Subject

Definition

In grammar, the subject is the part of a sentence or clause that indicates who or what the sentence is about, typically performing the action of the verb. It plays a critical role in determining the structure and meaning of sentences, interacting closely with other elements like predicates and objects.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The subject is often found at the beginning of a sentence in English, but it can also appear later, especially in questions or sentences with inverted structures.
2. In active voice sentences, the subject performs the action of the verb, while in passive voice sentences, the subject receives the action.
3. Subjects can be simple (a single noun or pronoun) or compound (two or more subjects joined by a conjunction).
4. The subject agrees with the verb in number and person; for example, 'He runs' versus 'They run.'
5. In complex sentences with multiple clauses, each clause may have its own subject, contributing to varying meanings and sentence structures.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of subject relate to sentence structure and its constituents?
  • The subject is a fundamental component of sentence structure, as it serves as one of the main constituents alongside the predicate. By identifying who or what is performing the action of the verb, the subject establishes the primary focus of the sentence. This relationship affects how other elements are arranged, and how meaning is conveyed, making subjects crucial for understanding both simple and complex sentences.
• In what ways do different sentence types utilize subjects to convey meaning effectively?
  • Different sentence types utilize subjects in various ways to convey meaning. In declarative sentences, subjects state facts or opinions; in interrogative sentences, subjects may be inverted to form questions. Exclamatory sentences emphasize the subject for emotional effect, while imperative sentences can have an implied subject. Each type shapes how information is presented and understood by readers or listeners.
• Evaluate how thematic roles associated with subjects enhance our understanding of semantic relations within sentences.
  • Thematic roles associated with subjects provide insight into the semantic relationships within sentences by clarifying how participants interact within an action. For instance, when the subject fulfills an agent role, it indicates that they are initiating action, whereas if it assumes a patient role, it reveals that they are affected by it. This understanding deepens comprehension of not only sentence meaning but also broader narratives and contexts where such actions occur.

Related terms

predicate: The part of a sentence or clause that tells something about the subject, usually containing the verb and additional information.

object: A noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that receives the action of a verb in a sentence.

clause: A grammatical unit that contains a subject and a predicate; it can be independent (able to stand alone) or dependent (requiring an additional clause to form a complete sentence).