15 1.16: Structure – Verbes et sujets
In this section, you will learn how to identify subjects and verbs in sentences.
On étudie !
It is nearly impossible to talk without using verbs, so understanding how they work is key. Let’s take a closer look.
(a) A verb (verbe) is almost always used to describe an action, for example: “to laugh”, “to drink”, “to wonder” and “to write”.
I “laugh”.
Marie “sings” songs.
They “wonder” about their friends.
Jean “writes” a lot.
(b) A subject (sujet) performs the action conveyed by the verb. In the examples above, the subjects are: “I”, “Marie”, “They”, and “Jean”.
(c) Some verbs are called “linking verbs” (e.g., “to be”) because they “link” a subject to a noun or adjective:
Subject + verb + noun => That woman “is” a professor.
Subject + verb + adjective(s) => That woman “is” tall and brunette.
Compare, for example, “You eat tacos” (eat = action verb) to “You are a nice person” (are = linking verb).
(d) A subject (s.) can be simple or complex:
simple s. verb => “The dog” eats steak.
complex s. verb => “The only thing I need to get the job done” is a computer.
