Sentence Structure

Question

"What we need to do IS WRITE down the process and THINK about the value of each step."

Question:
I am trying to understand the sentence structure.
Subject -What we need to do
Verb - IS
Object- WRITE down the process and THINK about the value of each step

Q. Could we use verbs (WRITE and THINK) as the objects? Is the object usually a noun?

Q. Could we put WRITE following IS, as both are verb? Is it true that we do not put 2 verbs next to each other?

Please advise.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Mickeyshan2018Q. Could we use verbs (WRITE and THINK) as the objects?

No. "is" is a linking verb, so it takes a "subject complement", not an "object".

Mickeyshan2018Is the object usually a noun?

Not just usually, but always. However, there is no object in this sentence, as I said above.

Mickeyshan2018Could we put WRITE following IS, as both are verb?

Yes, because 'write' is the infinitive form at the beginning of a non-finite clause.

Mickeyshan2018Is it true that we do not put 2 verbs next to each other?

No, that is not true. There are many ways that two verbs can be next to each other.

The sentence structure is as follows:

What we need to do - subject
is - linking verb
write down the process - first subject complement
and - conjunction
think about the value of each step. - second subject complement

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Mickeyshan2018"What we need to do IS WRITE down the process and THINK about the value of each step."

This is a sentence with a compound subject complement.

Here is a simpler example:

John is cold. John is wet. (Two simple sentences with subject complements.)
John is cold and wet. (One simple sentence with a compound subject complement)

The compound subject complement is a series of subject complements connected by a coordinating conjunction. (and, or, but).

Here are more examples:

John is cold, wet and hungry.
Sara is warm and dry but not hungry.
The puppies were either fat or skinny.

Your sentence can be written as two simple sentences.

What we need to do IS WRITE down the process.  
Another thing we need to do IS THINK about the value of each step.

The subject complements are (bare) infinitive clauses. The sentences are combined by writing a compound subject complement.

Mickeyshan2018 · Answer

Thank you for your clear explanation.

Mickeyshan2018 · Answer

I have reviewed the usage of bare infinite. Usually, it is used after verbs like let, feel, hear, help, make, see and watch.

Q: Then I have one more question regarding this sentence. Why the bare infinite is used after the word IS?

Thanks!

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