Patina · Grammar

Subject  ·  Verb  ·  Object

who does what, with what

In Survival English you found the subject and the verb. Today, two new parts: the object (what gets the action) and the tool (with a hammer). We construct a sentence the way we construct a bookshelf: every part in its place.

★ the four parts, find it  ·  ★★ subject or object?, the hidden you  ·  ★★★ write it with the subject, build it, fix it, your home

Download the PDF PDF · 5 pages

For the teacher · In class

stage the four parts and read the model sentence aloud. Ask "Who does it? What does she do? What gets the action? With what?" For Find it, project one sentence and the class calls out the word; you click it. For Subject or object?, read each pair together: the same word, two jobs. For the hidden you, hold up a real instruction booklet if you have one. For Your home, everyone puts one sentence in the chat.

★ The four parts

Every sentence on this sheet has the same four parts, always in the same order.

Subject → Verb → Object → with + Tool

Subject

who does it. It comes first.

Verb

the action. With he, she or a name: add -s.

Object

what gets the action. It comes right after the verb.

Tool

with + a tool: how you do it. It comes last.

★ Find it in the sentence

Click the part. On paper, circle it.

Where is the SUBJECT?

who does it
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Where is the VERB?

the action
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Where is the OBJECT?

what gets the action
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Where is the TOOL?

with + a tool: how
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★★ Subject or object?

Look at the word in bold. Is it the subject or the object? Click one.

  1. 1The screw holds the leg.
  2. 2Bettina tightens the screw.
  3. 3The glue holds the wood.
  4. 4Femi buys the glue.
  5. 5The drill makes a hole.
  6. 6Agnieszka charges the drill.
  7. 7The ladder stands in the hall.
  8. 8Joon carries the ladder.

★★ Instructions: the hidden you

Instructions have no subject. Who does it? You do. Find the part in each step.

(You) Tighten the screws with the Allen key.

In instructions, the subject is hidden. It is always you.

Where is the VERB?

in instructions, the verb comes first
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Where is the OBJECT?

what gets the action
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★★★ Write it with the subject

Write each step with its subject.

  1. 1Tighten the screws with the Allen key.
  2. 2Measure the wall with the tape measure.
  3. 3Check the shelf with the level.
  4. 4Hold the bolt with the pliers.

★★★ Build the sentence

Put the four parts in order. Give the verb its -s if it needs one.

  1. 1with a screwdriverBettinathe screwtighten
  2. 2the shelfwith a levelcheckJoon
  3. 3Iwith a tape measuremeasurethe wall
  4. 4sandwith sandpaperthe doorAgnieszka
  5. 5the wireThabowith pliershold
  6. 6with a drillWemakea hole

★★★ Fix the sentence

Each sentence is broken in one place. Write it correctly.

  1. 1Bashir tighten the bolt with a wrench.Bashir is he: add -s.
  2. 2Bettina measures the wall a tape measure.The tool needs with.
  3. 3The board cuts Teodora with a saw.Who does it? That is the subject. It comes first.
  4. 4Femi with a drill drills a hole.The tool comes last.
  5. 5Joon holds with the pliers the wire.The object comes right after the verb.

★★★ Your home

Now you. Write about your home. Then put one sentence in the chat.

  1. 1What do you fix at home? With what?I fix .
  2. 2What can you do with a screwdriver?I with a screwdriver.

For the teacher · Answer key

Subject or object? 1 subject  ·  2 object  ·  3 subject  ·  4 object  ·  5 subject  ·  6 object  ·  7 subject  ·  8 object.    Write it with the subject: You tighten the screws with the Allen key.  ·  You measure the wall with the tape measure.  ·  You check the shelf with the level.  ·  You hold the bolt with the pliers.    Build the sentence: Bettina tightens the screw with a screwdriver.  ·  Joon checks the shelf with a level.  ·  I measure the wall with a tape measure.  ·  Agnieszka sands the door with sandpaper.  ·  Thabo holds the wire with pliers.  ·  We make a hole with a drill.    Fix the sentence: Bashir tightens the bolt with a wrench.  ·  Bettina measures the wall with a tape measure.  ·  Teodora cuts the board with a saw.  ·  Femi drills a hole with a drill.  ·  Joon holds the wire with the pliers.