Identifying Prepositional Phrases, Verbs, and Subjects
Introductory Video with Examples
Take a few moments to watch this video on how to avoid common confusions with simple sentences.
Access the file here if you would like to follow along with the video or print it to take notes.
Steps to Identify Grammatical Features of Simple Sentences
1. Identify and ignore all prepositional phrases
- Example: One (of the students) was usually helping others (before class.)
2. Find the verbs.
- Look for action verbs, linking verbs and helping verbs. (Verbs are marked in italics.)
- Example: One (of the students) was usually helping others (before class.)
3. Identify the subject. Who + verb? What + verb? (Subjects are underlined.
- Example: One (of the students) was usually helping others (before class.)
Prepositional Phrases
Always begin with a preposition
- Always end with a noun or pronoun
- Never include the subject or verb of a sentence
- To find prepositions; ask "Preposition + what? or Preposition + Who?"
Examples:
- I am learning (about Paloma Picasso.)
- Jeremiah is running (in the competition.)
Infinitive Verbs
Infinitive verbs are in the form "to + verb"
- Not a prepositional phrase
- Not part of the verb of a sentence
Examples:
- I love to read (in the park.)
- I hope to camp (over the weekend.)
Words Ending in -ing
Do not act as a verb in a sentence unless they are used with a form of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were..)
Examples: (Verbs are in bold italics below, and subjects are underlined.)
- Jackie loves reading (before class.)
- Jackie was reading (before class.)
- Reading is fun!
- I do not like my reading homework.
