Subjects and Predicates Worksheet — Grade 3
Grade 3 students practice splitting sentences into complete subjects and predicates, then identify the simple subject hiding inside each one.
Every sentence in English has two main parts: the complete subject, which names who or what the sentence is about, and the complete predicate, which tells what that subject does or is. Tucked inside the complete subject is one key word — the simple subject — which is the main noun the sentence is built around. Knowing how to find these parts helps Grade 3 students read more carefully and write clearer sentences of their own. This worksheet moves through three types of practice: circling the simple subject in a sentence, filling in blanks that name sentence parts, and rewriting sentences where the predicate appears before the subject. Work through each section in order, and talk through any questions that give your student pause.
Subjects and Predicates Worksheet — Grade 3
Work through each part of this worksheet. Read every sentence carefully before you write your answer.
Remember
- The complete subject is all the words that tell who or what the sentence is about. Example: 'The tall pine tree' in 'The tall pine tree swayed.'
- The complete predicate is all the words that tell what the subject does or is. Example: 'hopped over the log' in 'A frog hopped over the log.'
- The simple subject is the main noun inside the complete subject. In 'The tall pine tree swayed,' the simple subject is 'tree.'
Part A — Find the Simple Subject
Read each sentence and circle the simple subject.
- 1.
The cold winter wind blew the leaves off the tree.
- 2.
A small green frog jumped onto the lily pad.
- 3.
Our gym teacher taught us a new jumping game.
- 4.
The two fastest runners won a ribbon at the school fair.
Part B — Complete the Sentence
Fill in the blank to complete each sentence about subjects and predicates.
- 5.
In 'The busy librarian sorted all the books,' the complete subject is ____.
- 6.
In 'Six brown horses ran across the wide field,' the simple subject is ____.
- 7.
In 'A loud clap of thunder woke the sleeping cat,' the complete predicate is ____.
- 8.
The complete subject tells ____ or what the sentence is about.
Part C — Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has the subject and predicate in the wrong order. Rewrite each sentence correctly.
- 9.
Scored three goals in the big game Priya.
- 10.
Fell off the science shelf two heavy binders.
- 11.
Read ten pages of the book last night Layla.
- 12.
Brought his lunch box to school each morning Marcus.
Answer key
Part A — Find the Simple Subject
- 1.wind
- 2.frog
- 3.teacher
- 4.runners
Part B — Complete the Sentence
- 5.The busy librarian
- 6.horses
- 7.woke the sleeping cat
- 8.who
Part C — Fix the Sentence
- 9.Priya scored three goals in the big game.
- 10.Two heavy binders fell off the science shelf.
- 11.Layla read ten pages of the book last night.
- 12.Marcus brought his lunch box to school each morning.
What this worksheet teaches
- Split a sentence into its complete subject and complete predicate.
- Identify the simple subject within the complete subject of a sentence.
- Rewrite jumbled sentences so the subject appears before the predicate.
What is on the page
In Part C — Fix the Sentence, “Scored three goals in the big game Priya.” is corrected in the key to “Priya scored three goals in the big game.”
The language it drills
“The cold winter wind blew the leaves off the tree.” has one answer in the key: “wind”.
Notes for the grown-up
- Students often circle describing words like 'big' or 'old' as the simple subject instead of the main noun.
- Ask the student 'what one word is the sentence really about?' to guide them back to the main noun.
- A student is ready to move on when they can split any unfamiliar sentence and name its simple subject without prompting.
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