Grammar
Simple sentences: subjects, verbs, and complete ideas
You want to send a quick message: My train is late. It is short, but the person, the verb, and the message are clear.
Build and recognize a simple English sentence with a subject, a verb, and a complete idea.
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
My train is late. /maɪ treɪn ɪz leɪt/
The short answer
For a clear simple sentence, give the reader a subject, a verb, and a complete idea. In a statement, the usual order is subject then verb. Add an object, description, time, or place when the verb needs more information.
The cafe opens at seven on weekdays.
Why it works: The cafe is the subject, opens is the verb, and the rest gives the time of the action.
5 more examples
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The shop opens at nine.
The shop is the subject, and opens is the verb.
Not this:
The shopat nine. What changes: This group has no verb, so it does not make a complete sentence. -
Mina is cooking dinner.
Mina is the subject. Is cooking is the verb phrase.
Not this:
Cookingdinner. What changes: This group has an action word, but it does not say who is doing the action. -
We need more chairs.
We is the subject, need is the verb, and more chairs completes the message.
Not this:We
need. What changes: Need usually needs more information here, such as the thing that is needed. -
The meeting ended early.
The meeting is the subject, and ended tells what happened.
Not this:
Endedearly. What changes: This group does not name what ended. -
Her brother feels tired today.
Her brother is the subject. Feels tired gives his state.
Not this:Her brother
feels. What changes: Feels needs a description here to complete the idea.
Read the full guide
When a sentence feels unfinished, look for its main action first. Then ask who or what does that action. This quick check helps you write a clear message, even when you add a time, place, or object.
Find the action or state first
When you read a text message, the verb often shows the main point. A verb can name an action, as in walks or cooks. It can also give a state, as in is or feels. Find that word before you look at the other parts.
The baby sleeps upstairs.
Sleeps is the verb. It tells you what happens.
Which word is the verb in 'My phone needs charging'?
Needs is the verb. It tells you the state of the phone.
Ask who or what the sentence is about
After you find the verb, ask who or what is connected to it. That word or group of words is often the subject. The subject can be one word, such as Maya, or a longer group, such as The new manager.
The new manager arrives tomorrow.
The new manager is the subject. Arrives is the verb.
Find the subject in 'Our neighbors cook dinner together.'
Our neighbors is the subject. Cook is the verb.
Use the usual order in a statement
In most everyday statements, put the subject before the verb. This order helps the reader follow your idea quickly. Put extra details after the main part when they tell the reader where, when, or what happened.
My sister works near the airport.
My sister comes before works. Near the airport adds a place detail.
Choose the usual statement order: 'The bus stops here' or 'Stops the bus here'?
Use The bus stops here. The subject comes before the verb in this statement.
Make sure the idea is complete
A subject and a verb are a useful start, but some verbs need more words. If you write The keys are, your reader waits for a description or place. Add the missing information so the message is complete.
The keys are on the kitchen table.
Are needs the place phrase on the kitchen table to finish this message.
Which sentence is complete: 'The room feels' or 'The room feels cold'?
Use The room feels cold. Cold completes the idea after feels.
Read questions and commands carefully
Questions do not always begin with the subject. In Does he live nearby?, does comes first, then he, then live. Commands often leave out you because the listener is understood: Please wait here means You, please wait here.
Does your bus stop near the library?
Does is an auxiliary verb. Your bus is the subject, and stop is the main verb.
Who is understood in the command 'Take a seat'?
The understood subject is you. The command begins with the verb take.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the subject and the verb first. In a usual statement, put the subject before the verb. Then check whether the sentence gives the reader a complete idea. A question may begin with an auxiliary verb, and a command often leaves out the understood subject you.
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 "Simple sentences: subjects, verbs, and complete ideas"
What is the shortest complete English sentence?
A sentence can be very short when it has a clear subject and verb, such as 'Birds fly.' Some commands can be shorter because English understands the listener as you, as in 'Wait.' Check whether the reader can understand the full idea from the words you give.
The shop opens at nine.
Does every English sentence need a subject?
Most statements and questions need a subject, even when it is a short word such as it or there. Commands often leave out you because the listener is understood. In ordinary writing practice, include a clear subject when you write a statement or question.
The shop at nine.
Can a simple sentence have a long subject?
Yes. A subject can be one word or a group of words. In 'The woman with the red umbrella works here,' the whole group before works names the person the sentence is about. Find the main verb, then ask who or what connects to that verb.
Mina is cooking dinner.
Why does a sentence sometimes feel incomplete?
Some verbs need more words to finish the idea. For example, 'The keys are' leaves the reader waiting for a place or description. Add the needed information: 'The keys are on the table' or 'The keys are missing.' Read the sentence as if you had no extra context.
Cooking dinner.
Do questions use the same word order as statements?
Many questions use an auxiliary verb before the subject, as in 'Does she work here?' The main verb comes after the subject. A statement usually puts the subject before the verb: 'She works here.' Keep the subject and the main verb easy to find in both forms.
We need more chairs.