In grammar, the sentence is the simplest unit which can express a complete thought independently. It is written with a capital letter, an end punctuation (a period, an exclamation point, or a question mark), and most importantly, it has a subject and a predicate. In this article, one of the most important parts of a sentence will be explored—the subject.
In its simplest sense, the subject refers to the doer of the action or to what (or whom) the sentence is all about. It can either be a person, a place, a thing, or an idea, and can come in the form of a noun or a pronoun. Take a look at the examples below:
Listed below are some of the most important terms related to the concept of the subject.
The complete subject simply refers to:
Examples:
Basically, the simple subject refers to the noun or pronoun which is being or doing something. Unlike the complete subject, this doesn’t require you to include the descriptive words (modifiers)—just the main noun or pronoun will do.
Examples:
This term simply refers to two or more subjects in a single sentence joined together by a connector.
Examples:
If you are having difficulties figuring out what is the subject in a sentence, an easy tip to remember is to identify the verb first. (Note: A verb refers to a word which expresses an action or a state of being.)
Once you have identified the verb, the next thing you should do is ask the question “what” or “who” is doing this?
For example:
From the simple steps mentioned, you will be able to identify the subject without even breaking a sweat. Also, you must know that there are times when the subject is not explicitly stated or is not actually written in the sentence, such as in the examples below:
In sentences like those above, which state a command or a request, it is understood that the subject who does the italicized action words is “you.”
Final Thoughts
A deep understanding of the subject is very important for you to be able to form well-written compositions. This is one of the most basic and fundamental concepts in grammar, so you really have to get a good grasp on this topic before advancing to more complicated ones. With the simple explanations, examples, and tips provided in this article, studying this area shouldn’t be that hard at all.
In grammar, the sentence is the smallest independent unit which expresses a complete thought. Perhaps, you already know that there are…
In English texts and everyday communication, the word “like” serves a variety of purposes. It can act as an adjective,…
In written and spoken English, the word “if” serves a double purpose. It can either be used as a conjunction…
Just like many words in the English language, the word ”very” also serves a double function. It can be used…
In English texts and verbal communication, the word what also have various functions. It can be used as a adjective,…
In the English language, the word “about” has multiple purposes. It can be used as a preposition, an adverb, or…