The word subject as a noun

подвергать, подчинять, тема, предмет, субъект, подлежащий, подчиненный

глагол ↓

существительное ↓

прилагательное ↓

Словосочетания

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Возможные однокоренные слова

Формы слова

verb
I/you/we/they: subject
he/she/it: subjects
ing ф. (present participle): subjecting
2-я ф. (past tense): subjected
3-я ф. (past participle): subjected

noun
ед. ч.(singular): subject
мн. ч.(plural): subjects

English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English subget, from Old French suget, from Latin subiectus (“lying under or near, adjacent, also subject, exposed”), as a noun, subiectus (“a subject, an inferior”), subiectum (“the subject of a proposition”), past participle of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”), as a calque of Ancient Greek ὑποκείμενον (hupokeímenon).

Pronunciation[edit]

• enPR: sŭbʹjĕkt, IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/
• (also) (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɪkt/
• Hyphenation: sub‧ject

Adjective[edit]

subject (comparative more subject, superlative most subject)

1. Likely to be affected by or to experience something.

   a country subject to extreme heat

   Menu listings and prices are subject to change.

   He’s subject to sneezing fits.

   • c. 1678 (written), 1682 (published), John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe

     All human things are subject to decay.

   • 2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 68:

     The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them […] is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies. […] current tax rules make it easy for all sorts of firms to generate […] “stateless income”: profit subject to tax in a jurisdiction that is neither the location of the factors of production that generate the income nor where the parent firm is domiciled.

2. Conditional upon something; used with to.

   The local board sets local policy, subject to approval from the State Board.

3. Placed or situated under; lying below, or in a lower situation.
4. Placed under the power of another; owing allegiance to a particular sovereign or state.
   • , Book I

     Esau was never subject to Jacob.

Translations[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From Latin subiectus (“a subject, an inferior”), subiectum (“the subject of a proposition”), past participle of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• enPR: sŭbʹjĕkt, IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɪkt/
• Hyphenation: sub‧ject

Noun[edit]

subject (plural subjects)

2. (grammar) In a clause: the word or word group (usually a noun phrase) about whom the statement is made. In active clauses with verbs denoting an action, the subject and the actor are usually the same.

   In the sentence ‘The cat ate the mouse’, ‘the cat’ is the subject, ‘the mouse’ being the object.

3. An actor; one who takes action.

   The subjects and objects of power.

4. The main topic of a paper, work of art, discussion, field of study, etc.
   • 1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, John Dryden, transl., De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC:

     Make choice of a subject beautifull and noble, which […] shall […] afford […] an ample field of matter wherein to expatiate itself.

   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

     I am th’ unhappy subject of these quarrels. All these quarrels are about me.

   • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 5, in The Hocussing of Cigarette‎^[1]:

     Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery.

   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:

     The departure was not unduly prolonged. […] Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.

5. A particular area of study.

   Her favorite subject is physics.

   • 2014 June 14, “It’s a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891:

     One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. […] But out of sight is out of mind. And that, together with the inherent yuckiness of the subject, means that many old sewers have been neglected and are in dire need of repair.

6. A citizen in a monarchy.

   I am a British subject.

7. A person ruled over by another, especially a monarch or state authority.

   • 2020, Alan Mikhail, God’s Shadow, →ISBN, page 93:

     […] the Grand Khan seemed to grasp the «truth» of the religion and might become a convert, thereby gaining for Christianity the souls of all his subjects.

8. (music) The main theme or melody, especially in a fugue.
   • 1878, William Smith Rockstro, «Subject» in A Dictionary of Music and Musicians

     The earliest known form of subject is the ecclesiastical cantus firmus, or plain song.

9. A human, animal or an inanimate object that is being examined, treated, analysed, etc.
   • 1748, Conyers Middleton, Life of Cicero

     Writers of particular lives […] are apt to be prejudiced in favour of their subject.

   • 2010, Ursula James, Clinical Hypnosis Textbook: A Guide for Practical Intervention, page 73:

     It is also essential for those who come to the subject ‘fresh’ to gain the insight that will bridge their knowledge from being a subject of hypnosis to a potential practitioner.

   • 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:

     Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. That’s because the lenses that are excellent at magnifying tiny subjects produce a narrow depth of field.

10. (philosophy) A being that has subjective experiences, subjective consciousness, or a relationship with another entity.
11. (logic) That of which something is stated.
12. (mathematics) The variable in terms of which an expression is defined.

    Making x the subject of x² − 6x + 3y = 0, we have x = 3 ± √(9 − 3y).

