Help with a verb sentence riddle/challenge my 8th grader was given by his teacher

Running through the grass is fun.

Start the sentence with the verb.
 
Running through the grass is fun.

Start the sentence with the verb.

But in that case, "running through the grass" becomes the subject of the sentence and, I think, is no longer really a verb. I think it now becomes a "thing" and a person, place or a thing is a noun. "Is" is the verb in this case.

[Running through the grass] noun, a thing [is] verb [fun] adjective, describes the noun.
 
Running is a gerund there--so basically a noun rather than a verb.

And I agree about "Thanks for trying." I think it has a lot elided: (I give) thanks (to you) for trying. I see "give" as an elided verb and "trying" as a gerund within a prepositional phrase--not really a verb there.

(In my opinion. You could say there is no opinion with grammar, but it turns out that sometimes there is. I'm taking grad level language development classes where we have to analyze language samples, and there are times when more than one answer is accepted. Sometimes there is a deep structure that some students think is left out, but other students don't. I'm pretty sure you could argue "give" or "thanks" successfully as the verb (I see thanks as an object, but I can see the other interpretation). Trying isn't a verb there though.)
 
OK, now I am thoroughly grammatically confused.:rolleyes1

Yes, I have quoted myself... LOL

But what would be the subject and the predicate in that sentence? Isn't there an implied subject? Wouldn't it be "I thank you for trying"? In that case, I is the subject, and thank(s) is the verb, and "for trying" is what you are being thanked for? in which case, is "trying" even a verb in this usage?

Its been waaaaay too many years since I have had to diagram sentences...

Yes, "thank" is the main verb there.

I really thought "ring" would do it, but I see she's outlawed those type of answers.

Still trying.
 

Going to the store, she broke her arm.

No verb ending in -ing can ever be the complete verb of a sentence. ...
 
What about a sentence where the subject is implied. Such as:

"Looking for some help here!"
 
OP, please be sure to come back and let us know what the answer was!

"Pondering the query, the DisBoards community found themselves stumped!" :rotfl:
 
OK, I'm a full-fledged grammar nazi and even I'm having trouble with this one! I'll have to ask DH when he gets home...he's even worse than I am with his grammar nazi-ism...
 
Still no answer....teacher said she would give us an example once the challenge is over. I will be sure to post, this is driving me crazy. Thanks for all of you help. Suggestions still welcome!
 
Try asking on the boards at awaywithwords.com. Maybe someone there can help.....
 
I got one:

Bring your homework along.

Subject: you (implied)
Verb: bring

My ds is in 7th grade. I hate English homework! :headache::dance3:
 
So, is the challenge over? What was the answer??

Inquiring minds want to know...
 












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