The Noun as a subject

1. The Noun as a subject

2. 7 Uses for Nouns A noun can be used as a(n): • subject of the sentence • direct object • indirect object • object complement • subject complement. • appositive. • object of the preposition.

3. The Subject of a Sentence • The complete subject is who or what is doing the verb plus all of the modifiers [descriptive words] that go with it. The big, hungry, green Martian grabbed a student from the back row. • The simple subject, is the who or what that is doing the verb without any description. The big, hungry, green Martian grabbed a student from the back row.

4. Remember that the subject is never part of a prepositional phrase. • A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition [in, on, at, between, among, etc.] and ends with a noun, pronoun, or gerund. Neither of these boys wants to try a piece of pineapple pizza. • The subject is “neither” • “of these boys” is a prepositional phrase.

5. 1. Nouns as subjects The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something. • To find out which word is the subject of a sentence, just ask yourself two questions: • Who or what is doing whatever is going on (or being described)? John sold his boat. John is tired. • John answers the question “who is doing something in this sentence?”. John answers the question “who is being described?”. John is the subject of both sentences.

6. What's going on (or being described)? Skating is a wonderful form of exercise. Skating answers the question “what is” and therefore is the subject of the sentence.

7. Sometimes subjects are hard to find Imperative Sentences / Orders • sentences that give a command or an order are different • The subject is always “you” • It is understood rather than expressed. Stand on your head. • Ask the question, “Who is supposed to be doing the action?” • The answer is: YOU • You is the subject of this sentence.

8. Identify the subjects • The butcher saves the scraps for his dog. • The dog devours them quickly. • The butcher was a good man. • Eating is their favourite activity. • Shelties and cocker spaniels are good pets for small children. • Send the dogs outside. • They will be better behaved out there.

9. Other troublesome subjects Sentences that begin with HERE or THERE + plus a form of the verb “to be” – Example: is / are, was / were • "there" or “here” are not the subjects • These words signals that the true subject will soon follow. There were three stray kittens under our porch. • If you ask who? or what? before the verb ("were cowering"), the answer is "three stray kittens," the correct subject.

10. A sentence is not a sentence without a subject. . . it is a fragment