Verbals as Subject

Verbals (and more) as Subjects

​Subjects

• ​the part of the sentence doing or being

• ​works with the verb to form a sentence

• ​are not always at the beginning of the sentence (can come after a phrase

​

​Find the main verb in the sentence and ask who? or what? is doing/being

​

​EXAMPLES:

• ​After the awards show, we went to Martin's victory party.

• ​All the papers flew off my desk.

• ​Why is it dark?

​Pronouns as Subjects

• ​Pronouns are words that are used to replace a noun

​

​he - she - it - they - them - me - I - we - us - her - him - our - your - its

​

• ​Pronouns can also be the subject of a sentence

​

​EXAMPLES:

• ​Until today, they always ran to school.

• ​He flew down the street on his skates.

​Phrases as Subjects

​sometimes ideas are expressed in phrases

​these ideas can be the subject of a sentence

​

​EXAMPLES:

• ​What Amanda said inspired me to take juggling lessons.

• ​How my costume will look is a mystery to everyone except Gracie.

• ​Yesterday, what you did made me very proud to be your sister.

​Verbals as Subjects

​Remember: Gerunds and Infinitives can act as subjects

​

​EXAMPLES:

• ​Becoming an astronaut requires a lot of hard work.

• ​To start a successful business is Jack's aspiration.

• ​Yesterday, unwrapping my presents took all afternoon.