English: Friday, February 8, 2013

1. Handouts: * Grammar #54 (Diagramming Direct and Indirect Objects and Predicate Words)

2. Homework: * Grammar #54 (Diagramming Direct and Indirect Objects and Predicate Words) [If you don’t finish in class, it is homework.]

3. Assignments due: * Grammar #53 (Diagramming the Four Kinds of Sentences)

Lesson Goal: Learn how to diagram direct, indirect objects, and predicate words.

Outcomes: Be able to . . .

1. Identify sentences that have direct and indirect objects.2. Apply the “what” question to find the direct object in any given

sentence.3. Apply the “who” (or “for whom,” or “to whom”) question to find

the indirect object.4. Diagram the simple subject, simple predicate, and direct or

indirect object (predicate words) in any given sentence.

Starter #1: What are the four kinds of sentences we learned at the first of the year?

DeclarativeMakes a statement (declares something)

InterrogativeAsks a question (think of someone interrogating a criminal)

ImperativeGives a command (think of an impish child—or dog—who

ignores being told what to do)

ExclamatoryExpresses great emotion (dramatic, full of feeling)

Starter #2: Let’s see how we diagram each of those four types of sentences.

Declarative The house has central heat. Diagram this sentence.

Interrogative Does it have air conditioning? Diagram this sentence.[Hint: What trick do we use with sentences that are questions?] Reword them as declarative statements.

Starter #3: Here are the last two types of sentences. . . .

Imperative Turn down the thermostat at ten o’clock. Diagram this.[Hint: What is unusual about the subject in these command sentences?] When a name is not included, the command is an understood “you.”

Exclamatory How warm it is in this room! Diagram this sentence.[Hint: The subject does not have to be the first word. Find the subject noun or pronoun.]

Starter #4: A sentence can be as simple as two words—a noun (subject) and a verb (predicate). But sometimes, using a noun and a verb leaves you hanging with an incomplete sentence:

Marissa threw. Is that a sentence? It leaves us hanging. We ask, “She threw what?”

Marissa threw the ball. What part of speech is “ball” in this sentence?

It’s the direct object. It answers the “what” question.

Marissa threw the ball. How would we diagram this sentence?

Starter #5: Note that the previous sentence used an active verb. What happens when you use a passive “be verb” as a linking verb?

Today’s special is blackened swordfish.

Notice that there are two nouns in this sentence. One serves as the subject, the other is a predicate noun. What does that mean? How would you diagram this:

Today’s special is blackened swordfish.

Starter #6: What if your sentence has a linking verb that leads to a predicate adjective, rather than a predicate noun?

Edmund seems confused. (This is like saying “Confused Edmund . . .)

(Note that some verbs besides the “be verbs” are linking verbs. They are verbs that are not active, like seems, appears, tastes, etc.) See if you can diagram this sentence:

Edmund seems confused.

Starter #7: Now let’s try a sentence that has an indirect object.

Remember that a direct object answers the question, “What?”

An indirect object, however, answers the question, “Who?” or “For whom?” or “To Whom?”

Marissa threw Jake the ball. How would we diagram this sentence?

Marissa threw what? ball (direct object)

To whom did she throw it? Jake (indirect object)

Marissa threw Jake the ball. How do we diagram this sentence?