In this brief discussion, we will talk about how we can find the subject of a sentence. Although there are exceptions to the guidelines given below, they will help you to identify the subjects of most sentences. In class, we will discuss those other, more complicated subjects.
The Subject as a one-word NP: The subject of a sentence may be a single noun or pronoun (NP). In the sentence below, the sentence is about Rudolpho. In addition, Rudolpho is the first noun in the sentence. He is also the person who performs the action of the verb. To determine that, we ask ourselves the question who threw the baseball. The answer clearly is Rudolpho. Rudolpho threw the baseball. If we substitute a pronoun (he) for the above sentence, we would have a pronoun as the NP-subject. He threw the baseball. The Subject as a Noun Phrase of more than one word: Just as a single-word NP is often the subject of a sentence, so also can a NP of more than one word function as the subject. (Remember that a phrase is a word or a group of related words that forms a grammatical unit in the sentence.) The incessant rain caused a puddle to form in the street. The sentence is about the incessant rain. Rain is the first noun in the sentence and the head word of the NP, which includes the determiner (the) and the adjective (incessant). This NP causes the puddle. Here, however, because there is no person involved, we ask ourselves what caused a puddle to form in the street? The incessant rain did. Therefore, the incessant rain is the subject of the sentence. Once again, we can substitute a pronoun for the incessant rain, and it becomes the NP- subject. It caused a puddle to form in the street. Below are several more sentences with a NP of more than one word: Rudolpho and Anna played a game of catch. Rudolpho and Anna perform the action of playing. Who played a game of catch? Rudolpho and Anna, the NP-subject of the sentence.. Patxo and Lisl were told to move their car. In the above sentence, although Patxo and Lisl don't do the telling, they are the first nouns in the sentence, and they answer the question who were told? Therefore, Patxo and Lisl, a NP, functions as the subject of the sentence. Running the marathon challenges Audrey. Apply the same simple tests used above to find the subject. Find the verb: challenges. Once we find it, we ask ourselves who or what challenges Audrey. It's not running alone that challenges her; that's only part of the challenge. And it's not the marathon that challenges her; it's the entire NP, Running the marathon, that challenges Audrey. Therefore, Running the marathon is the (NP) subject of the sentence. Notice how the words in this phrase stick together and answer the question what challenges Audrey. The Subject as a person or thing in the state of existence: The subject may also be the person or thing in the state of existence that the verb describes. For instance, look at the following sentence: Rudolpho is in the army. Rudolpho is the subject of the sentence. Although Rudolpho performs no action, he does, however, exist as the person who is in the army. This is what we mean by his being in the state of existence. Rudolpho is also the first noun (NP) in the sentence, and this is another hint that the word is the subject of the verb is. Once again, if we're in doubt about what the subject is, we should find the verb--is--and ask who or what in front of it. Who is in the army? Rudolpho is. The Subject as a clause: Just as a single- word NP or a NP of more than one word may function as the subject of a sentence, so also may a clause (a group of related words that has a subject and predicate) function as a subject. That he loses his temper easily has become a real problem at work. Notice that no single word in the clause above functions as the subject of the verb has become. Rather, all the words in black stick together to form the clause, and although the clause has its own subject and verb (he and loses), it also functions as one unit to answer the question what has become a real problem at work: That he loses his temper easily. Because this clause is the subject of the sentence, and the subject must be a noun or pronoun (NP), we call this a noun clause. Remember that to find the subject of the sentence
As we progress in our study of grammar, we will discover that it is often not easy to determine exactly whom or what the sentence is about. In addition, there are sentences in which the subject is not the first noun or pronoun in the sentence, but first we must understand the basics of discovering the subject before we move into the more complex elements of where the subject may appear and what it may consist of. We will discuss these complexities in class. |