Subject, predicate, direct & indirect object and subordinate clauses
Learn to analyse Spanish sentences: identify subject and predicate, distinguish direct object (DO) from indirect object (IO) using pronoun substitution, recognise circumstantial complements, attribute, impersonal sentences, coordinated and subordinate clauses. 15 questions with real sentences.
Spanish Language · Primary, Secondary
DO: substitute with lo/la/los/las ("Vi a María" → "La vi"). IO: substitute with le/les ("Di un regalo a Juan" → "Le di un regalo"). A mechanical rule that never fails.
"Llueve" has no grammatical subject — it's an impersonal sentence. "Los niños juegan" → subject "los niños". The exam covers both cases.
Noun clause (functions as DO), relative clause (modifies noun using que/quien), circumstantial clause (functions as CC). With Secondary-level examples.
"A student always asked about the direct object. With the substitution trick ("Can it be replaced by lo/la?") they now identify it independently in seconds."
Tricks and techniques to master this topic faster:
Subject: agrees in person and number with the verb. Ask ¿quién? or ¿quiénes? to the verb.
DO: ask ¿qué? or ¿a quién? to the verb. If replaceable by lo/la/los/las, it's DO.
IO: ask ¿a quién? or ¿para quién?. If replaceable by le/les, it's IO.
Reflexive passive: "Se venden pisos" — the subject is "pisos" (it agrees with the verb).
If you are studying Spanish Syntax — Sentence Analysis, these curriculum topics complement each other:
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