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.
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