Subjects, Objects and Verbs -- Gosh Darn!

Subjects, objects, and verbs really aren't so scary after all!

I possess a great deal of creativity and an ability to see problems at angles. Thus my approach to what I saw as the prime issue of writers -- the inability to structure their sentences to standards -- was not head-on. It was not "read the book, dunderhead!" Instead I looked at the society which my students live inside, and that has so strongly influenced their learning styles, in hope of finding a solution which would let them fix their sentence fragments, comma splices, fused sentences, and run-ons.

I discovered over a few years of teaching basic grammar classes, that many of my students were simply incapable of identifying the verb in a sentence. To simply parrot, "it's the action" at them was counterproductive. For some reason their brains were hard-wired to see movement potential in any word. It wasn't lack of wanting to learn, it was material presented in ways that didn't allow them to learn.

One brainstorm and earth-shaking "ah-ha" moment gave me the following exercise which allows 90% of my students to learn what goes inside a sentence, how to merge their sentences, and when to end a sentence. (And let me tell you, a 90 - 95% pass rate is astronomical -- and is inside an "A" realm.)

Identifying verbs, however, first requires imparting the ability to find the two types of nouns within a sentences. So, with little further ado, I share:

Ask: "What is a noun?"

The invariable answers come from most sides, "A person, place, or thing." And then a voice or two will chime, "And an idea!"

After affirmation, and because my students need all the grammar affirmation they can get, I let them know that we aren't going to talk about that fourth additional category of "ideas." They are highfalutin and we want to deal with the everyday.

So: Nouns = person, place, or thing.

Draw a person. NO! Don't just sit there staring at your damn screen. Treat me interactively! DRAW a PERSON! Participate with the Video. (Click here and return after watching!)

Can you find the verbs in the following sentences? Draw each and every one if you are serious about fixing your writing, and attaining A's. (Take your time!)

1. The girl sat.
2. The dog howled.
3. The cat slept.
4. The ball bounced.
   
5. The car exploded.
   

Now DRAW and WRITE five sentences of your own and label each part. NO! If you can not label the word as a subject, verb, or article, you may NOT use it. (Your sentences will be simple in the extreme.) If you really want to fix your sentence issues, you won't shortcut the process.

Watch for part 2 of the series....