i-English

Every English sentence is built from a few basic parts. The subject tells who or what the sentence is about, while the predicate tells what the subject does or what is true about it. The verb expresses the action or state of being. An object receives the action of the verb, with a direct object answering what or whom and an indirect object answering to whom or for whom. A complement completes the meaning of the sentence by describing or renaming the subject or object. Modifiers add details such as how, when, where, why, or which. A phrase is a group of related words without both a subject and a verb, while a clause contains both. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence, whereas a dependent clause cannot stand alone and must be connected to an independent clause.

Grammar Term	Best Question	What It Means	Example
Subject	Who or what?	The person, place, thing, or idea the sentence is about.	John runs.
Predicate	What about the subject?	Everything that tells something about the subject.	John runs every morning.
Verb	What happens? What is/does?	The action or state of being.	John runs.
Object	What? Whom?	Receives the action of the verb.	John kicked the ball.
Direct Object	What? Whom?	Receives the action directly.	She wrote a letter.
Indirect Object	To whom? For whom?	Receives the direct object.	She gave Tom a letter.
Complement	What completes the meaning?	Completes or renames the subject or object.	She is happy.
Subject Complement	What is the subject?	Describes or renames the subject.	The sky is blue.
Object Complement	What did the object become?	Describes or renames the object.	They elected him president.
Modifier	Which? What kind? How? When? Where? Why?	Adds extra information.	The red car sped away.
Phrase	How is the idea expressed?	A group of words without both a subject and a verb.	In the morning
Clause	Who did what?	A group of words with a subject and a verb.	When she arrived
Independent Clause	Can it stand alone?	A complete sentence.	She arrived early.
Dependent Clause	Needs what?	Has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone.	Because she arrived early

A simple memory framework

Sentence
│
├── Subject → Who or What?
│
└── Predicate → What about the subject?
      │
      ├── Verb → Action or state
      ├── Object → What? Whom?
      │     ├── Direct Object → What? Whom?
      │     └── Indirect Object → To whom? For whom?
      ├── Complement → Completes meaning
      │     ├── Subject Complement
      │     └── Object Complement
      └── Modifier → Adds details

Building Blocks

Words
  ↓
Phrases
  ↓
Clauses
  ├── Independent Clause (complete sentence)
  └── Dependent Clause (needs another clause)
        ↓
Complete Sentence

A useful way to remember the parts of a sentence is:

• Subject = Who or what?
• Verb = What happened?
• Object = To whom or what?
• Complement = What is it now?
• Modifier = Which one? What kind? When? Where? Why? How?
• Phrase = A group of words without a complete thought.
• Clause = A group of words with a subject and a verb.
• Independent Clause = Can stand alone.
• Dependent Clause = Cannot stand alone.

This framework follows standard English grammar and is suitable for learning, writing, and diagramming sentences.