:Parts of Sentences:

1. Sentence - a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Every sentence contains a subject and predicate.

Subject: the noun or noun phrase that tells whom or what the sentence addresses.

-Roger decided to save more money.
-Almost all cats dislike water.

Full or complete subject: the subject and all the words that modify it.

-Patrick Henry's dream of freedom for all citizens compelled him to make his famous declaration.

Simple Subject: the main noun of the complete subject.

-Patrick Henry's dream of freedom for all citizens compelled him to make his famous declaration.

Compound Subject: a complete subject with multiple simple subjects.

-Miguel and the young boy became friends.

2. Predicate: a verb or verb phrase telling what the subject does or is:

Full or complete predicate: the verb of the sentence and all of the words that modify it.

-The old dog climbs slowly up the stairs.

Simple Predicate: the main verb in the full predicate that indicates the action or state of being of the simple subject.

-The old dog climbs slowly up the stairs.

Compound Predicate: a complete predicate with multiple verbs.

-He thought of his lower and missed her dearly.
-The goose was looking straight ahead and running ahead and running for the pond.

3. Clause: a part of a sentence that contains its own subject and predicate.

Independent clause: a clause that could function as its own sentence.

- When the Mets are palying, the stadium is full.

Dependent clause: a clause that cannot function as its own sentence. A dependent clause relies on an independent clause to complete its meaning.
A dependent clause can function as a noun,

-I realized that I owed Patrick fifty dollars.
as an adverb,
-When the Mets are playing, the stadium is full.
or as an adjective.
-The beef that I ate for dinner made me queasy.

Elliptical clause: a type of dependent clause with a subject and verb that are implied rather than expressed.

-Though unhappy, she still smiled.
In the clause Though unhappy, the subject and verb she was are implied: Although (she was) unhappy.

4. Phrase: a group of related words without a subject or predicate.

Noun phrase: a phrase that acts as a noun. A noun phrase can function as a subject,

-The snarling dog strained against its chain.
object,
-He gave her the book of poems.

prepositional object,

-The acrobat fell into the safety net.

gerund phrase,

-Dancing the tango is a popular activity in Argentina.

or infinitive phrase,

-To dream is to be human.

Adjective phrase: a phrase that modifies nouns or pronouns. Participial phrases and many prepositional phrases are adjective phrases.

-The actor playing Puck left much to be desired.

Adverb phrase: a phrase that begins with a preposition, and that functions as an adverb.

-The theater was crowded with the actor's fans.

Prepositional phrase: a phrase made up of a preposition, its object, and its modifiers.

-The roof of the old theater was leaking badly.

5. Modifier: a word or phrase that modifies or adds information to other parts of a sentence. Adjectives, adverbs, and many phrases and clauses are modifiers.

Limiting modifier: a word or phrase that limits the scope or degree of an idea. Words like almost, only, or barely are modifiers.

-It was almost time for dinner.

Restricting modifier: a phrase or clause that restricts the meaning of what it modifies and is necessary to the idea of its sentence.

-Any dog that has not had it shots should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.

Nonrestricting modifier: a modifier that adds information but is not necessary to the sentence. Commas, dashes, or parentheses set apart nonrestricting modifiers.

-Seventeenth-century poets, many of whom were also devout Christians, wrote excellent poetry.
-We could hear the singing bird-a wren, perhaps, or a robin-throughout the forest.