ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sentence function

In a sentence, every word has a job to do. Just like on a construction site, each worker has a specific task that helps the building get built. In a sentence, we call these jobs "sentence functions." Here are some important sentence functions:

- The subject: This is the person, animal, or thing doing the action in the sentence. For example, in the sentence "The cat ate the fish," the subject is "the cat."
- The verb: This is the action the subject is doing. For example, in the sentence "The cat ate the fish," the verb is "ate."
- The object: This is the thing that is being acted upon. For example, in the sentence "The cat ate the fish," the object is "the fish."
- The adjectives: These words describe the noun (person, place or thing) in the sentence. For example, in the sentence "The big, brown dog ran in the park," the adjectives are "big" and "brown."
- The adverb: This is a word that describes the verb, telling us how something is being done. For example, in the sentence "The cat ate the fish greedily," the adverb is "greedily."

By understanding the sentence functions, we can better understand the meaning of a sentence and use our words more effectively. Think of it like a puzzle. Each word is like a puzzle piece with a specific shape, and when they all fit together just right, we have a complete sentence.