Finding the subject in a sentence Learning to identify the subject in every sentence you write helps you to select the right verb form so that you create subject-verb agreement. You MUST learn this!!! 10R

Finding the subject in a sentence The subject of a sentence is very simply what the sentence is about. Most of the time you’ll find the subject at the beginning of the sentence. Often the subject comes first followed by the verb, but that may not be the case. 10R

Finding the subject in a sentence The easiest way to find the subject of a sentence is to find the verb or verb phrase and ask “who” or “what” is performing the action? This will lead you directly to the subject. Remember: a verb is not always an action verb It may be a small helping or linking verb 10R

Refresh your memory: Common helping and linking verbs include: To be: am, is, are, was, were, be, being been Have: has, have, had Do: do, does, did Others: may, might, must, can, could, shall, should, will, would

Find the subject of the sentence by using the verb or verb phrase Sentence: Pizza at Vinnie’s tastes better these days. “tastes” is the verb. Who or what “tastes?” Pizza is the subject

Sentence: That low price will not last long. “will” and “last” are the verbs in the verb phrase. Who or what “will not last?” Price is the subject Why not “low price?” I’m only looking for the simple subject without any modifiers “Low” is an adjective modifying and noun “price.”

Caution: A sentence can have compound subjects and compound verbs: Nancy and Peg went to Orlando and visited Disney World. The gymnast jumped from the bar and bowed. The male moose sheds its antlers every winter and grows a new set the following spring.

Something else to remember: A pronoun can be the subject of a sentence since it is taking the place of a noun I must have lost my keys to the house. Would you like corn instead of peas? She isn’t wanted in the office.

Finding the subject in a sentence Is it really that easy? No. You can be tricked easily if you assume that the subject is always at the beginning of the sentence. Here are some hidden subjects to watch: In a question, the verb normally comes first. To find the subject of a question, change or invert the question into a statement. 10R

Examples: Have you chosen your dress for the prom? You have chosen your dress for the prom. What color is your dress? Your dress is what color. Did your teacher give you a choice of subjects? Your teacher did give you a choice of subjects.

Is that all? No. Not by a long shot Finding the subject in a sentence Is that all? No. Not by a long shot Watch out for the inverted sentence where the verb comes before the subject Examples: Over the castle walls stormed the knights. Into the valley rode the raiders. Around the track raced the motorcycles. Between Las Vegas and Barstow lies a great desert. 10R

Finding the subject in a sentence More? You bet! The words here and there are very seldom the subject of sentence. In a sentence beginning with here or there, look for the subject after the verb. Examples: Here is the front door key. What is here? 10R

There are two doors on the side and one around back. What “are” (on the side and around back)?

Finding the subject in a sentence Still more? Of course! The subject of a sentence is never part of a prepositional phrase. Remember prepositions? A phrase is a group of words with a subject or a verb, not both A prepositional phrase is a phrase (a series of words) that begins with a preposition. During the stormy night Before the game After our long hike 10R

Finding the subject in a sentence Don’t confuse the subject with the words that are inside the prepositional phrase. Examples: The areas of most geometric figures are simple to calculate. The prepositional phrase is of most geometric figures The verb of the sentence is “are” 10R

Who or what “are simple to calculate?” The subject is “areas,” not geometric figures The areas (of most geometric figures) are simple to calculate. Here’s your rule: when looking for the subject of a sentence DO NOT go into the prepositional phrase; STAY OUT OF IT!!!

Many people make the mistake of looking inside the prepositional phrase for the subject One tip to avoid this mistake is to isolate the prepositional phrase; put the prepositional phrase in parentheses to let you know NOT to go inside the phrase Neither (of those two figures) is a parallelogram. “is” is the verb Who or what is? The subject is “neither” which is a pronoun. Neither of those two figures is a parallelogram.

Finding the subject in a sentence Guess what? In a sentence which is a command or request, the subject is always understood to be you (the person being spoken to). Examples: [You] Renounce your claim to the throne! [You] Please leave the kingdom. [You] go to the cafeteria. 10R

Be careful – watch out for a sentence like this: John, please show me the report. Even though John is mentioned, he’s not the subject. Since the speaker is addressing John, the subject is understood to be “You.” Mary, tell me what happened. [You] Joe, get over here. [You]