AP Lang Parts of a Sentence/speech

Subject

The person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about; who or what performing an action in a sentence.

Predicate

The part of a sentence that includes the verb and, often, additional information about the subject.

Phrase

Part of a sentence that is either missing a subject or a verb, but that includes a group of words that form a grammatical component.

Dependent clause

One that includes at least a subject and a verb, but that depends on the rest of the sentence to make sense; it usually begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Independent clause

One that can stand alone and make grammatical sense.

Simple sentence

One that consists of only one clause, with a subject and a predicate.

• One independent clause.

Compound sentence

TWO independent clauses joined by either a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or by a semicolon with nothing next to it.

• Two independent clauses.

• One coordinating conjunction.

Complex sentence

Comprised of one dependent clause and one independent clause, no matter what order.

• Independent clause (if it comes first a comma is not needed after it).

• Dependent clause (if it comes first add a comma after it).

Compound-complex sentence

With two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

• Independent clause.

• Independent clause.

• Dependent clause.

Declarative sentence

Most sentences are declarative and intended to inform, state, or declare the speakers thoughts.

Imperative sentence

Tells someone to do something; is demanding or insistent in nature.

Interrogative sentence

Asks a question.

• Includes a question mark.

Exclamatory sentence

Ends with an exclamation point; expresses a strong emotion.

Direct object

A noun or noun clause following an action verb; is the recipient of the action in a sentence.

Predicate nominative

A noun or noun clause that is following a linking verb that has the same meaning or value as the subject.

• Think a dog is a mans bestfriend.

Infinitive

The word, “to,” plus a verb.

Appositive

A word or phrase that adds more information about a subject.

Essental appositive

Do not need commas are necessary for understanding a sentence.

non-essential appositives

These are surrounded by commas and information that is helpful but not necessary.

Gerund

A verb plus, “-ing,” that acts as a noun.

Noun

A person, place, thing, or idea.

Proper noun

A noun that is specific to a person.

• Their name.

• A specific place.

• An exact thing.

Pronouns

Takes the place of a noun in a sentence.

Verb

A word that identifies a action, movement, or state of being.

Adjectives

A word that modifies or describes a noun. In other words, it is a word that makes a noun more specific.

Adverbs

A word used to modify (further describe) a verb, adjective, or other adverbs.

Preposition

Shows a relationship often physical, spatial, or concerning time, between two nouns or pronouns in a sentence.

Conjunction

A word that is used to join words, phrases, or clauses.

Interjection

A single word used to express emotion, it is usually separated from the sentence using an exclamation point or a comma.

Articles

A word that identifies or specifies a noun. It precedes the noun in a sentence.

• Ex: A or an.