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 Finding Subjects, Finite Verbs, and Complements
Practice Exercise # 11

Directions: 
1. First place parentheses ( ) around every prepositional phrase.
2. Underline every subject once, every finite verb twice, and label complements (PA, PN, IO or DO). [Reminder: A predicate adjective describes the subject; a predicate noun "equals" the subject; an indirect object is someone or thing "to" or "for" whom (or what) the action of the verb is performed. Any other complement has to be a direct object.]
 

The text is:
      A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd. While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar. So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle. As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing, and was also near tears by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
 
Note: In creating these pages, I cannot create a double underline. I will therefore underline both subjects and finite verbs once, but subjects will be in green; finite verbs in blue.

Sentence #1

Work your way through the text one sentence at a time. The first sentence is:
     A little boy was in a relative's wedding.
First identify all the prepositional phrases: [Review this.]
     A little boy was (in a relative's wedding).
With the prepositional phrases out of the way, find a finite verb or verb phrase:
     A little boy was (in a relative's wedding).
Find the subject of "was" by asking "Who or what was?"
     A little boywas (in a relative's wedding).
Check for a complement by asking "the boy was who or what?"  The answer to that question depends on how one interprets "in a relative's wedding." Some people will see it as describing the subject ("boy") and thus consider the prepositional phrase as a complement -- a predicate adjective. Other people will consider  "in a relative's wedding" as telling where the boy was. As a result they will see it ass chunking to "was," and they will see no complement. I will accept either explanation.

     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. There are none so we are finished with this sentence.

Sentence #2

The second sentence is:
As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd.
First identify all the prepositional phrases: [Review this.]
As he was coming (down the aisle), he would take two steps, stop, and turn (to the crowd).
With the prepositional phrases out of the way, find a finite verb or verb phrase:
As he was coming (down the aisle), he would take two steps, stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Find the subject of "was coming" by asking "Who or what was coming?" The answer is "he."
As hewas coming (down the aisle), he would take two steps, stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Check for a complement by asking "He was coming whom or what?" Nothing in the sentence answers that question, so there is no complement.
     We need to check for another finite verb or verb phrase, which we find in "would take."
As hewas coming (down the aisle), he would take two steps, stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Find the subject of "would take" by asking "Who or what would take?" The answer here is the second "he." 
As hewas coming (down the aisle), hewould take two steps, stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Check for a complement by asking "He would take whom or what?" The answer to that question is "steps." To determine the type of the complement:
1. Is it a predicate adjective? "Steps" does not describe the subject ("he"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "Steps" and the subject ("he") do not refer to the same thing, they are not "equal," so the complement cannot be a predicate noun.
3. Is it an indirect object? The sentence does not mean he would take  "to" or "for" two steps, so it cannot be an indirect object.
4. Thus this complement has to be a direct object, the only option left.
As hewas coming (down the aisle), hewould take two steps (DO), stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. Note that the sentence means "he would stop," so "stop" here functions as a finite verb.
As hewas coming (down the aisle), hewould take two steps (DO), stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Find the subject of "stop" by asking "Who or what would stop?" The answer here is again the second "he." 
     Check for a complement by asking "He would stop whom or what?" Nothing in the sentence answers that question, so there is no complement.
     Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. The sentence means that he would turn to the crowd, so "turn" here functions as a finite verb.
As hewas coming (down the aisle), hewould take two steps (DO), stop, and turn (to the crowd).
Find the subject of "turn" by asking "Who or what would turn?" The answer here is again the second "he." 
     Check for a complement by asking "He would turn whom or what?" Nothing in the sentence answers that question, so there is no complement.
     Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. There are none, so we are finished with this sentence.
     Note that the "and" joins "would take," "stop," and "turn" as three (equal) finite verbs for the subject "he." Thus they are all part of the same S/V/C pattern.

