Subjects

A subject is 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 teacher told the class to sit down. (determiner + noun)

Doesn’t he eat meat? (pronoun)

Spring is like a breath of fresh air after a winter indoors. (noun)

Callum is so good at sport. (proper noun)

They don’t open the shop on Sundays. (pronoun)

Surfing is becoming more and more popular. (-ing form as a noun)

Examples of the work of the four artists will 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 out means eating in a restaurant]

They love eating out.

Some people prefer to go on holiday to the same place every year.

The course fee doesn’t include materials.

In questions (interrogative clauses), the subject comes after the auxiliary or modal verb and before the main verb:

Has Shona been to the house before? (auxiliary + subject + verb + other elements)

Do you want a cup of tea? (auxiliary + subject + verb + other elements)

In exclamations, the subject comes after How or What and before the verb:

What a fantastic cook she is!

How easily he’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 use it or there as subjects:

It’s not raining, is it?

It’s strange the way the weather changes so quickly.

There are lots of things to do here in the city centre.

No subject

Spoken English:

In very informal speaking we can leave out the pronoun in declarative clauses (statements), particularly I with verbs like hope and know:

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.)

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 …

Are there two phone boxes at the end of this road?

Not: Are two phone boxes at the end of this road?