Subjects

We can identify the subject of a sentence with an action verb by answering the question: ‘‘Who is doing the action?’’ For example, in the sentence Confucius spoke many words of wisdom, the action is speaking. Who is, or was, doing the speaking? Confucius. Confucius is therefore the subject of the sentence. The subjects are underlined in the following examples:

1. John baked a cake.

2. You are going to grin and bear it.

3. Just then, the children walked in.

4. He delivered a small package.

5. Mr. Bucknose, the carpenter, sleeps in the spare room.

6. Wearily, the group trudged onward.

7. I usually take a nap in the afternoon.

Generally, the subject is at or near the beginning of the sentence. More specifically, the subject is the first noun phrase in the sentence.

Quick tip

If the main verb of the sentence is an action verb, the subject of the sentence is the doer of the action and generally comes before the verb. It can be found by answering the question:

‘‘Who or what is doing the action?’’

Answers

The subject is underlined in the following sentences:

8. John is tall.

9. That church is impressive.

10. Both brothers became architects.

11. Earlier, she had felt dizzy.

In these sentences, the subject is not performing an action – the verb is not an action verb. Rather, the verb is a linking verb. When the verb in the sentence is a linking verb, the subject can be found by asking the question: ‘‘Who or what is this sentence about?’’ In these cases, the subject is found at or near the beginning of the sentence, before the verb.

Quick tip

If the main verb of the sentence is a linking verb, the subject is who or what the sentence is about; the subject is found before the verb.

Answers

Answers

The subject is not always right at the beginning of the sentence:

12. In the afternoon, I usually take a nap.

13. In truth, Don Diego had never really had a career.

14. That day, his timing was perfect.

15. When in the country, Jack was up before dawn.

In each of these sentences, the subject is preceded by an adverb or adverbial clause, a group of words typically giving information about time, place, or manner.

Answers

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

قسم شؤون المعارف يطلق دورة (صفات الشيعة) لعدد من ملاكات العتبة العباسية المقدسة

الهيأة العليا لإحياء التراث تبحث تعزيز التعاون المشترك مع مركز الإمام الباقر (عليه السلام) في إيران

جامعة الكفيل تكرِّم طلبتها المتميزين من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة

فريق طبي في مستشفى الكفيل يجري عملية ناجحة لطفل يعاني من تشوّه ولاديّ بالنخاع الشوكي

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

خصوصا مع تقدم السن.. 6 سلوكيات يومية قد تدمّر صحتك

فاكهة خضراء.. علاج طبيعي فعّال للإمساك واضطرابات الهضم

روسيا تبدأ أولى التجارب السريرية للقاح واعد ضد السرطان

كنز غذائي على طبقك.. ماذا تفعل السبانخ بجسمك؟

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

رصد نوع نادر من القطط في تايلاند للمرة الأولى منذ عقود

روسيا تخطط لإقامة محطة نووية في القمر خلال العقد المقبل

كيف قاد إيلون ماسك حملة "غروك" لاختراق عرش الذكاء الاصطناعي

ألتمان: الذكاء الاصطناعي سيتجاوز البشر في 2026 !

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Grammatical Relations Subjects and objects

Form, meaning, and use Conclusion

Grammar as a system of rules

Analyzing Grammar Grammatical form Form, meaning, and use

Implied subjects: commands

Indirect objects

Direct objects

SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS

Tense

Progressive be

Perfect have

Modals