What is a Subject in Grammar? Definition, Types & Worksheet

What is a Subject in a Sentence?

As we mentioned above, the subject in grammar is the centre of every sentence. It is a place, person, thing or idea that does the action. But there are times when the subject can be the one receiving the action, which we will talk about later on in this blog. The key thing for you to remember is that the subject is always a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun.

Another thing you should keep in mind is that every sentence needs a subject, and if there’s no subject, it’s not a sentence. Additionally, if a group of words has both- Subject and Verbs, then it is called a clause. A clause can sometimes be a complete sentence, but not always.

To give you a better understanding of a subject in a sentence, below are a few examples:

Example 1:

• In “The cat chased the mouse,” the subject is “cat”. This is because it is the one doing the chasing or the “main” action.
• In “Dan is running,” the subject is “Dan”. This is because Dan is the one who is running/ performing an action.

In some cases, a subject in English grammar can be simple, which is one noun or a pronoun. It can also be a compound, which is two or more nouns and pronouns. In simpler terms, they can be either singular or plural.

Example 2:

• In “The dog and the rabbit are playing”, the subject is plural and compound. Why is it different? This is because it includes both “dog” and “rabbit”, and they both are doing the running.
• The above was an example of a different type of subject. Yes, there are more than one; there are mainly four types of subjects. Now, let’s talk about the different subject types.

Also read: Tenses

Types of Subjects with Examples

From the second example above, we learned that the subjects can be detailed. Hence, subjects can also be more than just one word. Let us explain the different types and subject meanings in grammar:

1. Simple Subject

In a simple subject, there is only one noun or pronoun in a sentence. In such sentences, the subject, which is the central figure, performs the action or, in most cases, is being described. Also, keep in mind that in some sentences, articles like "a", "an", or "the" might also accompany the subject. The focus, however, will remain on the single word. To understand this better, you can check out the examples of subjects in sentences below:

For example:

• Birds chirp in the morning
• Lisa studies every evening
• A dog barked loudly

2. Complete Subject

On the other hand, in a complete subject, the subject is still in its simple form. The only difference is that it is accompanied by all the words that either modify it or describe it. All these additional details and words give a better understanding of the subject in a sentence.

For example:

• The little girl in the pink dress sang a song.
• My older brother's new car is parked outside.
• The beautiful flowers in the garden bloomed this morning.

3. Compound Subject

A compound subject in English grammar usually occurs when there is more than one subject in a sentence. In most cases, all these subjects perform the same action and are connected with the help of conjunctions like "and" or "or." Compound subjects can make sentences more interesting by involving multiple people, objects, and even ideas.

For example:

• Cats and dogs make great pets.
• Sarah and her friend went to the park.
• The teacher and the students planned the event together.

Also, there are times when the subject in grammar is both complete and compound, for example:

• My best friend and her sister love hiking in the mountains.
• The tall man in the blue coat and the young boy with the red hat were playing chess.
• Our neighbours and their relatives are coming over for dinner tonight.

4. Understood or Hidden Subject

In an understood or hidden subject, you can't see the "Subject". In simpler language, the subject is simply not written and is already understood. In such sentences, you don't need to state the subject directly.

For example:

• (You) Close the door before you leave.
• (You) Take your time answering the questions.
• (You) Enjoy the sunset while it lasts.
• Now that you have learned about the different types of subjects, let's see how you can identify them.

Also Read: Voice

How to Identify the Subject in a Sentence

Hope the definition of subject in grammar is clear to you. But to clear any remaining doubts, let us help you learn how to identify the subject. Identifying a subject in English grammar is pretty easy; you can, however, follow the steps below:

1. Find the verb: You can start by identifying the action or the state of being in the sentence. This is the verb, and the noun or pronoun which is connected to the verb is the subject. If there is no verb, then there is no action or state.

2. Check if the verb is active or passive: You can also check if the sentence is active or passive. This can help you understand if the subject is doing the action or receiving the action.

3. Check for any modifiers: Another great way to find the subject in a sentence is to check for modifiers. These modifiers are adjectives or articles that describe the subject or add details to it.

Also Read: Subject verb agreement

Why is the Subject of a Sentence Important?

We have discussed the definition of subject in grammar and its types, but why is the subject of a sentence important?

The subject of a sentence is really important because it is the centre of any sentence and tells you what the sentence is actually about. If there is no subject, then the sentence will lack clarity and purpose, which in turn will make it feel incomplete.

The subject also plays an important role in connecting the verb. This helps in understanding whether the subject is performing the action or it is receiving the action.

Examples of Subjects in Sentences:

• The dog barked loudly

Here, the subject "dog" is giving meaning to the action, which is "barked." Without this, the sentence will feel incomplete.

• The cake was eaten by John

Here, the subject "cake" focuses on what is receiving the action by being eaten.

Worksheet - Identify the Subject

Now that we have talked about the definition of a subject in grammar and given you great examples of them as well, below is a worksheet that you can use to identify the subject of a sentence.

Part A: Underline the simple subject and circle the complete subjects in these sentences

1. The bright red apple fell from the tree.

2. A kind old man helped the little girl cross the street.

3. The cat with the fluffy tail is sleeping on the couch.

Part B: Identify the compound subjects in these sentences

1. Sam and Emma baked cookies together.

2. The teacher and the students planned the school play.

3. My friends and their parents are coming to visit.

Part C: Identify the subject in these passive sentences

1. The book was read by the entire class.

2. The construction team built the new house.

3. The invitations were delivered by the postman.

Part D: Identify the hidden subject (implied "you") in these commands

1. Close the door when you leave.

2. Wait here until I call you.

3. Don't forget to water the plants.

Answer Key

Part A

• Simple Subject: apple, Complete Subject: The bright red apple
• Simple Subject: man, Complete Subject: A kind old man
• Simple Subject: cat, Complete Subject: The cat with the fluffy tail

Part B

• Compound Subject: Sam and Emma
• Compound Subject: The teacher and the students
• Compound Subject: My friends and their parents

Part C:

• Subject: The book (receiver of the action)
• Subject: The new house (receiver of the action)
• Subject: The invitations (receiver of the action)

Part D:

• Hidden Subject: (You) Close the door
• Hidden Subject: (You) Wait here
• Hidden Subject: (You) Don't forget

Also Read: Nouns

Conclusion

To wrap things up, the subject in grammar is the centre of every sentence. It tells you what the subject is about and whether it is a single word or a detailed phrase. We hope you have now understood the subject of meaning in grammar with our help. If you want to know more, our experts at Gradding.com can help you with detailed guidance on “Subject” and other related topics.

FAQs

1. Can a Sentence have Two Subjects?

Yes, a sentence can have two or more subjects, which is also called a compound subject; for example, "John and Mary went to the park."

2. Which is Subject and Predicate?

The subject is who or what the sentence is about, whereas the predicate will tell you what the subject is doing.

3. How Do You Identify a Subject?

You can start with finding the verb first and then ask, "Who or what is performing the action?" That noun or pronoun is the subject.

4. Can a Verb be a Subject?

No, a verb cannot be a subject because the subject is usually a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.

5. Can a Verb have No Subject?

No, every verb in a sentence needs a subject, even if it is implied, like in commands (e.g., "Run!" where the subject is "you").