Sentence Structure Worksheets | Language Arts Activities - Free Printable

Let's solve this Subjects, Objects, & Predicates Worksheet step by step.

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🔹 Understanding the Instructions

We are to:
- Underline the subject (who or what is doing the action)
- Circle the predicate (the verb or action/state of being)
- Double-underline the object (what is receiving the action)

> Definitions Recap:
> - Subject: noun, pronoun, or gerund that *takes action*.
> - Object: noun, pronoun, or gerund that *does not take action* (receives it).
> - Predicate: verb, verb phrase, or state of being.

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Now let’s go sentence by sentence and identify each part.

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✔ Solutions with Explanations

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1. Brian skate boarded to the skate park near the school.

- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (skateboarded) → circle "skateboarded"
- Object: _the skate park_ → double underline "the skate park"
*(Note: "to the skate park" is a prepositional phrase; "skate park" is the object of the preposition "to")*

> Explanation: Brian is doing the action (subject). "Skateboarded" is the verb (predicate). The destination "skate park" receives the action indirectly.

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2. He grinded on a rail and jumped over a staircase.

- Subject: _He_
- Predicate: (grinded and jumped) → circle "grinded and jumped"
- Objects: _a rail_, _a staircase_ → double underline both
*(“on a rail” and “over a staircase” — objects of prepositions)*

> Explanation: Two actions in one sentence. Both verbs are predicates. "Rail" and "staircase" are things acted upon.

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3. Brian was meeting Dale and James but they were not at the park yet.

- First clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (was meeting) → circle "was meeting"
- Object: _Dale and James_ → double underline "Dale and James"

- Second clause:
- Subject: _they_
- Predicate: (were not at) → circle "were not at"
- Object: _the park_ → double underline "the park"

> Explanation: Compound sentence. "Meeting" is a verb phrase with "Dale and James" as the object. "Were not at" describes location, so "park" is the object of the preposition.

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4. An older student named Desmond was doing tricks on the half-pipe.

- Subject: _An older student named Desmond_
- Predicate: (was doing) → circle "was doing"
- Object: _tricks_ → double underline "tricks"

> Explanation: "Desmond" is an appositive (gives more info about the student), so it doesn’t change the subject. "Tricks" is what he's doing — object.

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5. Brian climbed to the top of the half-pipe and waited.

- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (climbed and waited) → circle "climbed and waited"
- Object: _the top of the half-pipe_ → double underline "the top of the half-pipe"
*(“to the top…” — object of preposition "to")*

> Explanation: "Climbed" has a direction — "top" is where he went. "Waited" has no object.

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6. Once Desmond was paying attention to him, Brian stalled on the lip of the pipe and then caught air.

- Main clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (stalled and caught) → circle "stalled and caught"
- Object: _air_ → double underline "air"
*(“caught air” — "air" is what he caught)*

> Explanation: "Once…" is a dependent clause. Main clause is about Brian. "Air" is the direct object of "caught".

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7. It was a solid trick but Desmond knew that he could outclass Brian.

- First clause:
- Subject: _It_
- Predicate: (was) → circle "was"
- Object: _a solid trick_ → double underline "a solid trick"

- Second clause:
- Subject: _Desmond_
- Predicate: (knew) → circle "knew"
- Object: _that he could outclass Brian_ → double underline "that he could outclass Brian"
*(This is a noun clause acting as object of "knew")*

> Explanation: "It" is a dummy subject. "A solid trick" is the complement (object of "was"). In second clause, "knew" takes a whole clause as its object.

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8. Grinding and catching air were easy for Desmond.

- Subject: _Grinding and catching air_
*(Gerunds acting as subjects)*
- Predicate: (were) → circle "were"
- Object: _easy_ → double underline "easy"
*(“easy” is a predicate adjective describing the subject)*

> Explanation: Gerunds ("grinding", "catching") act as nouns (subjects). "Easy" is a complement (not a direct object), but since the instruction says "objects = nouns/gerunds that do not take action," and "easy" is not a noun, we might skip it unless it's part of a prepositional phrase. Wait — actually, "for Desmond" is the object of the preposition. So:

→ Corrected:
- Object: _Desmond_ → double underline "Desmond"
*(“for Desmond” — object of preposition "for")*

> So final:
- Subject: _Grinding and catching air_
- Predicate: (were)
- Object: _Desmond_

> ✔ Yes, "Desmond" is the object of "for".

