Finding the Subject of a Sentence Strategies for Success Created by Karen Walker for the Information Commons Tarpon Springs Campus St. Petersburg College

About This Presentation Wherever possible throughout this presentation, the subjects of sentences are pink. Sometimes the bullet point is not a complete sentence. In those cases, no word is colored pink. Wherever possible throughout this presentation, the subjects of sentences are pink. Sometimes the bullet point is not a complete sentence. In those cases, no word is colored pink. Use Slide Show View for Best Results

Overview Tricky test questions Prepositional phrases Weird looking subjects Complete, simple, compound Adjectives and articles Inverted sentences Implied “you”

Tricky Test Questions

Test makers try to trick you: –Prepositional phrases –Weird looking subjects –Adjectives and articles –Inverted sentences –Implied “You”

Prepositional Phrases

Begins with a preposition Ends with a noun or pronoun –on the bridge –in the pool –along with my sisters –around this beautiful house –of paperback novels –to him

Memorize the Common Prepositions! about above according to across after against along along with among around at because of before behind off on out of outside over since through to toward under until up with without beneath beside between by down during except for for from in in addition to inside like of

Cut Out Prepositional Phrases First The subject of the sentence will NEVER be in the prepositional phrase. Crossing out prepositional phrases first can help you find the real subject. This step reduces the number of words to choose from.

Cut Out Prep. Phrases Example On summer evenings, girls in white dresses stroll under the trees.

Cut Out Prep. Phrases Example On summer evenings, girls in white dresses stroll under the trees. What are you left with after you get rid of all of the prepositional phrases?

Cut Out Prep. Phrases Example On summer evenings, girls in white dresses stroll under the trees. girls stroll

Cut Out Prep. Phrases Example On summer evenings, girls in white dresses stroll under the trees. Since the subject has to be a noun or a pronoun, and now you only have two words to choose from, which one is the noun? Subject: girls Verb: stroll

Weird Looking Subjects

Test makers love to trick you with the double whammy! –Prepositional phrases combined with and strange looking subjects.

Memorize the Weird Subjects Anyone Both Everyone Someone No one Anybody Everybody Somebody Nobody Either Neither Each Most Some Many

Weird Subjects Example Neither of you has any taste in clothing. Eliminate the prepositional phrases first.

Weird Subjects Example Neither of you has any taste in clothing. What are you left with after you get rid of all of the prepositional phrases?

Weird Subjects Example Neither of you has any taste in clothing. Neither has any taste Subject: Neither Verb: has

Weird Subjects Caution Weird subjects only happen in combination with prepositional phrases.

Weird Subjects Caution Examples Ex: Both of the students passed. –As always, eliminate prep. phrases first. –In this case the subject is both. Ex: Both Tom and Maria like books. –There are no prep. phrases. –In this case the subject is Tom/Maria.

Complete, Simple, Compound

Time to clear up the different kinds of “subjects” –Complete –Simple –Compound

Complete Subject There are two parts to every sentence. –Subject –Predicate The subject half is called the complete subject. Don’t think on this too much; this is just background information

Complete Subject The complete subject is everything that comes before the verb: –The noun or pronoun AND –Surrounding descriptive words

Complete Subject Example A rainy day at the beach beats a sunny day at work anytime. (Complete) Subject: A rainy day at the beach Predicate: beats a sunny day at work anytime

Simple Subject Most test questions ask for the simple subject. It is the main noun or pronoun found in the complete subject.

Simple Subject Example Complete Subject: A rainy day at the beach Simple subject: day The surrounding descriptive words (including, eh hem, the prepositional phrase) are NOT part of the simple subject.

Compound Subject Occasionally the simple subject will be a compound subject. Confused yet?

Compound Subject Some sentences have more than one subject. Compound subjects are joined by –And –Or –Either…or –Neither…nor

Compound Subject Examples Cakes and pies are delicious –Subject: cakes/pies Sam or Joyce lost the keys. –Subject: Sam/Joyce

Compound Subject Examples Neither the state nor the county collected enough taxes. –Subject: state/county –Remember the caution about weird looking subjects? –Since there are no prep. phrases, “neither” is not the subject.

