Grammar
Subjects, verbs, and objects: build clear English sentences
In The chef prepared dinner, the chef does the action, prepared names the action, and dinner receives it. Finding those parts makes a long sentence easier to understand.
Identify the subject and verb in a simple English sentence, then recognize a direct object when the verb has one.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The subject carries the action. /ðə ˈsʌb.dʒekt ˈkær.iz ði ˈæk.ʃən/
The short answer
Find the verb first. Then ask who or what performs that action or is in that state. That word or group of words is the subject. If the action happens to someone or something, ask what or whom after the verb to find the direct object.
Nadia opened the window before lunch.
Why it works: Nadia is the subject, opened is the verb, and the window is the direct object.
5 more examples
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The train arrived late this morning.
The train is the subject and arrived is the verb. Arrive does not need a direct object here.
Not this:The driver
checked the trainbefore departure. What changes: Checked has a direct object because the driver checked something: the train. -
Marta carried the boxes upstairs.
Marta performs the action, and the boxes receive it.
Not this:
Marta walkedupstairs after work. What changes: Walked is complete without an object in this sentence. Upstairs tells where Marta walked. -
My neighbours enjoy quiet evenings at home.
My neighbours are the subject, enjoy is the verb, and quiet evenings are the direct object.
Not this:
My neighbours relaxat home after dinner. What changes: Relax does not take a direct object in this sentence. The phrase at home adds location. -
The meeting starts at nine o'clock.
The meeting is the subject and starts is the verb. At nine o'clock is a time phrase, not an object.
Not this:The manager
started the meetingat nine o'clock. What changes: The manager started something, so the meeting is the direct object. -
Those keys belong to Omar.
Those keys are the subject and belong is the verb. To Omar tells us who owns them.
Not this:Omar
found those keysnear the gate. What changes: Found has a direct object because Omar found something: those keys.
Read the full guide
A sentence can include time phrases, places, descriptions, and extra details. Start with its central action instead of trying to label every word at once. Once you find the verb, you can ask a few clear questions to see who is connected to it and whether the action has an object.
Find the verb before you label the sentence
The verb is the best place to begin because it tells you what happens or what state exists. In a simple sentence, it may be one word. In other sentences, it may be a verb group such as is waiting or has finished.
The library closes at six on Fridays.
Closes is the verb. At six and on Fridays give extra time information.
Our guests are waiting in the hall.
Are waiting works together as the verb group. In the hall gives the place.
Which words form the verb in The package has arrived safely?
Has arrived is the verb group. Safely tells how the package arrived.
Ask who or what is the subject
After you find the verb, ask who or what does the action. With a be verb, ask who or what is in the state described. The answer can be one word, a name, or a longer noun phrase.
The red bicycle needs a new chain.
The red bicycle is the full subject. Bicycle is its main noun, but the describing words belong with it.
A message from the office was helpful.
A message from the office is the subject. The phrase from the office describes the message.
Who or what is the subject in The last bus leaves at midnight?
The last bus is the subject. Leaves is the verb.
Look for a direct object after an action verb
Many action verbs can affect a person or thing. Ask what or whom after the verb. If the answer names the receiver of the action, it is the direct object.
The nurse called the doctor.
The nurse is the subject. Called is the verb. The doctor is the direct object because the nurse called someone.
We watched a short film after class.
A short film is the direct object because we watched something. After class gives the time.
Find the direct object in Priya wrote an email to her tutor.
An email is the direct object. Priya wrote something. To her tutor tells who received it.
Do not force an object into every sentence
Some verbs make a complete sentence without a direct object. They can describe movement, arrival, sleep, growth, or a change of state. A place or time phrase after the verb may feel important, but it is not automatically an object.
The children laughed during the game.
Laughed is complete. During the game tells when the laughter happened.
The guests arrived at the hotel early.
Arrived does not act on the hotel. At the hotel gives the destination.
Does The baby slept for two hours have a direct object?
No. The baby is the subject and slept is the verb. For two hours gives duration.
Separate objects from other useful details
A sentence may contain an object plus phrases that tell where, when, how, or for whom. Keep asking the direct question after the verb. The direct object answers what or whom, while the other phrases answer different questions.
Luis sent his sister a postcard from Lisbon.
A postcard is the thing Luis sent. His sister receives it, and from Lisbon gives the place it came from.
The team discussed the plan in the meeting room.
The plan is the direct object because the team discussed it. In the meeting room is a place phrase.
In We bought fruit at the market, what did we buy?
Fruit is the direct object. At the market says where the purchase happened.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the verb, then ask who or what is connected to it as the doer or main topic. That is the subject. For an action verb, ask what or whom after the verb. The answer is a direct object when the verb acts on it. Time and place phrases often add detail, but they are not usually direct objects.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Subjects, verbs, and objects: build clear English sentences"
How can I find the subject of an English sentence?
Find the verb first, then ask who or what does the action or is in the state. In The train arrived late this morning, the train is the subject because it is the thing that arrived.
The train arrived late this morning.
What is the difference between a verb and a direct object?
The verb names an action or state. A direct object receives the action. In Marta carried the boxes upstairs, carried is the verb and the boxes are the direct object.
The driver checked the train before departure.
Does every English sentence have a direct object?
No. Some verbs are complete without one. In My neighbours relax at home after dinner, relax is the verb and at home adds location. There is no direct object.
Marta carried the boxes upstairs.
Is a time or place phrase a direct object?
Usually no. Time and place phrases add information about when or where an action happens. In The meeting starts at nine o'clock, at nine o'clock is a time phrase, not a direct object.
Marta walked upstairs after work.
Can a sentence have both an object and extra details?
Yes. In Omar found those keys near the gate, those keys are the direct object because Omar found something. Near the gate adds the location of that action.
My neighbours enjoy quiet evenings at home.
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