Identifying Sentence Constituents: Form and Function

When he finally reached home, his children were fast asleep. Form: Adverbial clause Function: It provides information about the time at which the children were fast asleep.

The salesman sold the lady an expensive ring. Form: Direct object Function: It receives the action of the verb 'sold' and tells what was sold.

The CD that he brought yesterday has been stolen. Form: Relative clause Function: It provides additional information about the CD and identifies which CD is being referred to.

The winners may collect their prizes this evening. Form: Subject Function: It is the doer of the action in the sentence.

The administration considers all such reports utterly false. Form: Object complement Function: It describes the state of the reports and completes the meaning of the verb 'considers'.

The chairman left the office after the meeting. Form: Prepositional phrase Function: It indicates the location from which the chairman left.

He made John a chocolate cake. Form: Double object Function: It shows that John received the action of the verb 'made' and that he received a chocolate cake.

He called the dean a thief. Form: Direct object Function: It receives the action of the verb 'called' and tells who was called.

The clock on the table is broken. Form: Prepositional phrase Function: It indicates the location or position of the clock.

The jury reached a decision very quickly. Form: Subject Function: It is the doer of the action in the sentence.