The basic parts of a sentence fall into two categories: the subject and the predicate.

Know
them well, because you can’t have a sentence without them.
The subject performs the action of the sentence. It can be a noun, noun phrase, or noun
clause. To analyze sentences, grammarians have distinguished three kinds of subjects:
 Complete Subject – “The old, dusty books on the table haven’t been read in years.”
The complete subject includes the entire noun phrase — usually everything before the
verb.
 Simple Subject – “books”. The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun stripped
of all modifiers.
 Compound Subject – “The cowardly mailman and the huge, barking dog didn’t get
along very well.” A compound subject consists of two or more subjects linked
together by conjunctions. Note: the simple subject of that sentence would be
“mailman and dog“.

As with subjects, predicates can be classified as complete predicates, simple predicates, and
compound predicates.
 The simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or word group that tells something
about the subject. –
Many people will listen with interest to facts about bugs.
 The complete predicate consists of a verb and all the words that modify the verb and
complete its meaning.
Many people will listen with interest to facts about bugs.

Every sentence has a subject and predicate.

A subject can be a noun or pronoun that is partnered with an action verb.

Example :
Sometimes a verb will express being or existence instead of action.

Example:

Sometimes we use sentences in which a subject is not actually stated, but is,
nevertheless, understood in the meaning.

Example:

A sentence like this gives an order or a request to someone.

Because we use such statements when we are talking directly to someone, we omit the word
you. It is understood in the sentence. Therefore, in statements like this one, we say the
subject is you (understood).

This kind of sentence is an imperative sentence.

A predicate is a verb that expresses the subject's action or state of being.

Example:
Sometimes the predicate will be composed of two or three verbs that fit together - the main
verb preceded by one or more auxiliary (helping) verbs.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To be a predicate, a verb that ends in -ing must ALWAYS have a
helping verb with it. An -ing verb WITHOUT a helping verb cannot be a predicate in a
sentence.

A subject and predicate may not always appear together or in the normal order, as the
following examples show:
3. OBJECT
The next sentence element is Object. The object (sufferer) is the word that is the target of
what the subject does. However, not all verbs have objects. Only transitive verbs require an
object. Meanwhile, intransitive verbs do not require an object, such as crying, boiling,
walking, etc.

DIRECT OBJECT

The direct object receives the action of the sentence. The direct object is usually a noun
or pronoun.

The man builds a house.

The man builds it.

INDIRECT OBJECT

The indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action of the sentence is being
done. The indirect object is usually a noun or pronoun.

The man builds his family a house.

The man builds them a house.

SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

A subject complement either renames or describes the subject, and therefore is usually
a noun, pronoun, or adjective. Subject complements occur when there is a linking
verb within the sentence (often a linking verb is a form of the verb to be).

The man is a good father. (father = noun which renames the subject)

The man seems kind. (kind = adjective which describes the subject)