LESSON II.

THE SUBJECT AND THE PREDICATE.

Name the thing which is spoken of in each of the following sentences, and what is said about it:—

1.Gold is a precious metal.
2.Flowers grow in the fields.
3.The sailor’s home is on the sea.
4.The flag of England floats above the citadel.

The part of a sentence that expresses the thing spoken of is called the subject.

The part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject is called the predicate.

The subject of a declarative sentence is generally placed before the predicate, but it is sometimes placed after the predicate; as,

Sweet was the sound of the evening bell.

Over the swift rapids went the boat.

EXERCISE I.

Name the subject and the predicate of each of the following sentences:—

1.The city of Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
2.Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower.
3.All the children were gathering flowers.
4.Our friends have arrived in the city.
5.Home they brought her warrior dead.
6.John Cabot discovered Canada in 1497.
7.All along the banks were the skeletons of canoes.
8.Through this forest ran a beautiful river.
9.Colder and louder blew the wind.
10.Down sunk the bell with a gurgling sound.

The subject of an imperative sentence is thou, ye or you. It is seldom expressed; as,

Listen to the singing of the birds.
Carry these books for me.
Praise ye the Lord.

EXERCISE II.

Name the subject and the predicate and state the kind of sentence of each of the following:—

1.Who hath not lost a friend?
2.Gather up the fragments.
3.Here comes the train!
4.Why did you take away my book?
5.The shades of night were falling fast.
6.How lightly she trips along!
7.In one corner of the room stood my grandfather’s clock.
8.Send this note to the post.
9.How strange our old home looks!
10.At the dawn of day he ascended the hill.

EXERCISE III.

1. Write four examples of an assertive sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.

2. Write four examples of an imperative sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.

3. Write four examples of an interrogative sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.

4. Write four examples of an exclamatory sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.