Subject

Definition

In grammar, the subject is the part of a sentence that tells who or what the sentence is about. It is typically a noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb or is described by it. Understanding the subject is essential for forming clear and effective sentences, as it plays a critical role in determining how other parts of the sentence relate to one another.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The subject can be simple, consisting of just a noun or pronoun, or compound, made up of two or more subjects connected by a conjunction.
2. In questions, the subject may come after the verb, which can sometimes confuse sentence structure.
3. The subject can also be implied rather than explicitly stated, particularly in commands (e.g., 'Sit!').
4. Identifying the subject helps in understanding sentence meaning and ensuring agreement with the verb in number and person.
5. The position of the subject usually comes before the predicate in declarative sentences, contributing to standard English sentence structure.

Review Questions

• How does identifying the subject in a sentence aid in understanding its overall meaning?
  • Identifying the subject helps clarify who or what is performing the action of the verb, making it easier to grasp the main point of the sentence. This understanding also aids in ensuring that other elements in the sentence, like adjectives and verbs, correctly relate to the subject. By focusing on the subject, readers can decode complex sentences and enhance their comprehension.
• Discuss how subjects function differently in questions compared to declarative sentences.
  • In declarative sentences, the subject typically appears before the verb, creating a straightforward structure. However, in questions, especially yes/no questions, the subject often follows the auxiliary verb. This inversion can make it tricky to identify the subject at first glance. For example, in 'Are you coming?', 'you' is the subject but comes after 'are,' highlighting how question formation alters typical sentence structure.
• Evaluate how an understanding of subjects contributes to effective writing and communication.
  • Understanding subjects is crucial for effective writing as it influences clarity and coherence. Knowing how to identify and correctly use subjects ensures that sentences are structured properly and convey intended meanings. It allows writers to vary sentence length and complexity while maintaining grammatical accuracy. Furthermore, mastering subjects enhances overall communication skills by enabling writers to construct clear arguments and narratives that resonate with readers.

Related terms

Predicate: The predicate is the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is. It includes the verb and any additional information about the action or state of being.

Noun: A noun is a part of speech that represents a person, place, thing, or idea, often serving as the subject of a sentence.

Clause: A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. It can be independent (able to stand alone as a sentence) or dependent (cannot stand alone).