A subjectis one of the five major elements of clause structure. The other four are: verb, object, complement and adjunct. Subjects are essential in declarative, negative and interrogative clauses.
The subject acts as the ‘doer’ or agent of an action. Subjects are typically noun phrases (e.g. a noun or pronoun and any dependent words before or after it):
The teachertold the class to sit down.(determiner + noun)
Doesn’theeat meat?(pronoun)
Springis like a breath of fresh air after a winter indoors.(noun)
Callumis so good at sport.(proper noun)
Theydon’t open the shop on Sundays.(pronoun)
Surfingis becoming more and more popular.(-ingform as a noun)
Examples of the work of the four artistswill be in an exhibition at the Tate Gallery from Nov 4–29.(noun + prepositional phrase)
Subject position
In statements (declarative clauses), the subject comes before the verb:
[eating outmeans eating in a restaurant]
Theylove eating out.
Some peopleprefer to go on holiday to the same place every year.
The course feedoesn’t include materials.
In questions (interrogative clauses), the subject comes after the auxiliary or modal verb and before the main verb:
HasShonabeen to the house before?(auxiliary + subject + verb + other elements)
Doyouwant a cup of tea?(auxiliary + subject + verb + other elements)
In exclamations, the subject comes afterHoworWhatand before the verb:
What a fantastic cooksheis!
How easilyhe’d tricked her!
Dummy subjects
The subject is an essential part of a clause. Sometimes we need to use a ‘dummy’ subject where there is no other subject to put in the subject position. We useitorthereas subjects:
It’s not raining, isit?
It’s strange the way the weather changes so quickly.
Thereare lots of things to do here in the city centre.
No subject
In very informal speaking we can leave out the pronoun in declarative clauses (statements), particularlyIwith verbs likehopeandknow:
Hope you have a great time.(I hope you have …)
A:Do we have to do the second exercise as well?
B:Don’t think so. (I don’t think so.)
See also:
Ellipsis
In imperative clauses (orders, instructions, requests) we don’t include the subject:
Close the door after you.
Turn left at the end of the road.
See also:
Imperatives with subject pronouns
Subjects: typical errors
We don’t omit the subject in declarative and interrogative clauses:
A:Doyouknow Susie?
B:Yes,Ido.She’s really nice.
Not:Is really nice.
It’s strange that we don’t see them any more.
Not:Is strange that…
Aretheretwo phone boxes at the end of this road?
Not:Are two phone boxes at the end of this road?
See also:
Ellipsis
Noun phrases
Sentences
Subject–verb agreement
Clauses
Dummy subjects