Subjects tell us who or what performs the action in a sentence. Without them, sentences aren’t really sentences; they’re fragments. Subjects are either simple or complete, depending on whether they do or do not include modifiers.
What is a Simple Subject?
A simple subject is the main word or words in a subject. It does not include any of the modifiers that might describe the subject.
To identify the simple subject in a sentence, ask yourself who or what performs the action in the sentence. Remember, though, that a simple subject is very basic. It doesn’t include any of the words that modify it.
Simple Subject Examples:
(Who is visiting us this week? My favorite uncle is visiting us this week. Uncle is the simple subject.)
(What ran across the beach and jumped into the water? The black dogs ran across the beach and jumped into the water. Dogs is the simple subject.)
(What was a hit at the party? My scary Halloween costume was a hit at the party. Costume is the simple subject.)
(What streaked across the sky? Bright meteors streaked across the sky. Meteors is the simple subject.)
(What is my favorite dessert? Blueberry pie is my favorite dessert. Pie is the simple subject.)
(What blared through the speakers? Loud music blared through the speakers. Music is the simple subject.)
(What pulled up to the stoplight? The red Mercedes pulled up to the stoplight. Mercedes is the simple subject.)
(What is my grandfather’s favorite possession? My grandfather’s violin is his favorite possession. Violin is the simple subject.)
(What sprouts from the ground in the springtime? Colorful flowers sprout from the ground in the springtime. Flowers is the simple subject.)
(What are classics of children’s literature? The Grimm Brothers’ tales are classics of children’s literature. Tales is the simple subject.)
(What swam around our feet in the lake? Tiny fish swam around our feet in the lake. Fish is the simple subject.)
(What is next week? The apple orchard’s harvest festival is next week. Festival is the simple subject.)
Related Topics:
Predicate
Simple Predicate
Compound Predicate
Complete Predicate
Predicate Nominative
Predicate Adjective
Compound Subject
Subject Complement
Complete Subject
All Grammar Terms