Question

devon wants to identify the simple subject and predicate in the sentence, \once upon a time, two children, a boy and a girl who were the son and daughter of a woodcutter, lived out their dreary days in a ramshackle cottage deep in the woods.\
what are some rules devon should remember about simple subjects and predicates?

dont include \you\ as part of a simple subject, and dont include commands as part of a simple predicate.
dont include articles or adjectives with a simple subject, and dont include parts of speech except verbs with a simple predicate.
dont include articles or adjectives with a simple predicate, and dont include parts of speech except verbs with a simple subject.
dont include prepositional phrases or proper names with a simple subject, and dont include verb phrases as part of a simple predicate.

Explanation:

Define simple subject and simple predicate

• A simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that performs the action, excluding any modifiers (like articles, adjectives, or prepositional phrases).
• A simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state of being, excluding any modifiers, objects, or complements.

Evaluate the given options

• Option 1: Incorrect. "You" can be a simple subject (especially as an implied subject in commands).
• Option 2: Correct. A simple subject excludes articles and adjectives (which are part of the complete subject). A simple predicate consists strictly of the verb or verb phrase, excluding other parts of speech.
• Option 3: Incorrect. It reverses the definitions, stating not to include other parts of speech except verbs with a simple subject.
• Option 4: Incorrect. Proper names can be simple subjects, and verb phrases are indeed part of a simple predicate.

Answer:

• Don't include "you" as part of a simple subject, and don't include commands as part of a simple predicate.
• Don't include articles or adjectives with a simple subject, and don't include parts of speech except verbs with a simple predicate. (Correct answer)
• Don't include articles or adjectives with a simple predicate, and don't include parts of speech except verbs with a simple subject.
• Don't include prepositional phrases or proper names with a simple subject, and don't include verb phrases as part of a simple predicate.