Subject of a Sentence
The subject is the person or thing (object) that the sentence is about. This person or thing is doing something in the sentence.
1. A subject can be a person.
For example:
- Oliver closed his eyes.
Here, the subject is Oliver.
2. A subject can also be an object .
For example:
- The boat moves.
Here, the subject is the boat.
Tip: To figure out who or what is the subject, first find the verb of the sentence. Then ask yourself who or what is doing that action.
For example:
- She took a shower.
Here, the verb is took.
Now ask yourself, who or what took the shower? In this case, it is a person referred to by the subject pronoun she. So, she is the subject.
Similarly,
- He ate all the cake.
Here, the verb is ate.
Now ask yourself who is doing the action or simply who ate all the cake? In this case, it is a person referred to by the subject pronoun he. So, he is the subject.
In every case, every sentence has a subject. But wait, there is an exception! In the case of an imperative sentence, there is usually no subject at all.
Do you know what an imperative sentence is? It's when someone gives a command or an order.
For example:
- Stop!
- Wait a minute.
- Be careful!
In the three sentences above, you don't see a subject. The subject is "you." It does not need to be said; it is understood.
Note: Sometimes, you can place "you" in the imperative. In this context, it often expresses an irritation.
For example:
- You close the door.
- You get out of here right now!
- A subject can be a person or an object.
- To figure out who or what is the subject, first find the verb of the sentence. Then ask yourself who or what is doing that action.
- Sometimes, there is no subject like in the case of the imperative sentence, it is when someone gives a command or an order.
- For example:
- Wait a minute.
- Be careful! - In these sentences, you don't see a subject. But the subject is "you." It does not need to be said; it is understood.
