English grammar of WREN & MARTIN made easy

 

SUBJECT AND PREDICATE

Exercise 1: Sentences 21–27

21. The early bird catches the worm.

  • Verb: catches

  • Ask: Who or what catches? -> The early bird. (Subject)

  • Predicate: What does the bird do? -> catches the worm.

  • Explanation: "The early bird" is the complete subject because "early" describes the bird we are talking about.

22. All dogs like to bark.

  • Verb: like

  • Ask: Who like to bark? -> All dogs. (Subject)

  • Predicate: What is said about them? -> like to bark.

23. Addled footsteps echo through the halls. (Note: Some editions may use "Addled" or "Old"; the logic remains the same.)

  • Verb: echo

  • Ask: What echo? -> Addled footsteps. (Subject)

  • Predicate: Where do they echo? -> echo through the halls.

24. Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan.

(Note: This is a repetition in many editions of the book.)

  • Verb: is

  • Ask: What is the capital? -> Islamabad. (Subject)

  • Predicate: is the capital of Pakistan.

25. We should profit by experience.

(Note: Another common repetition in the exercise.)

  • Verb: should profit

  • Ask: Who should profit? -> We. (Subject)

  • Predicate: should profit by experience.

26. Borrowed garments never fit well.

  • Verb: fit

  • Ask: What never fit well? -> Borrowed garments. (Subject)

  • Predicate: What is the characteristic of these garments? -> never fit well.

  • Explanation: "Borrowed" is an adjective modifying "garments," so it stays with the subject.

27. On the top of the hill lives a hermit.

  • Verb: lives

  • Ask: Who lives? -> A hermit. (Subject)

  • Predicate: Where does he live? -> On the top of the hill lives.

  • Explanation: This is an inverted sentence. In English, we usually put the subject first, but for poetic or descriptive effect, the subject can come at the end. To find it, always look for the verb (lives) and ask "Who lives?" The answer is "a hermit."


Visual Summary of Subject vs. Predicate

Sentence #SubjectPredicate
21The early birdcatches the worm
22All dogslike to bark
23Addled footstepsecho through the halls
24Islamabadis the capital of Pakistan
25Weshould profit by experience
26Borrowed garmentsnever fit well
27A hermitlives on the top of the hill

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