Sentence #3

The third sentence is:
While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar.
First identify all the prepositional phrases: [Review this.]
While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up (like claws) and roar.
Next look for a finite verb or verb phrase. "Facing" is a verb here, but I expect you to have trouble with it unless you have spent some time studying clauses. [For now, we'll ignore it. I'll explain it in the section on clauses.] You should, however, easily recognize "would put" as a verb. I include "up" in that phrase because "put up" here means "raise."
While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up (like claws) and roar.
Find the subject of "would put up" by asking "Who or what would put up?" The answer here is "he."
While facing the crowd, hewould put his hands up (like claws) and roar.
Check for a complement by asking "He would put up whom or what?" The answer to that question is "hands." To determine the type of the complement:
1. Is it a predicate adjective? "Hands" does not describe the subject ("he"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "Hands" and the subject ("he") do not refer to the same thing, they are not "equal," so the complement cannot be a predicate noun.
3. Is it an indirect object? The sentence does not mean that he put up  "to" or "for" his hands, so it cannot be an indirect object.
4. Thus this complement has to be a direct object, the only option left.
While facing the crowd, hewould put his hands (DO)up (like claws) and roar.
Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. We  find one in "roar." [Note that the "and" here joins "would put up" and "roar."]
While facing the crowd, hewould put his hands (DO)up (like claws) and roar.
Find the subject of "roar" by asking "Who or what would roar?" The answer here is again "he." 
     Check for a complement by asking "He would roar whom or what?" There is no answer to that question in this sentence, so there is no complement for "roar."
     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. There are none so we are finished with this sentence.

Sentence #4

The fourth sentence is:
So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle.
First identify all the prepositional phrases: [Review this.]
So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way (down the aisle).
With the prepositional phrases out of the way, find a finite verb or verb phrase: The first finite verb in the sentence is "went."
So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way (down the aisle).
Find the subject of "went" by asking "Who or what went?" The answer here is "it."
So itwent, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way (down the aisle).
Check for a complement by asking "It went whom or what?" Nothing answers this question, so there is no complement. ["Step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR" explains how it went, but does not really answer the question "It went whom or what?" If you are interested, I analyze these words as Nouns Used as Adverbs.] 
      Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. There are none, so we are finished with this sentence.

Sentence #5

The fifth sentence is:
As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. 
First identify all the prepositional phrases: [Review this.]
As you can imagine, the crowd was (near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) he reached the pulpit. 
With the prepositional phrases out of the way, find a finite verb or verb phrase: The first finite verb phrase in the sentence is "can imagine."
As you can imagine, the crowd was (near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) he reached the pulpit. 
Find the subject of "can imagine" by asking "Who or what can imagine?" The answer here is "you."
As youcan imagine, the crowd was (near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) he reached the pulpit. 
Check for a complement by asking "You can imagine whom or what?" Nothing answers this question, so there is no complement. 
     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "Was" is always a finite verb.
As youcan imagine, the crowd was(near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) he reached the pulpit. 
Find the subject of "was" by asking "Who or what was?" The answer here is "crowd."
As youcan imagine, the crowdwas(near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) he reached the pulpit. 
Check for a complement by asking "The crowd was whom or what?" Some people will consider "near tears" as indicating where the crowd was. They will  say that nothing answers this question, so there is no complement. Others will consider the prepositional phrase "near tears" as a predicate adjective, and thus the complement of "was." I will accept either answer.
     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "Reached" is a finite verb.
As youcan imagine, the crowdwas(near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) he reached the pulpit. 
Find the subject of "reached" by asking "Who or what reached?" The answer here is "he."
As youcan imagine, the crowdwas(near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) hereached the pulpit. 
Check for a complement by asking "He reached whom or what?" The answer to that question is "pulpit." To determine the type of the complement:
1. Is it a predicate adjective? "Pulpit" does not describe the subject ("he"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "Pulpit" and the subject ("he") do not refer to the same thing, they are not "equal," so the complement cannot be a predicate noun.
3. Is it an indirect object? The sentence does not mean that he reached something  "to" or "for" the pulpit, so it cannot be an indirect object.
4. Thus this complement has to be a direct object, the only option left.
As youcan imagine, the crowdwas(near tears) (from laughing so hard) (by the time) hereached the pulpit(DO). 
Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. There are none, so we are finished with this sentence.

