Level 07 – Step 09 : Inanimate Subject Constructions (cause/effect structure) (The news surprised me. Her words gave me hope.)
/Level 07 – Step 09 : Inanimate Subject Constructions (cause/effect structure) (The news surprised me. Her words gave me hope.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how things or events (not people) can be the subject of a sentence and cause feelings or results.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how things or events (not people) can be the subject of a sentence and cause feelings or results.
🐧Igupen: How can a thing do something to a person?
/🐧Igupen: How can a thing do something to a person?
That sounds strange.
/That sounds strange.
🦉Professor Owl: Ho Ho Ho.
/🦉Professor Owl: Ho Ho Ho.
In these sentences the inanimate subject causes an effect.
/In these sentences the inanimate subject causes an effect.
The verb links the cause (the thing) to the result (the person’s feeling or the effect).
/The verb links the cause (the thing) to the result (the person’s feeling or the effect).
🐧Igupen: I want to try listening and finding the cause and effect.
/🐧Igupen: I want to try listening and finding the cause and effect.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What is an inanimate subject construction with cause/effect?
/What is an inanimate subject construction with cause/effect?
In this structure, a thing, event, or idea (an inanimate subject) is the doer that causes an effect on someone or something.
/In this structure, a thing, event, or idea (an inanimate subject) is the doer that causes an effect on someone or something.
The pattern often looks like: Subject (inanimate) + Verb + Object (person/thing) + Result (feeling or change).
/The pattern often looks like: Subject (inanimate) + Verb + Object (person/thing) + Result (feeling or change).
The result can be a noun or an adjective that shows what happens because of the subject.
/The result can be a noun or an adjective that shows what happens because of the subject.
Simple steps to understand it:
/Simple steps to understand it:
Find the subject — is it a thing or event? (The news, Her words, The song)
/Find the subject — is it a thing or event? (The news, Her words, The song)
Find the verb that shows the effect — common verbs are: surprise, give, make, cause, bring, leave, fill.
/Find the verb that shows the effect — common verbs are: surprise, give, make, cause, bring, leave, fill.
Find who is affected (the object) and what changed (the result).
/Find who is affected (the object) and what changed (the result).
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Ask two questions: “What happened?” (the subject) and “What did it do to someone?” (the effect).
/Ask two questions: “What happened?” (the subject) and “What did it do to someone?” (the effect).
The subject is often not a person.
/The subject is often not a person.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
Example: The news surprised me.
/Example: The news surprised me.
Subject: The news (thing); Effect on me: surprised (feeling).
/Subject: The news (thing); Effect on me: surprised (feeling).
Example: Her words gave me hope.
/Example: Her words gave me hope.
Subject: Her words (thing); Effect: gave me hope (result).
/Subject: Her words (thing); Effect: gave me hope (result).
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 The news surprised me.
/No.01 The news surprised me.
No.02 Her words gave me hope.
/No.02 Her words gave me hope.
No.03 The movie made the audience cry.
/No.03 The movie made the audience cry.
No.04 The loud noise scared the children.
/No.04 The loud noise scared the children.
No.05 That photo brought back memories.
/No.05 That photo brought back memories.
No.06 The book left him confused.
/No.06 The book left him confused.
No.07 The joke made her laugh.
/No.07 The joke made her laugh.
No.08 The heat made the plants wilt.
/No.08 The heat made the plants wilt.
No.09 The victory filled the team with pride.
/No.09 The victory filled the team with pride.
No.10 The warning saved many lives.
/No.10 The warning saved many lives.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Identify the inanimate subject and the effect: The news surprised me.
/Q1: Identify the inanimate subject and the effect: The news surprised me.
Q2: In this sentence, which word shows the result? Her words gave me hope.
/Q2: In this sentence, which word shows the result? Her words gave me hope.
Q3: True or False: In these sentences, the subject is usually a person.
/Q3: True or False: In these sentences, the subject is usually a person.
Q4: Find the object (who/what is affected) and the result: The movie made the audience cry.
/Q4: Find the object (who/what is affected) and the result: The movie made the audience cry.
Q5: Rewrite with the same meaning: The loud noise frightened the children. (Use the verb scared)
/Q5: Rewrite with the same meaning: The loud noise frightened the children. (Use the verb scared)
Q6: Choose the correct complete sentence: A) The book left him confuse. B) The book left him confused.
/Q6: Choose the correct complete sentence: A) The book left him confuse. B) The book left him confused.
Q7: Identify Subject, Verb, Object, Result: The joke made her laugh.
/Q7: Identify Subject, Verb, Object, Result: The joke made her laugh.
Q8: Fill in the blank with one word: The heat made the plants _____. (wilt)
/Q8: Fill in the blank with one word: The heat made the plants _____. (wilt)
Q9: Decide whether the subject is animate or inanimate: The teacher gave extra homework.
/Q9: Decide whether the subject is animate or inanimate: The teacher gave extra homework.
Q10: Make a sentence using this subject and verb: The storm / cause / damage.
/Q10: Make a sentence using this subject and verb: The storm / cause / damage.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: Subject: The news; Effect: surprised me.
/A1: Subject: The news; Effect: surprised me.
A2: gave (and the result phrase is “me hope”).
/A2: gave (and the result phrase is “me hope”).
A3: False — the subject is usually a thing or event (inanimate).
/A3: False — the subject is usually a thing or event (inanimate).
A4: Object: the audience; Result: cry (the audience cried).
/A4: Object: the audience; Result: cry (the audience cried).
A5: The loud noise scared the children.
/A5: The loud noise scared the children.
A6: B is correct: The book left him confused.
/A6: B is correct: The book left him confused.
A7: Subject The joke; Verb made; Object her; Result laugh.
/A7: Subject The joke; Verb made; Object her; Result laugh.
A8: wilt → The heat made the plants wilt.
/A8: wilt → The heat made the plants wilt.
A9: Animate — the teacher is a person.
/A9: Animate — the teacher is a person.
A10: The storm caused damage.
/A10: The storm caused damage.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Well done.
/🦉Professor Owl: Well done.
When you spot a thing or event at the start of a sentence, ask, “What did it do?” and you’ll find the effect.
/When you spot a thing or event at the start of a sentence, ask, “What did it do?” and you’ll find the effect.
🐧Igupen: I see now — things can cause feelings or changes in people.
/🐧Igupen: I see now — things can cause feelings or changes in people.
🦉Professor Owl: Keep reading and writing sentences like these.
/🦉Professor Owl: Keep reading and writing sentences like these.
Practice makes the cause and effect clear, and you will soon notice them everywhere.
/Practice makes the cause and effect clear, and you will soon notice them everywhere.