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9. Desmond noseslid down the lip of the half-pipe and kickflipped into a pose.

- Subject: _Desmond_
- Predicate: (noseslid and kickflipped) → circle "noseslid and kickflipped"
- Objects: _the lip of the half-pipe_, _a pose_ → double underline both
*(“down the lip…” — object of preposition "down"; “into a pose” — object of "into")*

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10. Brian felt brave so he attempted the same trick.

- First clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (felt) → circle "felt"
- Object: _brave_ → double underline "brave"
*(“brave” is a predicate adjective — but again, not a noun. So maybe no object?)*

> Wait — "felt" is a linking verb. "Brave" is a subject complement. But per instructions, objects are nouns/pronouns/gerunds that don’t take action. Since "brave" is an adjective, no object here.

So:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (felt)
- No object (or leave blank)

> Second clause:
- Subject: _he_
- Predicate: (attempted) → circle "attempted"
- Object: _the same trick_ → double underline "the same trick"

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11. He almost landed the trick, but he slipped at the end of the kickflip.

- First clause:
- Subject: _He_
- Predicate: (landed) → circle "landed"
- Object: _the trick_ → double underline "the trick"

- Second clause:
- Subject: _he_
- Predicate: (slipped) → circle "slipped"
- Object: _at the end of the kickflip_ → double underline "the end of the kickflip"
*(“at the end…” — object of preposition "at")*

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12. The board flew into the air just as Brian landed on his back.

- First clause:
- Subject: _The board_
- Predicate: (flew) → circle "flew"
- Object: _the air_ → double underline "the air"
*(“into the air” — object of preposition "into")*

- Second clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (landed) → circle "landed"
- Object: _his back_ → double underline "his back"
*(“on his back” — object of preposition "on")*

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13. Brian said, "Ow, that hurt!" and then the board landed on his belly.

- First clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (said) → circle "said"
- Object: _"Ow, that hurt!"_ → double underline the quote
*(Direct speech is the object of "said")*

- Second clause:
- Subject: _the board_
- Predicate: (landed) → circle "landed"
- Object: _his belly_ → double underline "his belly"

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14. Desmond groaned because he knew the pain of falling.

- Subject: _Desmond_
- Predicate: (groaned) → circle "groaned"
- Object: _because he knew the pain of falling_ → double underline "because he knew the pain of falling"
*(This is an adverbial clause — not an object. So no object?)*

But wait — "groaned" is intransitive. No direct object. However, "because..." explains why, so it's not an object.

So:
- No object

But if we look deeper: "knew" has an object — "the pain"

But only for "knew", not for "groaned". So:

→ Only "knew" has an object.

So:
- Subject: _Desmond_
- Predicate: (groaned)
- No object

Then the second clause:
- Subject: _he_
- Predicate: (knew) → circle "knew"
- Object: _the pain of falling_ → double underline "the pain of falling"

But since the sentence is one sentence, we must mark all parts.

So overall:
- Main subject: _Desmond_
- Main predicate: (groaned)
- No object for main verb

Then the dependent clause:
- Subject: _he_
- Predicate: (knew)
- Object: _the pain of falling_

So:
- Underline: _Desmond_, _he_
- Circle: _groaned_, _knew_
- Double underline: _the pain of falling_

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15. He rolled to the hurting skater and offered his assistance.

- Subject: _He_
- Predicate: (rolled and offered) → circle "rolled and offered"
- Objects:
- _the hurting skater_ → double underline (object of "to")
- _his assistance_ → double underline (direct object of "offered")

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16. "You almost landed that kickflip," Desmond said while he extended his hand to Brian.

- Quote:
- Subject: _You_
- Predicate: (landed) → circle "landed"
- Object: _that kickflip_ → double underline "that kickflip"

- Main clause:
- Subject: _Desmond_
- Predicate: (said) → circle "said"
- Object: _"You almost landed that kickflip"_ → double underline the quote

- Dependent clause:
- Subject: _he_
- Predicate: (extended) → circle "extended"
- Object: _his hand_ → double underline "his hand"

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17. Brian took his hand and Desmond said, "When you see the grip-tape, you catch it."

