Subject predicate

Babies cry.

Children like ice-cream.

The boys in the park are playing football.

This basic unit of meaning –the subject and the predicate – along with its attachments, is called an independent clause.

There are three important things about the subject:

a) The subject should not be omitted.

b) The subject should not be repeated - My native town is Anapa it is

marvelous and exciting.

c) The subject should not be buried inside a prepositional phrase –

In my town Anapa is marvelous and exciting.

Exercise 1. Read the following texts. In each sentence underline the subject and

the predicate.

A.

We talk a lot about the fact that no one ever sits in the living room.

It makes me all sad. The living room is the prettiest room in the apartment.

It has a fireplace and moldings. It has a slice of a view of the river. It is a

cheerful room furnished in light colours. The couches in it were recently

cleaned by men with small machines. It always looks neat and tidy and it is

pleasant to stay there on long winter evenings.

B. Over the past few decades, electronic computer technology has made

enormous strides. Moreover, there can be little doubt that in the decades to

follow, there will be further great advances in speed, capacity and logical

design. The computers of today may be made to seem as sluggish and

primitive as the mechanical calculators of yesterday now appear to us.

Exercise 2. Read the following statements and decide whether they are

complete sentences or not? Tick the ones which are complete.

1) I am writing in response to your advertisement in today’s Observer

to apply for the post of Accounts Clerk.

2) I am writing in response to your advertisement in today’s Observer.

3) As advertised in the Daily on 21 October.

4) With reference to your advertisement which appeared in the Daily News.

5) After graduating.

6) As you will see from the attached CV.

7) As I have considerable experience in this area.

8) I enjoy my present job.

9) I enjoy my present work but am looking for new challenges.

10)Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.

11)To arrange a convenient time for meeting.

12) Although the company offers great opportunities to its staff.

13) After graduating I followed a professional training course in finance.

14) I look forward to hearing from you soon with your first order.

15) If you need any further information.

V. Word order (positive sentences vs questions)

Put the following words into the correct order.

A.

1. the film I yesterday enjoyed

……………………………………………………………………………………..

2. news the listened I carefully to

……………………………………………………………………………………..

3. well the man piano the played …………………………………………………………………………………….

4. games played yesterday in room their the children quietly

…………………………………………………………………………………..

5. quietly door the he opened

………………………………………………………………………………….

6.left he immediately ………………………………………………………….

7. a tree the in corner he garden planned the of

……………………………………………………………………………………

8.before the office lunch letter in his quickly read he

…………………………………………………………………………………….

9. this morning the book I borrowed library a from

……………………………………………………………………………………

10.the soup cook the spoilt …………………………………………………..

11. a people lot there at are bus-stop the of

…………………………………………………………………………………

12.she beautifully draws ………………………………………………………..

13. young man a woman young me a sitting were behind and

………………………………………………………………………………….

14.like people that work gives satisfaction them

…………………………………………………………………………………..

B.

1. a communication two way is process

……………………………………………………………………………………

2. information about between people talked personal not is

……………………………………………………………………………….

3. persuasion always any communication is purpose the of

………………………………………………………………………………

4. are people looking better a life of quality for

………………………………………………………………………………

5. team new formed a to the project was develop

………………………………………………………………………………

6. decisions preceded is making by thorough the market a analysis of

……………………………………………………………………………..

C. Rearrange the words in the sentences below to form questions. Add capital

letters, question marks and other punctuation marks where necessary.

1. The train when last does leave ………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………….

2. know Maria do here you works if ………………………………………………………………………………….

3. you how from often borrow do the library books

………………………………………………………………………………….

4. is talk small what ………………………………………………………… ……………………..

5. it best is write to down things always

………………………………………………………………………………….

6. is best it always things write down to

………………………………………………………………………………….

7. should have qualities a good communicator what

…………………………………………………………………………………

8. what mistake is with PowerPoint a common presentations

…………………………………………………………………………………

9. long a presentation be should how good

………………………………………………………………………………..

10. does have the its company Office Head Dublin in

…………………………………………………………………………………