How to Identify the Subject in a Sentence
Knowing how to identify the subject in English grammar is a basic skill for scoring well in school exams and speaking or writing correct sentences. Understanding subjects also helps you build clear essays, stories, and answers in competitive exams and daily communication.
| Sentence | Subject | Type of Subject |
|---|---|---|
| The large elephant crossed the road. | The large elephant | Noun Phrase |
| Mira and her friends play football. | Mira and her friends | Compound |
| Swimming in the morning keeps me healthy. | Swimming in the morning | Gerund Phrase |
| What she wrote was creative. | What she wrote | Clause |
| The birds are singing loudly. | The birds | Simple |
What is the Subject in English Grammar?
The subject in English grammar is the person, place, thing, or idea that does the action in a sentence or is described by the verb. At Vedantu, we teach that recognising the subject helps you answer “who or what” the sentence is about. For example, in the sentence “Seema reads every day,” Seema is the subject.
Types of Subjects in English Grammar
There are different kinds of subjects you may find in sentences. Learning to tell them apart is useful for both simple and advanced grammar.
- Simple Subject: Only the main word (noun or pronoun). Example: "Dogs bark."
- Compound Subject: Two or more nouns/pronouns joined with “and” or “or.” Example: "Ram and Ali are friends."
- Noun Phrase Subject: Main noun plus words describing it. Example: "The tall, kind boy helps."
- Clause Subject: A whole clause as subject. Example: "How you finish the task is important."
- Gerund/Infinitive Subject: Verb forms acting as the subject. Example: "Reading improves your mind."
Subject vs Object
The subject is the “doer” of an action, while the object receives the action. Compare these examples:
| Sentence | Subject | Object |
|---|---|---|
| The girl opened the door. | The girl | the door |
| Rohan kicked the ball. | Rohan | the ball |
| The story was told by my grandmother. | The story | – |
How to Identify the Subject in a Sentence
- Find the verb or action word in the sentence.
- Ask “Who or what does this action?” The answer is the subject.
- Underline or highlight the word(s) that form the subject.
- Check for compound or descriptive words included with the main noun.
Practice with sentences such as “The loud music stopped suddenly.” Here, “The loud music” is the subject.
Subject–Verb Agreement Rules
It is important that the subject matches the verb in number and person. Keep these tips in mind:
- Singular subjects take singular verbs: “The dog runs.”
- Plural subjects take plural verbs: “The dogs run.”
- With “and”, use plural: “Mona and Ritu walk.”
- With “or/nor”, the verb matches the nearest subject: “Either the boys or the teacher is late.”
- Collective nouns usually take singular verbs: “The team wins.”
Subjects in Different Sentence Types
- Questions: The subject can come after the verb. Example: “Are you ready?” (Subject: you).
- Imperative/commands: The subject “you” is usually not written but understood. Example: “Sit down.”
- Passive voice: The object usually becomes the subject. Example: “The cake was baked by her.” (“The cake” is now the subject).
Summary of Subjects in English Grammar
Understanding the subject in English grammar is necessary for writing clear sentences. Subjects can be simple, compound, phrases, or clauses. Identifying and using the correct subject helps you avoid errors and strengthens your writing and speech. With Vedantu’s simple examples and tips, you can master this essential grammar skill.
- To learn more about how the subject connects with the predicate, see Subject and Predicate.
- Practice identifying subjects with interactive quizzes on Sentence Structure Quiz.
- If you want more sentence examples and tips, visit Simple Sentences and Parts of Speech.
FAQs on What is a Subject in English Grammar?
1. What is the subject in English grammar?
In English grammar, the subject is the word, phrase, or clause that performs the action of the verb or is described by the verb. It identifies who or what the sentence is about. For example, in the sentence "The dog barked," "the dog" is the subject.
2. What are the different types of subjects?
Subjects come in several forms: A simple subject is a single noun or pronoun (e.g., "dog," "he"). A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects joined by a conjunction (e.g., "dogs and cats"). A complete subject includes all the words that modify the simple subject (e.g., "The big, fluffy dog barked"). A noun phrase can also function as a subject (e.g., "The red car sped away").
3. How do I identify the subject in a sentence?
To find the subject, ask "Who or what is performing the action?" or "Who or what is being described?" The answer to this question will usually be the subject. For example, in "The birds sang sweetly," "the birds" perform the action of singing.
4. What is the difference between the subject and the object?
The subject performs the action of the verb, while the object receives the action. In "The boy kicked the ball," "the boy" (subject) performs the action, and "the ball" (object) receives the action.
5. What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example: "The dog barks" (singular) and "The dogs bark" (plural).
6. What are some common mistakes with subjects?
Common mistakes include confusing subjects with objects, incorrect subject-verb agreement (especially with compound subjects or collective nouns), and misidentifying the subject in complex sentences.
7. Can a phrase be the subject of a sentence?
Yes, a noun phrase can act as a subject. A noun phrase is a group of words that functions as a noun. For example, in "The big red ball bounced high," "The big red ball" is the subject.
8. How does the subject function in passive voice?
In passive voice sentences, the subject receives the action. For example, in "The ball was kicked by the boy," "the ball" is the subject, but it's the receiver of the action, not the performer.
9. Can a clause be a subject?
Yes, a dependent clause can function as the subject of a sentence. For instance, in "That he is honest is clear," the entire clause "That he is honest" acts as the subject.
10. What is the subject in a question?
In a question, the subject might not always appear at the beginning. For example, in "Did the dog bark?", the subject is still "the dog" even though it follows the auxiliary verb.
11. What is the subject in an imperative sentence?
Imperative sentences (commands) often have an implied subject of "you." For example, in "Close the door!," the implied subject is "you."
12. How do I deal with collective nouns as subjects?
Collective nouns (e.g., "team," "family," "group") can be treated as singular or plural depending on whether you're focusing on the group as a single unit or its individual members. For example, "The team plays well" (singular) vs. "The team are arguing amongst themselves" (plural).
