Practice
Subject, verb, and object: build simple English sentences
Sign in to saveIn Maya carries a bag, Maya tells us who acts, carries tells us what happens, and a bag tells us what she carries. This small pattern can help you put words in a clear order.
Build and check simple English sentences by identifying the subject and verb, then adding a direct object when the verb needs 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
Maya carries a bag to work. /ˈmaɪ.ə ˈkær.iz ə bæɡ tə wɜːk/
The short answer
Find the subject and verb first. Put the subject before the verb in most simple statements. After an action verb, add a direct object only when the action happens to a person or thing.
Maya carries a bag to work.
Why it works: Maya is the subject, carries is the verb, and a bag is the direct object. To work adds a destination.
5 more examples
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Noah opens the window every morning.
Noah is the subject. Opens is the verb, and the window receives the action.
Not this:
The window opensevery morning. What changes: Here the window is the subject. Opens does not have a direct object. -
Our neighbor walks to the market on Saturdays.
Our neighbor is the subject and walks is the verb. To the market and on Saturdays add place and time.
Not this:Our neighbor
buys fruitat the market on Saturdays. What changes: Fruit is the direct object because the neighbor buys something. -
The students are making a poster for the event.
The students are the subject. Are making is the verb group, and a poster is the direct object.
Not this:
The students are readyfor the event. What changes: Ready describes the students after are. It is not a direct object. -
I put the keys on the shelf.
The keys are the direct object because I put something. On the shelf tells us where they went.
Not this:
The keys areon the shelf. What changes: The keys are the subject. On the shelf gives their location after the verb are. -
Priya called her brother after class.
Her brother is the direct object because Priya called someone.
Not this:Priya
talked to her brotherafter class. What changes: To her brother follows a preposition. It is not the direct object of talked.
Read the full guide
Start with the main action. Ask who or what does that action. Then ask whether the action happens to someone or something. Those answers give you the central parts of a simple sentence before you add time, place, or other details.
Start with the main action
Look for the word or words that say what happens. That is the verb. A verb may be one word, such as cooks, or a group, such as is cooking.
The café closes at five.
Closes is the verb. At five adds time information.
The café is closing early today.
Is closing is a verb group. Early today adds details about the closing.
Which words form the verb in The train has arrived?
Has arrived is the verb group.
Find who or what the sentence is about
After you find the verb, ask who or what performs the action. That person or thing is the subject. The subject can include describing words as well as its main noun.
The old blue bike needs a repair.
The old blue bike is the whole subject. Bike is its main noun.
A message from my manager arrived.
A message from my manager is the subject. Arrived is the verb.
What is the subject in The last bus leaves at midnight?
The last bus is the subject.
Add an object when the action needs one
Some action verbs pass their action to a person or thing. Ask what or whom after the verb. A clear answer is often the direct object.
The nurse checked my temperature.
The nurse is the subject. Checked is the verb. My temperature is what the nurse checked.
We watched a short film.
A short film is the direct object because we watched something.
What is the direct object in Elena wrote an email?
An email is the direct object. Elena wrote something.
Do not add an object to every sentence
Some verbs make a full sentence without a direct object. A word after the verb may tell you where, when, or how something happens. That detail is useful, but it is not automatically an object.
The baby slept for two hours.
The baby is the subject and slept is the verb. For two hours tells the duration.
My friends waited outside the library.
Waited is complete here. Outside the library gives the place.
Does The plane landed safely have a direct object?
No. The plane is the subject, landed is the verb, and safely tells how it landed.
Keep place and time details in their place
Build the central pattern first, then add information about where or when. A direct object usually comes directly after the verb. A preposition often begins a place, time, or person phrase.
Sam left his coat in the car.
His coat is the direct object. In the car tells where Sam left it.
We meet our tutor on Tuesdays.
Our tutor is the direct object. On Tuesdays gives the time.
In They found a seat near the door, what did they find?
A seat is the direct object. Near the door tells where the seat was.
Build and check a simple sentence
Choose a subject, choose the verb form that matches it, and then decide whether the verb needs an object. Read the sentence once more before adding extra details. This order helps you notice a missing subject, verb, or object.
My sister cooks dinner after work.
My sister is the subject, cooks is the verb, and dinner is the direct object. After work gives the time.
The children play in the garden.
The children is the subject and play is the verb. In the garden gives the place, and no object is needed.
Build a sentence about one person, one action, and one thing affected by that action.
For example, My uncle repairs bicycles. My uncle is the subject, repairs is the verb, and bicycles is the direct object.
Before you go
Remember this
Build a simple statement around the subject and verb. Add a direct object when the verb acts on a person or thing. Keep place, time, and other details separate from the main pattern. If you can ask what or whom after an action verb, the answer may be the direct object.
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 "Subject, verb, and object: build simple English sentences"
What is a subject in an English sentence?
The subject is the person, thing, or group the sentence is about. It often performs the action. In Noah opens the window every morning, Noah is the subject because Noah performs the action opens.
Noah opens the window every morning.
What is the difference between a verb and an object?
A verb says what happens or what state exists. A direct object is the person or thing affected by some actions. In The nurse checked my temperature, checked is the verb and my temperature is the direct object.
The window opens every morning.
Does every English sentence need an object?
No. Some verbs are complete without a direct object. In The baby slept for two hours, the baby is the subject and slept is the verb. For two hours adds duration, but it is not an object.
Our neighbor walks to the market on Saturdays.
How can I tell whether a phrase is an object or a place detail?
Ask what or whom after the action verb. In Sam left his coat in the car, his coat answers what did Sam leave, so it is the direct object. In the car tells where the action happened.
Our neighbor buys fruit at the market on Saturdays.
Can a subject be more than one word?
Yes. A subject can be a full noun phrase with describing words. In The old blue bike needs a repair, the old blue bike is the subject. Bike is the main noun, and the other words describe it.
The students are making a poster for the event.