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4. Compound Subjects Every sentence must have a subject and a…
4. Compound Subjects
Every sentence must have a subject and a verb. The subject expresses who or what performs the action in the sentence or the who or what a statement is about. A compound subject is made up of two or more nouns, or pronouns joined by one of the following: and, or, either/or, neither/nor. Review the following examples of different types of subjects. Click the blue labels in the left-hand column to see an explanation of the subject of each example sentence.
Examples of Subjects
Subject (the “who” word): The teachers demanded a higher salary from the school board.
Subject (the “what” word): My bicycle has yellow paint and a steel frame.
Compound Subject: Lucy and Jesse are living in Japan until next year.
Directions: For each of the following sentences, identify the subject. (Hint: To identify the subject, try to find the “who” or “what” that performs the action in the sentence.)
1. My mother cleans the bathroom every day.
Cleans
Mother
Bathroom
My
2. Chris cycles by the river on Sundays.
Chris
By
Cycles
Sundays
3. During the summer, Meghan and Mike love to go to the beach.
Love
Summer
Beach
Meghan and Mike
4. John went to Vegas with his friends for his bachelor party.
Went
Friends
John
Vegas
5. Antonio, Luis, and Manny play basketball every afternoon.
Luis
Antonio, Luis, and Manny
Antonio
Manny
6. New York, London, or Paris would be fun to travel to this spring.
New York
Paris
New York, London, or Paris
London
5. Finding the Subject in Sentences with Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases contain a preposition that shows the relationship between the subject of the sentence and the object of the sentence. For example, Maya Angelou once said, “I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” In this quotation, the preposition by shows the relationship between the subject, I, and the object, what happens to me. It is important to note that while prepositional phrases may contain nouns or pronouns, these nouns or pronouns are never the subject of the sentence. Review the following list of common prepositions, and then complete the exercises.
Common Prepositions
about before in through
above behind into to
across between like toward
after by near under
along during of until
among for on up
at from over with
Note: The object of the preposition cannot be the subject of a sentence. Therefore, identifying and crossing out prepositional phrases helps you spot the subject of the sentence. In the Maya Angelou quote, you can cross out the prepositional phrases so that the sentence is “I can be changed, but I refuse to be reduced.
“Directions: Identify the prepositional phrase in each sentence. (Hint: A prepositional phrase cannot be the subject of a sentence. Therefore, if you can find the subject, you’ll know that it is not part of a prepositional phrase.)
1. I didn’t arrive until 11:00 AM.
Until 11:00 AM
Arrive
I didn’t
2. I like drinking a pop between classes.
Drinking
Between classes
A pop
Directions: In each of the following sentences, identify the prepositional phrases (which include both the preposition and the object). Then identify the subject of the sentence.
1. For years, Kristen worked toward a promotion at work. Check all that apply.
For years
At work
Toward a promotion
Kristen worked
2. Who or what is the subject of the sentence?
Kristen
Years
Promotion
3. Debbie took her clothes from the washer and put them into the dryer. Check all that apply.
Her clothes
Debbie took
Into the dryer
From the washer
4. Who or what is the subject of the sentence?
Dryer
Clothes
Debbie
5. Catherine met with her friend at the deli. Check all that apply.
Met
Catherine
At the deli
With her friend
6. Who or what is the subject of the sentence?
Deli
Catherine
Friend
7. The bus was stuck behind a car with mechanical trouble. Check all that apply.
The bus
Was stuck
Behind a car
With mechanical trouble
8. Who or what is the subject of the sentence?
Car
Bus
Trouble
6. Finding the Subject in Sentences with Appositive Phrases
An appositive phrase is a group of words in a sentence that describes or renames a noun or a pronoun in that sentence. Appositive phrases are set off by commas. For example, in the sentence “William, my best friend, is a very optimistic person,” the phrase my best friend is an appositive phrase. Notice how it describes the noun William and is offset by commas. It’s important to note that an appositive phrase never contains the subject of the sentence. The following example guides you through the process of (1) determining which words make up the appositive phrase in a sentence and (2) determining which noun or pronoun in the sentence the appositive phrase describes.
Example of a Sentence with an Appositive Phrase
Example
Describe Appositive Phrase
Describe Subject
6. Finding the Subject in Sentences with Appositive Phrases
An appositive phrase is a group of words in a sentence that describes or renames a noun or a pronoun in that sentence. Appositive phrases are set off by commas. For example, in the sentence “William, my best friend, is a very optimistic person,” the phrase my best friend is an appositive phrase. Notice how it describes the noun William and is offset by commas. It’s important to note that an appositive phrase never contains the subject of the sentence. The following example guides you through the process of (1) determining which words make up the appositive phrase in a sentence and (2) determining which noun or pronoun in the sentence the appositive phrase describes.
Example of a Sentence with an Appositive Phrase
Kebabs, one of the city’s best restaurants, is on First Avenue.
Can you determine which part of this sentence is an appositive phrase? (Hint: Look for the words that are offset by commas.)
Directions: Read the following appositive phrase sentences, and then complete the informational sentences that follow by selecting the blank lines and selecting from the dropdown menus.
1. This morning, two congressional candidates, both Republicans, campaigned in our town.
The appositive phrase in the previous sentence is—————————-(both Republicans, [There is no positive phrase in this sentence], Two congressional candidates, campaigned) and the subject of the sentence is————–(both Republicans, Two congressional candidates, campaigned, Thsi morning).
2. Megan, our lead software developer, deserves a big raise.
The appositive phrase in the previous sentence is————(our lead software developer, Megan, deserves, [There is no positive phrase in this sentence]) and the subject of the sentence is————(Megan, our lead software developer, a big raise).
3. Touche´, a word of French origin, is used to acknowledge an opponent’s clever or effective point in a disagreement.
The appositive phrase in the previous sentence is———(a word of French origin, Touche´, [There is no positive phrase in this sentence], is used to acknowledge,) and the subject of the sentence is———–(a word of French origin, Touche´, is used to acknowledge, disagreement).
4. The race car had extensive body damage and minor engine problems.
The appositive phrase in the previous sentence is———– ([There is no positive phrase in this sentence], The race car, minor engine problems, had extensive body damage,) and the subject of the sentence is—————(and, The race car, minor engine problems, had extensive body damage,).
