Page 33 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book

It is important to recognize how the different parts relate
to each other. Take the example of the Miller family. A mother
and father—Mr. and Mrs. Miller—are the core of a family.
Children and other members are additions to that family.
When they are together, they form a unit: the Miller family.

If Anna
marries
Jake, he will
be part of
her family.
Mother and Father Children Spouse

Core of the Unit Building Block Building Block

Together, they form the Miller family. Jake, still part of his own family,
could become an additional
member of the Miller family.

Similarly, a sentence has a subject and verb that form a core
unit. The direct object you add represents a building block that
depends on the core unit to make complete sense.

The following chart illustrates the different roles nouns assume
in sentences. The nouns book, hamburger, Susan, and lap
are used first as objects, and then as subjects.

Nouns Nouns
Direct Objects Subjects

Charles writes a book. A book has many pages.
Jake eats a hamburger. A hamburger can be hot.
Ben loves Susan. Susan loves Ben.
Maria swims a lap. A lap is long.

Sometimes it is hard to recognize the subjects or objects of
a sentence. Use question words to assist you with this process.

Question words can refer to persons or things. They can help you
identify the subject or the object. The following explanations will
give you a short overview. More details follow later in this book.

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