Synonyms[edit]

• (discussion): matter, topic

Derived terms[edit]

• between-subjects
• subject matter
• subject title
• subjective
• within-subjects

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

• object
• predicate

Etymology 3[edit]

From Medieval Latin subiectō, iterative of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• enPR: səb-jĕktʹ, IPA^(key): /səbˈd͡ʒɛkt/, /sʌbˈd͡ʒɛkt/
• Rhymes: -ɛkt

Verb[edit]

subject (third-person singular simple present subjects, present participle subjecting, simple past and past participle subjected)

1. (transitive, construed with to) To cause (someone or something) to undergo a particular experience, especially one that is unpleasant or unwanted.

   I came here to buy souvenirs, not to be subjected to a tirade of abuse!

3. (transitive) To make subordinate or subservient; to subdue or enslave.

Synonyms[edit]

• underbring

Translations[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• subject in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “subject”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• subject at OneLook Dictionary Search

Dutch[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Chiefly a borrowing from Latin subiectum. Earlier Middle Dutch subject was masculine.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /sʏpˈjɛkt/, /sʏˈbjɛkt/
• Hyphenation: sub‧ject
• Rhymes: -ɛkt

Noun[edit]

subject n (plural subjecten, diminutive subjectje n)

1. subject (theme or topic)

   Synonym: onderwerp

2. (grammar) subject

   Synonym: onderwerp

3. (philosophy) subject, ego
4. someone or something that is the topic of a treatment or analysis

Derived terms[edit]

• subjectief

[edit]

• sujet

Need another word that means the same as “subject”? Find 67 synonyms and 30 related words for “subject” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Subject” are: bailiwick, discipline, field, field of study, study, subject area, subject field, national, theme, topic, content, case, guinea pig, issue, matter, subject matter, question, concern, text, thesis, point, motif, thread, participant, volunteer, branch of knowledge, branch of study, course of study, course, area, specialism, speciality, specialty, citizen, native, resident, inhabitant, liege, liegeman, vassal, subordinate, underling, capable, open, dependent, susceptible to, liable to, prone to, vulnerable to, disposed to, apt to suffer from, likely to suffer from, in danger of, open to, wide open to, conditional on, contingent on, dependent on, controlled by, bound by, constrained by, answerable to, accountable to, under the control of, subjugate, put through, treat with

Subject as a Noun

Definitions of «Subject» as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “subject” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• The first term of a proposition.
• One of the two main constituents of a sentence; the grammatical constituent about which something is predicated.
• A person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures; someone who is an object of investigation.
• A branch of knowledge studied or taught in a school, college, or university.
• (grammar) one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the grammatical constituent about which something is predicated.
• A thinking or feeling entity; the conscious mind; the ego, especially as opposed to anything external to the mind.
• A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.
• A theme of a fugue or of a piece in sonata form; a leading phrase or motif.
• A noun or noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the rest of the clause is predicated.
• A member of a state other than its ruler, especially one owing allegiance to a monarch or other supreme ruler.
• Some situation or event that is thought about.
• A person who is the focus of scientific or medical attention or experiment.
• (logic) the first term of a proposition.
• The subject matter of a conversation or discussion.
• A person who owes allegiance to that nation.
• The part of a proposition about which a statement is made.
• A person or circumstance giving rise to a specified feeling, response, or action.
• The central substance or core of a thing as opposed to its attributes.
• Something (a person or object or scene) selected by an artist or photographer for graphic representation.
• A branch of knowledge.

Synonyms of «Subject» as a noun (42 Words)

