Every sentence needs two parts: a SUBJECT and a VERB. (Another word for the part of a sentence we can call the verb is PREDICATE.)
Erin ran. (Erin is the subject and ran is the verb.)
Daniel laughed.
Sammy slept.
SUBJECT, VERB, AND OBJECT
When the subject of the sentence is doing something to someone or something else, we add a DIRECT OBJECT to the sentence.
Erin kicked the ball. (Erin is the subject, kicked is the verb, and ball is the direct object.)
Daniel washed the dishes.
Sammy ate the sandwich.
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We want you to know how to recognize subject, verb, and whether there is a direct object, so you will know whether to use the verb "lie" or the verb "lay."
You use the verb "lay" when there is a direct object, as in
"I saw her lay the book on the counter." "Yesterday my hen laid two eggs."
In those sentences, "the book" and "two eggs" are direct objects.
In the following sentences, there are no direct objects, so you use the verb "lie."
"I lie down for a nap every afternoon when I get home from school."
"I have lain down for a nap at 3:30 every day this week. My friends think I'm lazy, but it feels so good."
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SUBJECT, VERB, INDIRECT OBJECT, AND DIRECT OBJECT
Look at this sentence:
"Joe gave Jill and present."
What was Joe giving? Was he giving Jill? No. He was giving a present, so the present is the direct object. "Jill" is called the INDIRECT OBJECT.
ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS, ETC.
We can add information to a basic sentence by adding words such as adverbs and adjectives.
Erin ran quickly. (Erin is the subject, ran is the verb, and quickly is an adverb telling us how Erin ran.)
Daniel washed the dirty dishes. (Daniel is the subject, washed is the verb, dirty is an adjective describing the dishes, and dishes is the direct object.)
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
We can use prepositional phrases to add information to a basic sentence. Did you learn a list of prepositions in elementary school?
Erin ran through the house. (Erin is the subject, ran is the verb, "through the house" is a prepositional phrase that tells where Erin ran.)
Sammy found the sandwich in the refrigerator. (Sammy is the subject, found is the verb, sandwich is the direct object, "in the refrigerator" is a prepositional phase telling where Sammy found the sandwich.)
[More to come]