Sentence #6

The sixth sentence is:
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing, and was also near tears by the time he reached the pulpit.
First identify all the prepositional phrases: [Review this.]
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed (from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) he reached the pulpit.
With the prepositional phrases out of the way, find a finite verb or verb phrase: The first finite verb phrase in the sentence is "was getting distressed."
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed(from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) he reached the pulpit.
Find the subject of "was getting distressed" by asking "Who or what was getting distressed?" The answer here is "boy."
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed(from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) he reached the pulpit.
Check for a complement by asking "The boy was getting distressed whom or what?" That question does not make any sense, so there is no complement.  [Some people prefer to see "was getting" as the finite verb and "distressed" as a predicate adjective to "was getting." I will accept that.]
     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "Was" is always a finite verb. The "and" in front of it joins "was getting distressed" and "was" as two finite verbs to the subject "boy."
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed(from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) he reached the pulpit.
Check for a complement by asking "The boy was whom or what?" Some people will consider "near tears" as indicating where the boy was. They will  say that nothing answers this question, so there is no complement. Others will consider the prepositional phrase "near tears" as a predicate adjective, and thus the complement of "was." I will accept either answer.
     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "Reached" is a finite verb.
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed(from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) he reached the pulpit.
Find the subject of "reached" by asking "Who or what reached?" The answer here is "he."
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed(from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) hereached the pulpit.
Check for a complement by asking "He reached whom or what?" The answer to that question is "pulpit." To determine the type of the complement:
1. Is it a predicate adjective? "Pulpit" does not describe the subject ("he"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "Pulpit" and the subject ("he") do not refer to the same thing, they are not "equal," so the complement cannot be a predicate noun.
3. Is it an indirect object? The sentence does not mean that he reached something  "to" or "for" the pulpit, so it cannot be an indirect object.
4. Thus this complement has to be a direct object, the only option left.
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed(from all the laughing), and was also (near tears) (by the time) hereached the pulpit(DO).
Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. There are none, so we are finished with this sentence.

Sentence #7

The seventh (and last) sentence is:
When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
There are no prepositional phrases, so we look for a finite verb. "Asked" functions in the same way that "facing" does in Sentence #3 (above), so you are not expected to be able to analyze it until you have had experience analyzing clauses. You should, however, be able to recognize "was doing" as a finite verb.
When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Find the subject of "was doing" by asking "Who or what was doing?" The answer here is "he."
When asked what hewas doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Check for a complement by asking "He was doing whom or what?" I would not expect you to get this until you have had some experience with clauses, but the answer to that question is the "what" before "he." To determine the type of the complement:
1. Is it a predicate adjective? "What" does not describe the subject ("he"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "What" and the subject ("he") do not refer to the same thing, they are not "equal," so the complement cannot be a predicate noun.
3. Is it an indirect object? The sentence does not mean  he was doing something  "to" or "for" what, so it cannot be an indirect object.
4. Thus this complement has to be a direct object, the only option left.
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "Sniffed" is a finite verb.
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Find the subject of "sniffed" by asking "Who or what sniffed?" The answer here is "child."
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the childsniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Check for a complement by asking "The child sniffed whom or what?"  Nothing in this sentence answers the question, so there is no complement.
     Next check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "Said" is always a finite verb. 
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the childsniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Find the subject of "said" by asking "Who or what said?" The answer here is again "child." [Note that the "and" joins "sniffed" and "said" as finite verbs to "child" within the same S/V/C pattern.]
     Check for a complement by asking "The child said whom or what?" I would not expect you to get this until you have had some experience with clauses. The answer to the question is the clause "I was being the Ring Bear." You should, however, be able to determine the type of the complement. To do so:
1. Is it a predicate adjective?" I was being the Ring Bear" does not describe the subject ("child"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "I was being the Ring Bear" and the subject ("child") do not refer to the same thing, they are not "equal," so the complement cannot be a predicate noun.
3. Is it an indirect object? The sentence does not mean  he said something  "to" or "for" "I was being the Ring Bear", so it cannot be an indirect object.
4. Thus this complement has to be a direct object, the only option left.
Check for another finite verb or verb phrase. "was being" is a finite verb. 
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the childsniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Find the subject of "was being" by asking "Who or what was being?" The answer here is "I."
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the childsniffed and said, "Iwas being the Ring Bear."
Check for a complement by asking "I was being whom or what?" The answer to that question is "Ring Bear." To determine the type of the complement:
1. Is it a predicate adjective? "Ring Bear" does not describe the subject ("I"), so it cannot be a predicate adjective.
2. Is it a predicate noun? "Ring Bear" and the subject ("child") do refer to the same thing. The child is saying that is was being "equal" to the Ring Bear, so the complement is a predicate noun.
When asked what(DO of "was doing")hewas doing, the childsniffed and said, "Iwas being the Ring Bear (PN)."
There are no more finite verbs in the sentence so we are finished with it.
Go to Finding Clauses.