area	A sunken enclosure giving access to the basement of a building. The key areas of science.
bailiwick	The district or jurisdiction of a bailie or bailiff. After the war the Middle East remained his bailiwick.
branch of knowledge	Any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm.
branch of study	A part of a forked or branching shape.
case	The quantity contained in a case. Most breast cancer cases were older women.
citizen	A native or naturalized member of a state or other political community. The good citizens of Edinburgh.
concern	Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness. She felt strong concern for those less fortunate.
content	The state of being contented with your situation in life. They could read to their heart s content.
course	An area of land set aside and prepared for racing, golf, or another sport. The river takes a southern course.
course of study	A line or route along which something travels or moves.
discipline	A system of rules of conduct or method of practice. He was able to maintain discipline among his men.
field	Fielders collectively or the manner in which they are spread over the pitch. A field of corn.
field of study	Extensive tract of level open land.
guinea pig	A west African bird having dark plumage mottled with white; native to Africa but raised for food in many parts of the world.
inhabitant	A person who fulfils the residential or legal requirements for being a member of a state or parish.
issue	Supplies as food or clothing or ammunition issued by the government. The chance of carrying such a scheme to a successful issue was small.
liege	A feudal superior or sovereign. The king s lieges.
liegeman	A person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord.
matter	A subject or situation under consideration. Reading matter.
motif	A leitmotif or figure. Superstition is a recurring motif in the book.
national	A national newspaper as opposed to a local one. She finished 16th at the nationals that year.
native	An indigenous person who was born in a particular place. The marigold is a native of southern Europe.
participant	A person who participates in or is skilled at some game. Staff are to be active participants in the decision making process.
point	A value assigned to certain cards 4 points for an ace 3 for a king 2 for a queen and 1 for a jack sometimes with extra points for long or short suits by a player in assessing the strength of their hand. He scored 20 points in the first half.
question	An instance of questioning. There is no question about the validity of the enterprise.
resident	A bird, butterfly, or other animal of a species that does not migrate. The hotel restaurant is open to residents and guests of residents.
specialism	The concentration of your efforts on a particular field of study or occupation. For younger doctors specialism has become less attractive.
speciality	A distinguishing trait. His speciality was watercolours.
specialty	The special line of work you have adopted as your career.
study	A room used for reading and writing and studying. A complex study of a gay teenager.
subject area	Something (a person or object or scene) selected by an artist or photographer for graphic representation.
subject field	The subject matter of a conversation or discussion.
subject matter	The subject matter of a conversation or discussion.
subordinate	An assistant subject to the authority or control of another. He was mild mannered especially with his subordinates.
text	A textbook. Too much concentration on set texts can turn pupils against reading.
theme	The first major constituent of a clause, indicating the subject matter, typically being the subject but optionally other constituents, as in ‘smitten he is not’. His letters were always on the theme of love.
thesis	(in Hegelian philosophy) a proposition forming the first stage in the process of dialectical reasoning. A doctoral thesis.
thread	A programming structure or process formed by linking a number of separate elements or subroutines especially each of the tasks executed concurrently in multithreading. She put her needle and thread away.
topic	The subject matter of a conversation or discussion. Sleep deprivation became a frequent topic of conversation.
underling	An assistant subject to the authority or control of another. She was shouting orders at underlings between gulps of coffee.
vassal	A person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord. A vassal state of the Ottoman Empire.
volunteer	A plant that has not been deliberately planted. The railway is operated solely by volunteers.

Usage Examples of «Subject» as a noun

• A monarch has a duty to his subjects.
• The legislation is applicable only to British subjects.
• A moving picture of a train is more dramatic than a still picture of the same subject.
• The incident was the subject of international condemnation.
• The chorale-like second subject of the Scherzo.
• He’s the subject of a major new biography.
• He didn’t want to discuss that subject.
• Subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire.
• Maths is not my best subject.
• He had been thinking about the subject for several years.
• The subjects for this investigation were selected randomly.
• Teachers should be well trained in their subject.
• I’ve said all there is to be said on the subject.

Subject as a Verb

Definitions of «Subject» as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “subject” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Bring (a person or country) under one’s control or jurisdiction, typically by using force.
• Cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to.
• Cause or force someone or something to undergo (a particular experience or form of treatment, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one.
• Refer for judgment or consideration.
• Make accountable for.
• Make subservient; force to submit or subdue.

Synonyms of «Subject» as a verb (3 Words)

put through	Make an investment.
subjugate	Make someone or something subordinate to. The new ruler firmly subjugated the Church to the state.
treat with	Engage in negotiations in order to reach an agreement.

Usage Examples of «Subject» as a verb

• The city had been subjected to Macedonian rule.
• He’d subjected her to a terrifying ordeal.
• The sergeant subjected the new recruits to many drills.
• He did not want to subject himself to the judgments of his superiors.
• He subjected me to his awful poetry.
• People in Chernobyl were subjected to radiation.

Subject as an Adjective

Definitions of «Subject» as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “subject” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Under the authority of.
• Possibly accepting or permitting.
• Being under the power or sovereignty of another or others.
• Under the control or domination of another ruler, country, or government.
• Likely to be affected by something.
• Likely or prone to be affected by (a particular condition or occurrence, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one.
• Dependent or conditional upon.

