Every sentence must have a subject and a predicate to be complete. However, both of these concepts need a little more explaining if we want to use them correctly. In this blog post we will dive into subjects, but Albert has provided another post that can help you learn more about predicates when you’re ready.

When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here.

The Basics of Subjects

What is a Subject?

The subject of the sentence is always a noun or a pronoun that is either performing the action of the sentence or experiencing a state of being. 

For example:

• The frigid water in the sparkling pool shimmered in the afternoon sun.

Water is the subject of this sentence because it is doing the action of shimmering. The word pool is also a noun; however, it cannot be the subject of the sentence because it is attached to a prepositional phrase that modifies the noun. Noun objects of prepositional phrases can never be subjects.

While water by itself is considered a simple subject, the complete subject of a sentence includes the noun and all of its modifiers.

For example:

• The frigid water in the sparkling pool shimmered in the afternoon sun.

Since the article the, the adjective frigid, and the prepositional phrase in the sparkling pool all modify or give the reader more detail about the water, all of these words are considered part of the complete subject.

How are subjects different from predicates?

While the subject of a sentence describes who or what is performing an action or experiencing a state of being, the predicate of a sentence describes the action or state of being itself. 

For example:

• She had always wanted to visit the mountains of New Zealand.

In this sentence, she is the subject. The verb phrase “had always wanted” as well as the infinitive phrase, “to visit”, the direct object, “the mountains”, and the prepositional phrase, “of New Zealand” are all part of the predicate. 

Now, someone might say to you that it is easy to tell the subject apart from the predicate in a sentence because the subject always comes first. But, they are only partially correct! 

While subjects usually appear before predicates in sentences, they are allowed to show up fashionably late and still be considered a subject.

For example, in the popular Beatles’ song, “Yellow Submarine”, the song begins with this sentence: 

• “In the town where I was born lived a man who sailed to sea.”

Where is the subject? Is it town? Is it I? Or is it man? This sentence is a perfect example of why we must remember the distinct roles of both the subject and the predicate of the sentence. 

If lived is the action of the sentence, man is the most logical answer for who performed this action and the correct candidate for the subject of the sentence.

How are simple subjects, complete subjects, and compound subjects different from each other?

Simple subjects consist of only one noun or pronoun that is performing an action or experiencing a state of being in a sentence. 

For example:

• The Overlook Hotel is the sinister setting of Stephen King’s novel, The Shining.

Overlook Hotel is the simple subject of this sentence. 

Complete subjects include the noun or pronoun that is performing an action or experiencing a state of being in a sentence in addition to all of the noun’s modifiers, such as articles, adjectives, or prepositional phrases. 

For example: 

• The main character in Stephen King’s novel, The Shining, loses his mind while isolated in the Overlook Hotel.

In this sentence, character is the simple subject, but when combined with a prepositional phrase, an appositive phrase, an article and an adjective, a complete subject is formed.

Compound subjects consist of two or more nouns or pronouns that are performing the same action or experiencing the same state of being in a sentence.

For example:

• Danny and Wendy hid in the labyrinth from Jack.

In this sentence, since two different nouns are performing the action of hiding, both nouns make a compound subject together.

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3 Tips for Understanding Subjects

Here are some important tips to help you understand Subjects:

Tip #1. The subject of a sentence can never be a direct object or an object of the preposition

For example: 

• Can we buy popcorn at the movie theater today?

In this sentence, we is the subject, popcorn is the direct object, and movie theater is the object of the preposition. It would be illogical for the popcorn to buy itself or for the movie theater to buy the popcorn (even though that would be nice!).

Tip #2. A sentence can have multiple subjects–either side by side or in separate clauses

For example: 

• As the volleyball soared over the net, the opposing team scrambled to return it and failed. 

In this sentence, there are two nouns performing two different actions. Even though these are not compound subjects because they are performing different actions, they are each the subject of their own clause.

Tip #3. The subject of a sentence does not have to come before the predicate

For example: 

• In the middle of the yard sat a big Golden Doodle puppy. 

Even though this sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, yard cannot be the subject of the sentence because it is the object of a prepositional phrase. Therefore, the big Golden Doodle puppy has to be the subject of the sentence because it is performing the action of sitting.

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Applying the Basics: Subject Review & Practice

Now that you understand how subjects function in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize subjects.

The Ultimate List of Subjects

Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Subjects:

This list, obviously, does not include all possible subjects; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying this type of noun.

Subject Exercises and Review 

Now that you know some common subjects, test your ability to find them in various sentence structures.

