Instructions
Welcome to Sentence Detectives! Every complete sentence has two main parts. We are going to find them!
- The Subject (The Naming Part): This tells who or what the sentence is about.
- The Predicate (The Action Part): This tells what the subject is doing or being.
Follow the directions in each section carefully.
Part 1: Matching Sentence Halves (Warm-up)
Draw a line to connect the Naming Part (Subject) on the left to the correct Action Part (Predicate) on the right to make a complete, sensible sentence.
| Naming Part (Subject) | Action Part (Predicate) |
|---|---|
| 1. The happy boy | A. sing a silly song. |
| 2. My red wagon | B. barks loudly at the mailman. |
| 3. A baby bird | C. rolled down the hill. |
| 4. The tired puppy | D. smiles at his mom. |
| 5. Two little friends | E. built a nest in the tree. |
Part 2: Identify the Parts (Coloring Activity)
Read each sentence. Identify the two main parts.
Task:
- Circle the Subject (The Naming Part) in the sentence.
- Underline the Predicate (The Action Part).
Example: (The fuzzy caterpillar) crawled slowly up the leaf.
-
The strong runner finished the race.
-
Dad cooks pancakes on Sunday.
-
The big, yellow sun shines brightly.
-
Three little mice squeaked softly.
-
My favorite book fell onto the floor.
-
We ate pizza for dinner tonight.
Part 3: Building Sentences (Creation Challenge)
Complete the table below. Write the missing part (Subject or Predicate) to make a good sentence. Then, label which type of part you wrote.
Example:
| Naming Part (Subject) | Action Part (Predicate) | Part I Wrote |
|---|---|---|
| The big cat | sleeps all day. | Predicate |
Your Turn:
| Naming Part (Subject) | Action Part (Predicate) | Part I Wrote |
|---|---|---|
| Grandma | ||
| drives a fast car. | ||
| The green frog | ||
| jumped over the log. | ||
| My new shoes | ||
| The classroom teacher |
Part 4: Super Sentence Challenge
Think of a long sentence you could tell a friend. Write that sentence below. Then, draw a vertical line (|) to separate the Subject from the Predicate.
Write your sentence here:
Challenge Question: If you remove the Predicate, can the Subject still tell you what is happening? Why or why not?
Answer Key
Part 1: Matching Sentence Halves (Warm-up)
- The happy boy D. smiles at his mom.
- My red wagon C. rolled down the hill.
- A baby bird E. built a nest in the tree.
- The tired puppy B. barks loudly at the mailman.
- Two little friends A. sing a silly song.
Part 2: Identify the Parts (Coloring Activity)
- (The strong runner) finished the race.
- (Dad) cooks pancakes on Sunday.
- (The big, yellow sun) shines brightly.
- (Three little mice) squeaked softly.
- (My favorite book) fell onto the floor.
- (We) ate pizza for dinner tonight.
Part 3: Building Sentences (Creation Challenge)
(Answers may vary, examples provided)
| Naming Part (Subject) | Action Part (Predicate) | Part I Wrote |
|---|---|---|
| Grandma | read me a story. | Predicate |
| My neighbor | drives a fast car. | Subject |
| The green frog | sits on a lily pad. | Predicate |
| The small turtle | jumped over the log. | Subject |
| My new shoes | feel very tight. | Predicate |
| The classroom teacher | helps the students. | Predicate |
Part 4: Super Sentence Challenge
Example Sentence: The fluffy white dog | wagged its tail quickly.
Challenge Question: If you remove the Predicate, can the Subject still tell you what is happening? Why or why not? Answer: No. The Subject only names the person or thing. You need the Predicate (the action part) to tell what is happening or what they are doing.