Subject

Definition

In English grammar, the subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described by the verb. It serves as the main focus of the sentence, establishing who or what is being discussed and influencing verb agreement and overall sentence structure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The subject can be a single noun, pronoun, or a more complex noun phrase that includes modifiers.
2. Subjects are essential for forming complete sentences, as they provide clarity on who is doing the action or what is being described.
3. In English, subjects typically precede the verb in declarative sentences, affecting the overall word order.
4. In questions, the position of the subject may change, often following the auxiliary verb, which can lead to inversion.
5. In passive voice constructions, the subject receives the action rather than performing it, changing its role in relation to the verb.

Review Questions

• How does the subject influence verb agreement in a sentence?
  • The subject plays a crucial role in determining verb agreement because verbs must agree with their subjects in number and person. For instance, a singular subject requires a singular verb form, while a plural subject requires a plural verb form. This agreement ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity in communication, reflecting how many people or things are involved in the action.
• Compare and contrast subjects in active versus passive voice sentences.
  • In active voice sentences, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb, clearly indicating who is responsible for the action. In contrast, passive voice sentences shift the focus to the subject receiving the action rather than performing it. This shift alters how we understand responsibility within the sentence; for example, 'The dog chased the cat' (active) versus 'The cat was chased by the dog' (passive). Both forms have distinct uses depending on what information is most important to convey.
• Evaluate how different types of subjects (simple vs. compound) affect sentence structure and complexity.
  • Different types of subjects impact sentence structure significantly. A simple subject consists of one noun or pronoun and leads to straightforward sentences. A compound subject includes two or more nouns or pronouns joined by conjunctions, creating more complex sentences that convey richer ideas. For example, 'Tom and Jerry run' features a compound subject that adds depth by introducing multiple actors in the action. Understanding these variations helps in crafting varied and engaging sentences.

Related terms

Predicate: The part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject, typically containing a verb and providing additional information.

Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate; it can be independent, standing alone as a complete thought, or dependent, needing more information to form a complete idea.

Noun Phrase: A group of words that functions as a noun within a sentence, consisting of a noun and its modifiers, which can act as the subject of a clause.