1.4 Identifying the Subject of a Sentence

In most sentences the subject comes before the predicate.n

Example: Washington Irving described New York in his stories.

The subject in this sentence would be: Washington Irving

The predicate in this sentence would be: described New York in his stories.

Other kinds of sentences, such as questions, begin with part or all of the predicate.

The subject comes next, followed by the rest of the predicate.

Are people still reading his stories?

Are people still reading his stories?

Predicate

Subject

To locate the subject of a question, rearrange the words to form a statement.

Example: Did Irving write many funny stories?

Statement: Irving did write many funny stories.

So the subject is.... Irving.

The predicate also comes before the subject in sentences with inverted word order and in declarative sentences that begin with Here is, Here are, There is, and There are.

Example: Over the paper raced Irving's pen.

Subject: Irving's pen

Predicate: Over the paper raced.

Example: There is Irving's original manuscript.

Subject: Irving's original manuscript.

Predicate: There is

In imperative sentences (requests and commands), the subject is usually not stated.

The predicate is the entire sentence.

The word you is understood to be the subject.

Look for the author's name on the cover.

Subject: Understood (You)

Predicate: Look for the author's name on the cover.