Hard-to-find Subjects Learning objective: I will be able to identify hard-to find subjects in a sentence.

Let’s review first! Identify the simple subject in the sentence below. Three brave little soldiers charged onto the field of battle. Identify the simple predicate in the sentence below. The paper bag was full of groceries.

More Review Identify the simple subject and the complete subject in the sentence below. Wild bears attack only a very small portion of the visitors to these parks. Identify the simple predicate and the complete predicate in the sentence below. The many sites in our National Park System include areas of both great natural beauty and historic importance.

More Review What is the compound subject in the sentence below? Most nights, my mom and I sit on the couch. What is the compound predicate in a sentence below? Richard Wright wrote a great deal of literature and was also a public figure. Identify the coordinating conjunction in the sentence below.

Hard-to-Find Subjects in 3 Ways We will learn how to identify simple subjects in three different kinds of sentences.

1. The subject of a command or request. When a sentence commands or requests someone to do something, the subject is often unstated. The subject of a command or request is understood to be the word you.

How the Sentences are understood Even though a command or a request may begin with the name of a person spoken to, the subject is still understood to be you. Sentences How the Sentences are understood Stop! Begin at once! Audrey, make a list. Bob, get the tickets. You stop! You begin at once Audrey, you make a list. Bob, you get the tickets.

2. The Subject of a Question If a sentence asks a question, the subject usually follows the verb. This is called inverted order. In questions, the subject often follows the verb or is located between the helping verb and the main verb. Ex. How can Claude ride such an energetic horse?

Question into a statement If you are not sure of the subject of a question, turn the question into a statement. It will be easier to find the subject when the words are in normal order.

Questions changed to statements Examples Questions Questions changed to statements Has Ruth been practicing? Will David start tomorrow? Can this horse hold a mature rider? Ruth has been practicing. David will start tomorrow. This horse can hold a mature rider.

The subject of a Sentence beginning with There and Here The word there and here are never used as subjects. Sometimes there and here are used as adverbs that answer the questions Where? There can also be used as a sentence starter.

Sentences with There and Here Examples: There is my saddle. Here are the albums. You can see that the order of subject and verb in each sentence above is inverted-that is, the subject follows the verb. If you have trouble finding the subject of the sentences like these rewrite the sentence so that it does not begin with there or here. When there is used as a sentence starter, it can safely be left out-the sentence will still make sense.

Examples Sentences Rewritten sentences Here is your certificate. There in the window was a tiny squirrel. There are two senators elected from every state. Your certificate is here. A tiny squirrel was there in the window Two senators are elected from every state. There has been left out.

Let’s Review Directions: Below your notes or on a separate sheet of paper identify the subject in each sentence below. Most of the sentences follow the hard-to-find subject rules. Show me the photo of the horse. What is the difference between a zebra and a horse? Horses live in family groups. There were many horses in Genghis Khan’s army.