What is a Subject?
The subject of a sentence identifies who or what the sentence is about. Nouns, pronouns, gerunds, and phrases can all be subjects. Subjects can be singular or plural. The subject has two forms: the simple subject and the complete subject.
Simple subject
The simple subject refers to the main word or words that the sentence is about.
- Example: The biggest tree in the yard is a chrysanthemum tree.
In the above example, the noun tree is the simple subject.
Complete subject
The complete subject refers to the simple subject and any additional words that modify the simple subject.
- Example: The biggest tree in the yard is a chrysanthemum tree.
In the above example, the complete subject consists of an article (the), an adjective (biggest), the simple subject (tree), and a prepositional phrase (in the yard).
Noun as subject
A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.
- Example: The brown dog ran to the tree.
- Example: Dogs love to eat dog treats.
- Example: Dogs and cats are more popular pets than frogs and snails.
Pronoun as subject
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.
- Example: They went to a movie.
- Example: Who is at the door?
- Example: Anyone can tell you that two plus two equals four.
Gerund as subject
A gerund is a verbal, a word that has the qualities of both a verb and a noun. Gerunds are recognizable by their -ing suffix.
- Example: Running is a great way to keep healthy.
- Example: Lying by the shore is my idea of a perfect day.
Phrase as subject
Infinitive phrases, which begin with infinitives like the word to, can be used as subjects for a sentence. Nominal phrases, which function as a noun, can also be used as subjects.
- Example: To sing is to communicate your feelings.
- Example: After dark is a terrible time to drink a shot of espresso.
