Lesson 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Today's goal:

To learn about finite verbs, the subject, predicate, and predicator. 

What is a finite verb?

Finite verb: persoonsvorm

A finite verb is a verb form that shows the tense in a sentence. All verb forms are finite except the infinite verbs, past participle, and the -ing form.

Some examples:

Finite: He studies English.

Imperative: Grab your book!

Non-finite vs finite

Infinitive: He wanted to find a solution.

The -ing form: She was listening to music.

Past participle: The robber has been arrested.

finite verb

Non-finite verb

Nancy does her homework every day

They are writing a letter

Nancy is doing her homework

She speaks Chinese very well

He had his car cleaned

Subject

A person, a thing, or an animal about whom or which something is said is the subject of a sentence. 

The subject can be found by looking at the words that precede the verb in a sentence.

Example: Robert is very good at tennis.

Provisional subjects

A provisional subject is a word that serves the purpose to introduce the subject.

Example: There are so many people in the supermarket today.

In this case, there is the provisional subject and introduces the (real) subject so many people.

formal subjects

A formal subject is a subject in a sentence that has no meaning and doesn't refer to anything. They are used to refer to time, distance, the weather, and situations.

Example: It is no longer raining.

Which of the following contain formal subjects?

1. Sentences 1, 4, and 5 contain a formal subject.
2. Sentences 2 and 5 contain a formal subject.
3. Sentences 2 and 4 contain a formal subject..
4. Sentences 4 and 5 contain a formal subject.

Predicates

The predicate is everything that is said about the subject in a sentence.

He might have become a doctor.

She listens to the BBC every morning.

So basically: All words outside the subject form the predicate.

Predicators

The predicator is the verb phrase in a predicate.

Example: He might have become a doctor. 

She listens to the BBC every morning.

What is the predicate in the following sentences?

1. We would like to go to Windesheim again.

2. Next month, my daughter is getting married in London.

3. My students always do their homework.

4. He has a huge, beautiful house.

5. The soup tastes good.

What is the predicate in the following sentences?

1. We would like to go to Windesheim again.

2. My daughter is getting married in London.

3. My students always do their homework.

4. He has a huge, beautiful house.

5. The soup tastes good.

What is the predicator in the following sentences?

1. We would like to go to Windesheim again.

2. Next month, my daughter is getting married in London.

3. My students always do their homework.

4. He has a huge, beautiful house.

5. The soup tastes good.

What is the predicator in the following sentences?

1. We would like to go to Windesheim again.

2. Next month, my daughter is getting married in London.

3. My students always do their homework.

4. He has a huge, beautiful house.

5. The soup tastes good.

What we've learned today

Identifying finite verbs, objects, predicates, and predicators.

questions?