Apostrophes

Subjects

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what makes a sentence complete and clear? It all starts with understanding the two fundamental elements of a sentence: subjects and predicates. Grasping these basics can transform your writing and English grammar from confusing to compelling. Whether you are a student aiming to learn and enhance your grammar and language skills or a teacher looking to provide clear instruction for your students at school, mastering simple and compound subjects is indispensable.

Subjects

What are the two basic parts of sentences?

Sentences consist of two basic parts: subjects and predicates.
The subject is a word or word group that tells whom or what the sentence is about.
The predicate is a word or word group that tells something about the subject.

  SUBJECT                    PREDICATE 

The dance routine | amazed everyone. 

Simple Subjects

What is a simple subject?

The simple subject (doer) can be defined as the main word or word group that tells whom or what the sentence is about, often performing the action.

The simple subject (doer) may consist of a noun, a pronoun, or a word group that functions as a noun.

• Daniel prefers science and french to English.
• The cat runs and performs tricks for its owner to get extra food.
• The consensus between the two countries was based on a shared understanding of history.
• The scientist's hypothesis was based on years of scientific thinking and research.

What is a complete subject?

The complete subject includes the simple subject as well as any words that modify the simple subject.

SIMPLE SUBJECT 

• The author of this children’s series lives in Vermont. [Author is the main word that tells whom the sentence is about.] 
• After much discussion, the group reached an agreement about the best course of action.
• Grammar rules are commonly misunderstood, but they become easier to grasp with practice.

COMPLETE SUBJECT 

• The author of this children’s series lives in Vermont. [The complete subject includes the simple subject author and all modifiers of the simple subject.]

How to find the subject of a sentence?

Remember the following guidelines when you are trying to find the subject of a sentence. 

1. In a sentence that expresses a command or a request, the subject is always understood to be you, even though the word you may not appear in the sentence. 
2. The subject of a sentence is never the object of a prepositional phrase. 
3. In a question, the subject usually follows the verb or comes between parts of the verb phrase. 
4. The word here or there is almost never the subject of the sentence.

TIP

To help find the subject of a sentence that expresses a question, turn the question into a statement. The subject of the statement will probably be the subject of the question. 

QUESTION 

• Has the sidewalk been repaired? 

STATEMENT 

• The sidewalk has been repaired. [What has been repaired? The sidewalk has been repaired. Sidewalk is the subject of both the statement and the question.]

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Compound Subjects

What are compound subjects?

Subjects can be compound. A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction such as and or or. The parts of a compound subject have the same verb. 

EXAMPLES 

• Alaska and Hawaii do not border any other states. [Alaska and Hawaii are joined by the conjunction and and have the same verb, do border.] 
• Did John or Janelle write this note? [John and Janelle are joined by the conjunction or and have the same verb, Did write.] 

Practice

1-The cat meowed loudly for food.

What is the simple subject? What is the complete subject? 

2-Joey and Mary went to school and studied English.

What type of subject is found in this sentence? What is the conjunction used?

3-The students, eager to study a new theme, raised their hands.

What is the simple predicate? What is the complete predicate?

4-The English language is rich with action verbs.

Is 'The English language' the complete subject?

5-In English grammar, a noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea.

Is the word 'English' a simple subject, or is it the word 'noun'?

6- Many learners prefer Geography, Music, and Math to English.

What is the complete predicate?

Challenge:

• Create two sentences using a compound subject about a topic you like.
• Create two sentences using a simple subject about names or objects you like.

Simple and Compound Subjects Quiz

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Conclusion

Learning simple and compound subjects is a vital part of mastering sentence construction. For students, this knowledge will improve their composition clarity and effectiveness. For teachers, this guide offers a comprehensive resource to help explain these essential grammar concepts and make their English lessons fun. Learn and keep practicing, and soon identifying and using simple and compound subjects will become second nature, enhancing your communication and English language skills across all forms of writing.