Subjects

Subjects

Sentences consist of two basic parts: subjects and predicates. The subject is a word or word group that tells whom or what the sentence is about. The predicate is a word or word group that tells something about the subject.

  SUBJECT                    PREDICATE 

The dance routine | amazed everyone. 

The simple subject is the main word or word group that tells whom or what the sentence is about.

The simple subject may consist of a noun, a pronoun, or a word group that functions as a noun. The complete subject includes the simple subject as well as any words that modify the simple subject.

SIMPLE SUBJECT 

• The author of this children’s series lives in Vermont. [Author is the main word that tells whom the sentence is about.] 

COMPLETE SUBJECT 

• The author of this children’s series lives in Vermont. [The complete subject includes the simple subject author and all modifiers of the simple subject.]

Remember the following guidelines when you are trying to find the subject of a sentence. 

1. In a sentence that expresses a command or a request, the subject is always understood to be you, even though the word you may not appear in the sentence. 
2. The subject of a sentence is never the object of a prepositional phrase. 
3. In a question, the subject usually follows the verb or comes between parts of the verb phrase. 
4. The word here or there is almost never the subject of the sentence.

TIP

To help find the subject of a sentence that expresses a question, turn the question into a statement. The subject of the statement will probably be the subject of the question. 

QUESTION 

• Has the sidewalk been repaired? 

STATEMENT 

• The sidewalk has been repaired. [What has been repaired? The sidewalk has been repaired. Sidewalk is the subject of both the statement and the question.]

Compound Subjects

Subjects can be compound. A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction such as and or or. The parts of a compound subject have the same verb. 

EXAMPLES 

• Alaska and Hawaii do not border any other states. [Alaska and Hawaii are joined by the conjunction and and have the same verb, do border.] 
• Did Alyssa or Janelle write this note? [Alyssa and Janelle are joined by the conjunction or and have the same verb, Did write.] 

Simple and Compund Subjects Quiz