Writing tips and grammar lessons don’t have to be boring! They can be fun and entertaining, as well! Right? You bet! (We’ll cover interjections later ;-) ).

Today’s topic covers subjects and predicates. And, to help with the lesson is a “blast from the past.” Schoolhouse Rock has been lost to Saturday morning cartoon viewers for many years. But, we are going to dust it off and bring back an episode to help us.

One step in becoming a better writer is not just concentrating on sentence structure, but also understanding the parts of the sentence. All sentences must have a subject and a verb.

The subject is a noun (person, place, or thing) and usually answers the question “who or what the sentence is about?” Often, it is found very early in the sentence.

The predicate is the verb. If it is an action verb it tells the reader what the subject is doing. If it is a linking verb (i.e. is, was) it links the subject to other parts of the sentence that describe or identify the subject to the reader.

But, why bore you with this? Watch “The Tale of Mr. Morton” and learn for yourself. This first aired in December of 1993. Enjoy.

(By the way, the lyrics are included to help you follow along.)

This is the tale of Mister Morton
Mister Morton is who?
He is the subject of our tale
and the predicate tells what Mister
Morton must do

Mister Morton walked down the street
Mister Morton walked
Mister Morton talked to his cat
Mister Morton talked
(Hello, cat. You look good.)
Mister Morton was lonely
Mister Morton was

Mister Morton is the subject of the
sentence, and what the predicate says,
he does

Mister Morton knew just one girl
Mister Morton knew
Mister Morton grew flowers for Pearl
Mister Morton grew
Mister Morton was very shy
Mister Morton was

Mister Morton is the subject of the
sentence, and what the predicate says,
he does

The subject is a noun,
that’s person, place or thing
It’s who or what the sentence is about
And the predicate is the verb
That’s the action word
that gets the subject up and out

Mister Morton wrote Pearl a poem
Mister Morton wrote
Pearl replied in the afternoon
Pearl replied by a note
Mister Morton was very nervous
Mister Morton was

Mister Morton is the subject of the
sentence, and what the predicate says,
he does!

The cat stretched,
the sun beat down,
a neighbor chased his kid.
(come here kid - come on!)
Each sentence is completed when
you know the subject did.

Mister Morton knocked on her door
Mister Morton knocked
Mister Morton sat on her porch
Yes, he just sat and rocked.
Mister Morton was a nervous man;
when she opened up the door he ran.

Mister Morton climbed up his stairs
Mister Morton climbed
Mister Morton rhymed pretty words
Mister Morton rhymed
Mister Morton was lonely
Mister Morton was
until Pearl showed up with a single rose.
Who says women can’t propose?
Now Mister Morton is happy
and Pearl and the cat are too

They’re the subjects of the sentence
and what the predicate says, they do

This video was performed by the famous voice of Jack Sheldon. The music and lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens, and the animation was by J.J. Sedelmaier Productions.