Lesson · G.2.1

Subjects, predicates and objects

Learn to find the subject and predicate of a sentence and tell a direct object from an indirect one, the way the HESI A2 Grammar section tests it.

ObjectiveG.2.1Read4 minExam weightSentence Structure ≈ 28% of Grammar

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What you will be able to do

  • Identify the complete subject and complete predicate in any sentence.
  • Find the simple subject and the main verb even when other words sit between them.
  • Tell a direct object from an indirect object in a sentence with an action verb.

What the lesson concludes

  • Every complete sentence has a subject and a predicate. One without the other is a fragment.
  • The simple subject is a noun or pronoun. The complete subject includes every word that modifies it.
  • The predicate always contains the verb, plus everything that describes or completes the action.
  • A direct object answers what or whom after the verb. An indirect object answers to whom or for whom, and only appears alongside a direct object.
  • On the HESI, strip a sentence down to its bare subject and verb first, then work outward to the objects.