Adjectives and Articles

The descriptive words that surround the main noun or pronoun are not part of the simple subject.

Adjectives and Articles After you’ve eliminated the prepositional phrases, the next step is to eliminate any words that aren’t nouns, namely the adjectives and articles.

Adjectives and Articles Example The three different foul smelling odors seeped out from the refrigerator.

Adjectives and Articles Example The three different foul smelling odors seeped out from the refrigerator. –1 st ? –Yes, eliminate the prep. phrases: The three different foul smelling odors seeped out from the refrigerator.

Adjectives and Articles Example The three different foul smelling odors seeped. –2 nd ? –Yes, eliminate describing words. The three different foul smelling odors seeped.

Adjectives and Articles Example odors seeped –Now? –Choose the word that is a noun. Subject: odors Verb: seeped

Inverted Sentences

Normally, the subject comes before the verb in the sentence. With questions and “there” / “here” sentences, the subject comes after the verb; they are inverted. Sometimes sentences are inverted that aren’t questions or start with here/there (They often start with a prep. phrase.)

Inverted Sentences Examples Sentences that start with “there” or “here” are backwards. The verb comes before the subject. Ex: There flew eight yellow birds.

Inverted Sentences Examples There flew eight yellow birds. The best way to find the subject of an inverted sentence is to turn the sentence around.

Inverted Sentences Examples Make the sentence “go right.” There flew eight yellow birds. Eight yellow birds flew there.

Inverted Sentences Examples There flew eight yellow birds. Eight yellow birds flew there. 1 st cut prep. phrases: None 2 nd cut descriptive words: eight yellow 3 rd choose the noun from the remaining words: birds flew there Subject: birds Verb: flew

Inverted Sentences Examples Can little George really swim? Little George really can swim. 1 st cut prep. phrases: None 2 nd cut descriptive words: little 3 rd choose the noun from the remaining words: George really can swim Subject: George Verb: can swim

Inverted Sentences Examples In the box were four pairs of shoes. Four pairs of shoes were in the box. Subject: pairs Verb: were NOTE: Even when you’re not sure if the sentence is inverted, cutting out the prep. phrases first often makes the choice of subject easier.

Implied “You”

Some sentences have “you” as the implied subject. –Ex: Exercise daily. –Ex: Please phone home. –Ex: Memorize the prepositions!

Implied “You” In each case, “you” is understood as the subject. The writer is speaking directly to the reader. –Ex: (You) Exercise daily. –Ex: (You) Please phone home. –Ex: (You) Memorize the prepositions! No, really, you MUST memorize the most common prepositions.

Alternative Method

If you are better at finding the verb, locate it first; then, ask “who” or “what.” Find the verb first. Ask, “Who (verb)?” OR Ask, “What (verb)?”

Alternative Method Example Barbie has been dating Ken for more than 25 years. Find the verb: has been dating Ask “Who has been dating?” Answer is the subject: Barbie has been dating.

Alternative Method Example Barbie has been dating Ken for more than 25 years. Sometimes this method confuses people because, technically, Ken’s been dating too. Ken, however, is the object of the sentence above and the subject of this one.

Alternative Method Example Barbie has been dating Ken for more than 25 years. REMEMBER: When the sentence pattern is Noun Verb Noun, the FIRST noun is the subject.

Review

Tricky Test Questions Prepositional phrases Weird looking subjects Compound subjects Adjectives and articles Inverted sentences Implied “you”

Keys to Remember Memorize the prepositions. Cross out the prep. phrases first. Cross out the descriptive words second. Choose a word that is a noun or a pronoun.

Need More Help? The Information Commons offers free tutoring services in many subjects. Take Advantage! Visit: Inside M.M. Bennett Library on the Tarpon Springs Campus. Call: (TS Location). Call: to direct you to the nearest Information Commons.