What Is A Sentence
What Is A Sentence
sentence
subject predicate
verb
The above example sentence is very short. Of course, a sentence can be longer and more
complicated, but basically there is always a subject and a predicate. Look at this longer example:
sentence
subject predicate
verb
sentence
Note that the predicate always contains a verb. Sometimes, in fact, the predicate is only a
verb:
sentence
subject predicate
verb
Smoke rises.
There is one apparent exception to this – the imperative. When someone gives a command (the
imperative), they usually do not use a subject. They don't say the subject because it is obvious - the
subject is YOU! Look at these examples of the imperative, with and without a subject:
sentence
subject predicate
sentence
verb
Stop!
Wait a minute!
You look!
Everybody look!
Note that a sentence expresses a complete thought. Here are some examples of
complete and incomplete thoughts:
complete thought?