Select the subject(s) in the sentences below. Remember, subjects are the noun(s) or pronoun(s) that are either performing the action in the sentence or experiencing a state of being.

1. In his wildest dreams, Harry had never dreamed of being a wizard. 

In this sentence, Harry is the simple subject. The prepositional phrase, “in his wildest dreams”, is not part of the subject in this sentence since it modifies when the action of dreaming was performed.

2. His face covered in soot, Hagrid arrived at Privet Drive. 

In this sentence, his face covered in soot, Hagrid is the complete subject since the introductory participial phrase modifies Hagrid.

3. Ron’s spell backfired and caused him to spit up slugs. 

In this sentence, Ron’s spell is the complete subject that consists of a possessive noun, Ron’s, and the simple subject, spell.

4. When Ginny opened the Chamber of Secrets, Voldemort was using her as a puppet. 

In this sentence, Ginny and Voldemort are both subjects of two different clauses within the sentence. Both subjects perform their own action, so these are not considered compound subjects.

5. Both the Whomping Willow and the Forbidden Forest nearly destroyed the Weasley’s car. 

In this sentence, Whomping Willow and the Forbidden Forest are both part of a compound subject since they both almost destroyed the car. Nearly is considered part of the predicate, not the subject, since it modifies the verb, destroyed.

Pro tip: The subject of a sentence always identifies who or what is performing the action or experiencing a state of being in a sentence. If you are unsure how to find the subject of a sentence, look for the main verb first, and then find the noun that pairs most logically as the subject of this verb.

For additional practice, check out our Subjects content on Albert.

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Try for Yourself: Subjects Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of subjects? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Can a sentence have multiple subjects? 

• Answer: Yes 
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A sentence can have several subjects as long as each subject is sharing an action or state (compound subjects) or each subject is in a separate clause. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a sentence can have multiple subjects as long as each subject is sharing an action or state (compound subjects) or each subject is in a separate clause.

2. Can an object of a preposition or a direct object be the subject of a sentence? 

• Answer: No  
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Objects of prepositions or direct objects can never be the subject of the sentence. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, objects of prepositions or direct objects can never be the subject of the sentence.

3. In this sentence, is the noun “Spongebob” or the noun “Squidward” the subject of the sentence? 

Spongebob annoyed Squidward with his endless questioning. 

• Answer: Spongebob
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The noun Spongebob is the subject of the sentence because it is performing the action. Squidward is the direct object because this noun is receiving the action. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, subjects perform the action of the sentence. Squidward is the direct object because this noun is receiving the action.

4. In this sentence, is the noun “Plankton” or the noun “Mr. Krabs” the subject of the sentence? 

Plankton stole the Krabby Patty recipe from Mr. Krabs. 

• Answer: Plankton
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The noun Plankton is the subject of the sentence because it is performing the action. Mr. Krabs is the object of a prepositional phrase and cannot be a subject. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, subjects perform the action of the sentence. Mr. Krabs is the object of a prepositional phrase and cannot be a subject.

5. In this sentence, is the word “ideally” or the word “task” the subject of the sentence? 

Ideally, the task should be done by Monday. 

• Answer: task
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! In this sentence, the word task is the subject of the sentence. Even though ideally comes first in the sentence, it is actually an adverb that modifies the entire sentence. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, subjects perform the action of the sentence and must be nouns. Even though ideally comes first in the sentence, it is actually an adverb that modifies the entire sentence.

6. In this sentence, is the noun “search” or the noun “he” a subject in this sentence? 

His search for the Holy Grail ended when he made a crucial mistake. 

• Answer: Both
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! This was a trick question! Both of these nouns have their own specific actions and are in separate clauses; therefore, they are both subjects in this sentence. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a sentence can have multiple subjects either performing the same action (compound subject) or performing their own action in different clauses.

For additional practice with subjects, check out our practice on Albert: Subjects.

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Teacher’s Corner for Subjects

Subjects and predicates are the essential building blocks for creating complete sentences, but oftentimes our students have trouble finding just the subject or the main verb of a sentence. The Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart is a helpful tool in outlining when students should ideally master different grammatical skills, but as teachers, we know our students’ individual needs more than anyone.

For specific standards on the different types of nouns and subjects, check out the Common Core State Standards website. 

Albert’s subject practice provides over 100 practice questions to help students quickly and confidently locate the subject of a sentence. Additionally, Albert also provides comprehensive assessments that can be used by educators to assess particular skills.

Summary for Subjects

Be sure to check out our grammar course for more subject practice. 

You can also access over 3,400 high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept.

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