Finding the Subject of Sentences

Finding the Subject of a Sentence

Generalizations

GENERALIZATION 1: In a sentence, the subject usually answers the question “Who or what is the sentence about?”

GENERALIZATION 2: The subject often occurs early in the sentence.

GENERALIZATION 3: The subject of a sentence is usually a noun or a pronoun.

Examples

Our coach was shouting last-minute instructions. (Subject- Noun)

He expected total concentration. (Subject – Pronoun)

Generalizations

​GENERALIZATION 4: Noun or pronoun subjects in a sentence can be modified by adjectives.

Example
Her long and strenuous workouts would soon pay off. (Adjectives)

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

Everything looked so strange.

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

The fearful man held his bag tightly

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

The noise gave him a headache

Generalizations

​GENERALIZATION 5: The subject of a sentence can be compound. A compound subject is made up of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by one of the following: and, or, either/or, and neither/nor.

Example
Avon and his coach lift weights.

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

Exercise and diet are the secrets to good health.

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

Unfortunately, biological factors or environmental factors could cause health

problems.

Generalizations

​GENERALIZATION 6: The subject of a sentence is never found within the prepositional phrase.

A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition and an object of the preposition along with any modifiers. Prepositional phrases contain nouns or pronouns: e.g., on the train, against the wall, throughout his life

Example

In the young man’s apartment, books covered the walls.
(prepositional phrase) (Subject)

Generalizations

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

With the ascendancy of modern technology, the telegram is no longer needed.

Fill in the Blank

What is the subject of the following sentence?

In the present era, e-mail and fax messages have taken the place of the

telegram.

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Generalizations

​GENERALIZATION 7: The subject of a sentence is never found within the appositive phrase.

An appositive phrase is a group of words within a sentence that gives us extra information about a noun or pronoun in that sentence. It is set off by commas.

Example
Alex Harkavy, a high school senior, has an auditory-processing disorder. (Subject) (Appositive phrase)

Fill in the Blank

What is the question of the following sentence?

Marcia Rubinstein, an educational consultant, can help him find the right

college

Fill in the Blank

What is the question of the following sentence?

For instance, Landmark, a college in Putney, Vermont, specializes in

programs for students with learning disabilities.

Generalizations

Other Points to Note

Sentences Starting with question words

Question words such as why, where, how, and when are adverbs, and they signal to the reader that a question will follow. These opening words are not the subjects. The subjects occur later in these sentences

Example

Why is he going away?

How did he find his sister in the city?

Where is her office?

Generalizations

Other Points to Note

Words such as there or here are adverbs. They cannot be the subjects of sentences.

Example

There is a new teacher in the department.

Here comes the woman now.

Generalizations

Other Points to Note

Commands

Sometimes a sentence contains a verb that gives an order. In sentences that give orders, you is not written down, but you is understood to be the subject. This is the only case where the subject of a sentence may be left out.

Example

Go to Chicago.

Help your sister.

Fill in the Blank

Find the subject.

Here in America the sale of human organs for transplant is against the

law.

Fill in the Blank

Find the subject.

Why are so many donors exploited and unprotected?

Fill in the Blank

Find the subject.

Unfortunately, there is a disturbing illegal market in the sale of these

organs.