A FEW BASIC RULES TO HELP YOU FIND THE SUBJECT
1. Normally, the subject precedes the verb and can be found by asking,
“Who or what is doing the action?”
“Who or what is being described?”
Most sentences are structured using the following pattern. Subject + Verb.
Eg.Henry brings his wife flowers every day.
Juliette sprinted down the street.
Yesterday, I ate twenty seven hot dogs at the fair.
Note: Not all sentences are as simple as these. Not all sentences begin with the subject, so do not assume that the first noun in the sentence has to be the subject.
2. The word THERE is NEVER the subject of a sentence.
Eg.There are fourteen students in the class.
The subject is fourteen students
The verbis are.
The standard position of subject and verb is reversed: V + S
3. Subjects and Verbs are NEVER found in a ( prepositional phrase.)
A] The subject precedes the verb: ( At the top of the hill ) , a small cabin stood.
Note the comma after the introductory prepositional phrase when it is followed by the subject.
B] The subject follows the verb: ( At the top of the hill ) stood a small cabin.
In both sentences, the subject is the small cabin and the verb is stood.
The most common verbs to follow a prepositional phrase are is, was, were and are.
4.Sometimes there will be more than one subject in a sentence.
COMPOUND SUBJECTS: Bill and Shirley attended the symphony last night.
COMPOUND SENTENCES:Bill attended the symphony, but Shirley stayed home.
5. The subject of a command is implied. The subject is “YOU” the unnamed person who is commanded.
Eg.Close the door! = YOU close the door! “You” is the subject of the first sentence.
SUBJECTS AND VERBS – Worksheet I
First, cross out the prepositional phrases. Now, circle the subject and late we will underline the verbs.
1.Barney was very tall.
2.There were several sharks in the water.
3.The catsand squirrels were trapped in the tree beside the house.
4.During the night, the leader of the rebelsled his men into battle.
5.Ithad been a long night.
6.There was the dog.
7.Broderick and Roderick are my best friends.
8.On his head was a red cap.
9.At the time, I believed in you.
10.On the flight to Toronto, one of the pilots fell asleep at the wheel.
11.Wait until I come home!
12.There are light bulbs in the refrigerator.
13.Panicking, one of the firemen threw the old lady out of the window.
14.Some of the apples are rotten.
15.Quietly and quickly, the soldiers and civilians evacuated the town.
16.In the lake near the mountains, the divers discovered a sunken ship.
17.Several of the men walked into the shop and ordered sandwiches for lunch.
18.Suddenly, the car skidded to a stop.
19.Many of the students wanted to go home after the explosion.
20.On the inklinhop, Tweeble Tum is floobling with the wertinghee.
*Now, go back to the two prepositions worksheets and circle all the subjects. Then, at home or in the library go to the website below and complete the exercise.