Directions:

1. Read each sentence closely to comprehend its message.
2. In each sentence, find a subject, a verb, and a thought completer. 
3. Identify subjects as simple or compound and verbs as simple, compound, or phrase.
4. When finished, hover the cursor over the sentence to check your answers.

“The Elves and the Shoemaker,” by Brothers Grimm (adapted)

There was once a poor shoemaker. He worked very hard and was very honest but still could not earn enough to live upon. At last, all was gone, save just leather enough to make one pair of shoes. He cut his leather out ready to rise early in the morning to his work.  His conscience was clear amidst all his troubles. So, he went peaceably to bed, left all his cares to Heaven, and soon fell asleep. In the morning, he said his prayers and sat himself down to his work. To his great wonder, there stood the shoes all ready made, upon the table. The good man knew not what to say or think at such an odd thing happening. He looked at the workmanship. There was not one false stitch in the whole job. All was so neat and true and looked quite a masterpiece.

The same day, a customer came in. The shoes suited him very well and he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them. The poor shoemaker, with the money, bought leather enough to make two pairs more. In the evening, he cut out the work and went to bed early to get up and begin betimes next day. But he was saved all the trouble. The next morning, the work was done ready to his hand. Soon in came buyers and paid him handsomely for his goods. So, he bought leather enough for four pairs more. He cut out the work again overnight and found it done in the morning, as before. It went on for some time. What was got ready in the morning was always done by daybreak. So, the good man became thriving and well off again.

One evening, about Christmas-time, he and his wife were sitting over the fire chatting together. He said to her, “I should like to sit up and watch tonight, that we may see who it is that comes and does my work for me.” The wife liked the thought. They left a light burning, hid themselves in a corner of the room, behind a curtain, and watched. At midnight, there came in two little naked dwarfs and sat themselves upon the shoemaker’s bench, took up all the work, and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and rapping away very quickly. And on they went long before daybreak and bustled away as quickly as lighting. And as always, the shoes stood ready for use upon the table. The next day the wife said to the shoemaker. “These little wights have made us rich. We ought to be thankful to them and do them a good turn. I am quite sorry to see them run about naked and have nothing upon their backs to keep off the cold. I will make each of them a shirt, and a coat and waistcoat, and a pair of pantaloons into the bargain. And you will make them a little pair of shoes.”

The thought pleased the good cobbler very much. One evening, all the things were ready, and they laid them on the table instead of the work. And then the shoemaker and his wife went and hid themselves to watch the little elves. About midnight in they came, dancing and skipping, hopped round the room, and then went to sit to their work as usual. But then they saw the clothes lying for them. They laughed and chuckled, and seemed mightily delighted. Then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye, and danced and capered and sprang about, as merry as could be. They danced to the door and away over the green. The good couple saw them no more. But everything went well with them from that time forward.