Sentence Analysis: Subject and Predicate

Sentence analysis reveals the architecture of language. Understanding subject and predicate prepares children for clear writing and complex reading comprehension.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Language
• Learning area: Grammar
• Level: Ages 5-6

Objectives

• Identify subject and predicate in sentences
• Understand sentence structure
• Build parsing skills
• Prepare for complex sentence construction

Materials

• Sentence strips on card stock
• Scissors for cutting
• Red and black arrows (Montessori sentence analysis)
• Sentence analysis chart

Instructions

1. Present sentence: 'The cat sat on the mat.' 2. 'Who or what is this sentence about?' (The cat—subject) 3. 'What did the cat do?' (sat on the mat—predicate) 4. Cut sentence between subject and predicate. 5. Use arrows: black arrow asks 'Who?' red arrow asks 'What doing?' 6. Analyze multiple sentences.

Educator tip

Use the Montessori sentence analysis materials—the arrows make abstract grammatical concepts physical and manipulable.

Assessment

Child divides sentences into subject and predicate accurately.

More from Language

• Sentence Building with Grammar Symbols
• Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular
• Word Families: Building Word Walls
• Prefix Exploration: Un-, Re-, Pre-
• Suffix Exploration: -ful, -less, -ness
• Homophone Pairs: Same Sound, Different Meaning
• Root Word Investigation
• Spelling Pattern: Silent E