In this section, you will learn how to identify subjects and verbs in sentences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is nearly impossible to talk without using verbs, so understanding how they work is key. Let's take a closer look.<\/p>\r\n
(a) A verb (verbe<\/strong>) is almost always used to describe an action, for example: \"to laugh\", \"to drink\", \"to wonder\" and \"to write\".<\/p>\r\n I \"laugh\".<\/p>\r\n Marie \"sings\" songs.<\/p>\r\n They \"wonder\" about their friends.<\/p>\r\n Jean \"writes\" a lot.<\/p>\r\n (b) A subject (sujet<\/strong>) performs the action conveyed by the verb. In the examples above, the subjects are: \"I\", \"Marie\", \"They\", and \"Jean\".<\/p>\r\n (c) Some verbs are called \"linking verbs\" (e.g., \"to be\") because they \"link\" a subject to a noun or adjective:<\/p>\r\n Subject + verb + noun =>\u00a0That woman \"is\"\u00a0a professor.<\/p>\r\n Subject + verb + adjective(s) =>\u00a0That woman \"is\"\u00a0tall and brunette.<\/p>\r\n Compare, for example, \"You eat tacos\" (eat = action verb) to \"You are a nice person\" (are = linking verb).<\/p>\r\n (d) A subject (s.) can be simple or complex:<\/p>\r\n simple s. verb => \"The dog\" eats steak.<\/p>\r\n complex s. verb => \"The only thing I need to get the job done\" is a computer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n