its subject and its predicate, i.e., its verb and other modifiers.  We have a lot of examples in the last post.  If you need to practice, do try to find their subjects and verbs in the sentences. Subjects are usually nouns. They are occasionally compound nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. Predicates are usually verbs with or without other words or phrases or clauses. Check out the last post and have yourself familiar with them.