Predicate 1 - Direct Objects

The predicate is the part of the sentence that contains the verb and phrases governed by the verb.  It can contain just the verb, or nouns, adjectives, and other phrases.  

Direct objects are nouns that follow action verbs.  They receive the action from the verb.  Direct objects answer these questions:

verb + Whom?
verb + What?

The cat drank some cream. Drank what? Cream.
Sally called her mother.  Called whom? Mother.
Daily Grammar Lesson 106

Predicate Examples:
Below are different forms the predicate can take.  In this lesson we are focusing only on the direct object.  The other concepts will be covered later.

Just the verb.

• The sun shone.

If the verb is an action verb, the noun in the predicate is a direct object.

• The sun burned my skin.
• Skin is the direct object.

If the verb is a linking verb, the noun in the predicate is a predicate noun (aka predicate nominative).

• The sun is a ball of fire.
• Ball is the predicate noun.

If the verb is a linking verb, the adjective in the predicate is a predicate adjective.

• The sun is hot.
• Hot is the predicate adjective.

If you really want to be confused, read the Wikipedia article on predicates.

Teaching Ideas:

• Play predicate games.
• Practice finding direct objects in copywork. 
• Remember: The subject does the verb.  The direct object has the verb done to it.

Copywork Ideas (younger):

Copywork Ideas (older):

• Time rolls his ceaseless course. (Scott)
• Love understands love: it needs no talk. (Havergal)