- First clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (took) → circle "took"
- Object: _his hand_ → double underline "his hand"

- Second clause:
- Subject: _Desmond_
- Predicate: (said) → circle "said"
- Object: _"When you see the grip-tape, you catch it."_ → double underline the quote

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18. Brian nodded, got to his feet, and brushed off the dirt.

- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicates: (nodded, got, brushed) → circle all three
- Object: _the dirt_ → double underline "the dirt"
*(Only "brushed off" has a direct object)*

> Note: "got to his feet" — "feet" is object of preposition "to", so double underline "his feet"?
But "got" is intransitive. "To his feet" is a prepositional phrase.

So:
- "nodded" — no object
- "got" — no object
- "brushed off" — "dirt" is object

So only "the dirt" is an object.

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19. Falling is a part of learning.

- Subject: _Falling_ (gerund)
- Predicate: (is) → circle "is"
- Object: _a part of learning_ → double underline "a part of learning"
*(Complement of "is", but "part" is a noun — acceptable as object in this context)*

> Actually, "is" is a linking verb, so "a part of learning" is a subject complement. But since it's a noun phrase, and per directions, objects include nouns, we can double underline it.

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20. "When Dale and James get here, I will try that kickflip again," Brian said to himself.

- Quote:
- Subject: _Dale and James_
- Predicate: (get) → circle "get"
- Object: _here_ → double underline "here"
*(“here” is an adverb — not a noun. So no object?)*

- Then: _I will try that kickflip again_
- Subject: _I_
- Predicate: (will try) → circle "will try"
- Object: _that kickflip_ → double underline "that kickflip"

- Main clause:
- Subject: _Brian_
- Predicate: (said) → circle "said"
- Object: _"When Dale and James get here, I will try that kickflip again"_ → double underline the entire quote

- Also: "to himself" — object of preposition → double underline "himself"

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✔ Summary of Key Rules Applied

| Sentence | Subject | Predicate | Object |
|--------|--------|----------|--------|
| 1 | Brian | skateboarded | the skate park |
| 2 | He | grinded and jumped | a rail, a staircase |
| 3 | Brian / they | was meeting / were not at | Dale and James / the park |
| 4 | An older student... | was doing | tricks |
| 5 | Brian | climbed and waited | the top of the half-pipe |
| 6 | Brian | stalled and caught | air |
| 7 | It / Desmond | was / knew | a solid trick / that he could outclass Brian |
| 8 | Grinding and catching air | were | Desmond |
| 9 | Desmond | noseslid and kickflipped | the lip of the half-pipe, a pose |
| 10 | Brian / he | felt / attempted | brave / the same trick |
| 11 | He / he | landed / slipped | the trick / the end of the kickflip |
| 12 | The board / Brian | flew / landed | the air / his back |
| 13 | Brian / the board | said / landed | "Ow, that hurt!" / his belly |
| 14 | Desmond / he | groaned / knew | — / the pain of falling |
| 15 | He | rolled and offered | the hurting skater, his assistance |
| 16 | You / Desmond / he | landed / said / extended | that kickflip / quote / his hand |
| 17 | Brian / Desmond | took / said | his hand / quote |
| 18 | Brian | nodded, got, brushed | the dirt |
| 19 | Falling | is | a part of learning |
| 20 | Dale and James / I / Brian | get / will try / said | here / that kickflip / quote |

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✔ Final Task: 21–25

Write five of your own sentences on the back. Underline subjects, circle predicates, double-underline objects.

Here are five example sentences you could write:

1. _She_ (circled: ran) _to the store_
→ Subject: _She_, Predicate: ran, Object: _the store_

2. _The dog_ (circled: barked) _at the mailman_
→ Subject: _The dog_, Predicate: barked, Object: _the mailman_

3. _They_ (circled: built) _a treehouse_
→ Subject: _They_, Predicate: built, Object: _a treehouse_

4. _I_ (circled: enjoy) _reading books_
→ Subject: _I_, Predicate: enjoy, Object: _reading books_ (gerund phrase)

5. _The sun_ (circled: rises) _in the east_
→ Subject: _The sun_, Predicate: rises, Object: _the east_

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✔ Final Notes

- Always check if the verb is transitive (needs object) or intransitive (doesn't).
- Gerunds (e.g., "skateboarding") can be subjects or objects.
- Quotes are often objects of verbs like "said", "asked", etc.
- Prepositional phrases have objects (nouns after prepositions).

Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a completed worksheet!