Plain English Part 2

Two cla.s.ses have always existed.

To which cla.s.s do you belong?

Join your cla.s.s in the struggle.

In every one of these six groups of words we have a complete thought expressed. Each of these groups of words we call a sentence.

+15.+ +A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought.+

Exercise 2

Write in each blank s.p.a.ce the word necessary to express a complete thought.

Men...... ......fade.

Leaves...... ......bloom.

Water...... ......run.

Fire...... ......write.

Women...... ......grow.

Children...... ......speak.

SUBJECT AND PREDICATE

+16.+ We have found that every sentence must have at least two words, one word to name that about which something is said and another word which does the saying or makes the a.s.sertion. In the sentence, _Men work_, we have these two parts; _men_ which is the part about which something is said, and _work_ which tells what men do.

+The part about which something is said is called the subject.+

In this sentence, _Men work_, _men_, therefore, is the subject, for it names that about which something is said.

+17.+ +The part that a.s.serts or says something about the subject is called the predicate.+

Therefore in this sentence, _Men work_, _work_ is the predicate. In the following sentences draw a single line under the subject and a double line under the predicate, thus, _~Birds~ =fly=_.

s.h.i.+ps sail.

Soldiers fight.

Flowers fade.

Horses neigh.

Flags wave.

Snow comes.

War rages.

Winds blow.

Fish swim.

+18.+ We may add other words to the subject or the predicate and so enlarge their meaning, as for instance we may say:

The stately s.h.i.+ps sail proudly away.

The war in Europe rages furiously.

The soldiers in the army fight like men gone mad.

Yet in every one of these sentences you will find the subject and the predicate,--_s.h.i.+ps sail_, _War rages_, _Soldiers fight_.

Every sentence must have a subject and a predicate, and it is a very important part of the study of sentences to be able to distinguish quickly and readily the subject and the predicate. Find that about which something is said, and that will always be the subject. Find that which is said about the subject, and that will be the predicate.

+Every sentence must contain a subject and a predicate.+

+The subject of a sentence names that about which something is said.+

+The predicate tells that which is said about the subject.+

Exercise 3

In the following sentences add other words to the subject and to the predicate to enlarge their meaning, then draw a single line under the subject and a double line under the predicate:

s.h.i.+ps sail.

Tides flow.

Stars s.h.i.+ne.

Rain falls.

Children play.

Nature sleeps.

Waves break.

War rages.

Birds sing.

Exercise 4

In the following sentences the subject and the predicate have other words added to enlarge their meaning. Find the subject and predicate and draw a single line under the subject and a double line under the predicate, as in the sentence,

_The ~workers~ of the world =build= palaces for other people._

1. Our success lies in solidarity.

2. New occasions teach new duties.

3. Two cla.s.ses exist in the world.

4. Labor creates all wealth.

5. The workers fight all battles.

6. Our time calls for earnest deeds.

7. Knowledge unlocks the door of life.

8. Ignorance bars the path to progress.

9. Few people think for themselves.

10. Hope stirs us to action.