SENTENCE STRUCTURE: SUBJECT & PREDICATE

Definition

Every complete sentence is made of two essential parts: a subject and a predicate.

  • The SUBJECT tells us **what or whom** the sentence is about. It is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs an action or is described.
  • The PREDICATE tells us **what the subject is doing or what the subject is**. It always contains the verb and includes all the words that complete the thought.

10 Examples:

  1. The dog barked loudly.
  2. She is a talented artist.
  3. My favorite book has a blue cover.
  4. Running every morning is good for your health.
  5. The students and their teacher watched the documentary.
  6. He solved the puzzle quickly.
  7. The sun sets in the west.
  8. To learn a new language requires dedication.
  9. That old house on the corner looks spooky.
  10. We are studying for the competitive exam.

How to Identify Subject and Predicate

Follow this simple 3-step process to correctly identify the subject of any sentence.

Step 1: Find the Verb

First, locate the verb (the action or state-of-being word) in the sentence.

Step 2: Ask the Question

Next, ask the question **"Who or What + [the verb]?"**

Step 3: Find the Subject

The answer to your question is the **Complete Subject**. Everything else in the sentence is the **Complete Predicate**.

Example Analysis:

Sentence: The big, brown dog chased the cat.

  1. Find the Verb: chased
  2. Ask the Question: Who or What chased?
  3. Answer/Subject: The big, brown dog

Therefore:

The big, brown dog is the Subject.

chased the cat is the Predicate.

Examples by Sentence Type

1. Simple Sentences

  1. The car stopped suddenly.
  2. My little brother is sleeping.
  3. Birds fly.
  4. The sun shines brightly.
  5. Our team won the game.
  6. She laughed at the joke.
  7. The old clock ticked loudly.
  8. He is a doctor.
  9. The flowers in the garden are beautiful.
  10. We arrived late.

2. With Compound Subjects (more than one subject)

  1. The students and their teacher went on a field trip.
  2. My brother and I play chess together.
  3. The book and the movie were both excellent.
  4. Cats and dogs are popular pets.
  5. John, Mary, and David are on the same team.
  6. The manager and his assistant attended the meeting.
  7. Hard work and dedication lead to success.
  8. Neither the players nor the coach was happy with the result.
  9. Either the blue shirt or the green one will match these trousers.
  10. The sun, the moon, and the stars are celestial bodies.

3. With Compound Predicates (more than one verb)

  1. She tripped and fell on the ice.
  2. He studied for the test and passed with high marks.
  3. The dog barked and wagged its tail.
  4. My friend called me and invited me to the party.
  5. We will go to the store and buy some groceries.
  6. The author writes novels and teaches at the university.
  7. The chef prepared the meal and decorated the plate.
  8. I woke up, stretched, and got out of bed.
  9. The company designed, manufactured, and sold the new product.
  10. She sings in the choir and plays the piano.

4. Questions (Inverted Order)

To find the subject, first rearrange the question into a statement.

  1. Question: Are you coming to the party?
    Statement: You are coming to the party.
  2. Question: Did he finish his homework?
    Statement: He did finish his homework.
  3. Question: Will the train arrive on time?
    Statement: The train will arrive on time.
  4. Question: Have they seen the movie?
    Statement: They have seen the movie.
  5. Question: Is your brother a doctor?
    Statement: Your brother is a doctor.
  6. Question: What did she say?
    Statement: She did say what.
  7. Question: Where are my keys?
    Statement: My keys are where.
  8. Question: Can you help me?
    Statement: You can help me.
  9. Question: Was the test difficult?
    Statement: The test was difficult.
  10. Question: Who broke the window?
    Statement: Who broke the window. (Here, 'Who' is the subject)

5. Commands (Implied Subject)

In commands, the subject is almost always an unstated "You".

  1. (You) Close the door.
  2. (You) Please be quiet.
  3. (You) Do your homework.
  4. (You) Watch your step.
  5. (You) Stop talking.
  6. (You) Listen carefully to the instructions.
  7. (You) Turn left at the next signal.
  8. (You) Don't forget to call me.
  9. (You) Help me with this box.
  10. (You) Read the chapter thoroughly.

Examples of Unusual Subject Position

In some sentences, especially those used for literary effect or emphasis, the subject does not appear at the beginning. The "Who or What + Verb" question is essential for finding it.

1. Sentences beginning with a prepositional phrase

  1. Sentence: On top of the tree, lives a sparrow.
    Analysis: Who or what lives? → a sparrow.
  2. Sentence: Around the corner came the speeding car.
  3. Sentence: Down the street marched the soldiers.
  4. Sentence: In the middle of the room stood a large, wooden table.
  5. Sentence: From the ashes rose the phoenix.

2. Sentences beginning with "Here" or "There"

In sentences starting with 'Here' or 'There', the subject usually follows the verb.

  1. Sentence: There are ten books on the shelf.
    Analysis: Who or what are on the shelf? → ten books.
  2. Sentence: Here is your ticket.
  3. Sentence: There goes my chance of winning.
  4. Sentence: Here comes the bride.
  5. Sentence: There were many people at the concert.
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