Synonyms of «Subject» as an adjective (22 Words)

accountable to	Liable to account for one’s actions.
answerable to	Morally or legally responsible to a higher authority.
apt to suffer from	Naturally disposed toward.
bound by	Bound by an oath.
capable	Open to or admitting of something. Children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable.
conditional on	Qualified by reservations.
constrained by	Lacking spontaneity; not natural.
contingent on	Uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances- George Eliot.
controlled by	Restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds.
dependent	Requiring someone or something for financial or other support. Dependent children.
dependent on	Addicted to a drug.
disposed to	Naturally disposed toward.
in danger of	Holding office.
liable to	At risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant.
likely to suffer from	Within the realm of credibility.
open	Of a victor having won an open competition. An open protest.
open to	Open to or in view of all.
prone to	Having a tendency (to); often used in combination.
susceptible to	Yielding readily to or capable of.
under the control of	Lower in rank, power, or authority.
vulnerable to	Susceptible to criticism or persuasion or temptation.
wide open to	Not on target.

Usage Examples of «Subject» as an adjective

• The bond is subject to taxation.
• The time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation.
• He was subject to bouts of manic depression.
• The proposed merger is subject to the approval of the shareholders.
• Ministers are subject to the laws of the land.
• The Greeks were the first subject people to break free from Ottoman rule.
• Subject peoples.
• He is subject to fits of depression.

Associations of «Subject» (30 Words)

accompanying	Following or accompanying as a consequence. The accompanying documentation.
accretion	The coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies. The central city surrounded by recent accretions.
aim	Have the intention of achieving. He took aim and fired.
archaeological	Related to or dealing with or devoted to archaeology. A dramatic archaeological discovery.
blob	A drop of a thick liquid or viscous substance. A big pink blob of a face was at the window.
caption	Provide with a caption as of a photograph or a drawing. He designed a series of posters with the caption No One is Innocent.
communique	An official report (usually sent in haste.
contentious	Involving heated argument. A central and contentious element of the book.
contents	A list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start. He emptied the contents of his pockets.
controversial	Giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement. Rushdie s controversial book.
controversy	Prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion. The announcement ended a protracted controversy.
corporeal	Having material or physical form or substance – Benjamin Jowett. A corporeal God.
crux	The most important point. The crux of the matter is that attitudes have changed.
debatable	Open to argument or debate. It is debatable whether the country is coming out of recession.
hank	A ring for securing a staysail to the stay. A thick hank of her blonde hair.
heading	The direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies. He crawled on a heading of 90 degrees until he came to the track.
issue	Prepare and issue for public distribution or sale. A share issue has been launched.
item	Used to introduce each item in a list. She had several items on her shopping list.
keynote	Set the keynote of. Comfort keynotes this designer s Fall collection.
matter	The particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form. Organic matter.
qualitatively	With regard to the quality or qualities of something rather than its quantity. Security levels can be qualitatively assessed.
question	Pose a question. The question of local government funding worried ministers.
reenact	Enact again. Congress reenacted the law.
referent	Something referred to; the object of a reference. Judgments referent to the indictment.
stuff	Fill with a stuffing while cooking. He knows his stuff and can really write.
thematic	Relating to or constituting a topic of discourse. For the thematic collector volcanoes represent a treasure trove.
theme	Give a particular theme or setting to a leisure venue event etc. A theme song.
thing	An example or type of something. She couldn t find a thing to wear.
topic	The subject matter of a conversation or discussion. It was a very sensitive topic.
weft	(in weaving) the crosswise threads on a loom that are passed over and under the warp threads to make cloth. Weft threads.

Definition and Examples

A subject in a sentence is a noun, pronoun, person, thing or place who is doing the task or is being asked/instructed/suggested to do it. In other words, a ‘subject’ in a sentence performs the verb. It is therefore very easy to identify the ‘subject’ in a sentence if you have identified the ‘verb’. Subject is the one who is performing the verb or is expected, told or instructed to do so. For instance read the sentence given below-

• My uncle is leaving for New York tomorrow.

To identify the subject in the above sentence, first identify the verb. The sentence has only one verb –‘leaving’, which is the Present Participle form of leave. Now look for the answer on who is performing the verb? That is, who is leaving for New York tomorrow?

The answer to the question is- My uncle! ‘My uncle’ is therefore the subject in the given sentence.

A subject may be a single word or a combination of several words. Different types of subjects with suitable examples are given below.

Types of Simple Subjects

A simple subject contains only one word as a subject. That is it may have a Proper Noun ( Tommy, Italy, Lilly etc), Improper Noun (dog, river, city etc) or a Personal Pronoun ( I, they, you etc) as a subject. The types of simple subjects with suitable examples are given below.

1) Proper Noun as Subject

In a sentence a subject may be a Proper Noun i.e. a single word name or a person, place, or thing. Proper Nouns are the name of an individual place or person. Consider the below sentences using a Proper Noun as a subject.

• Tom Cruise is a good actor.
• Mohit is writing a letter.
• Amazon is the largest river by volume.
• Chandigarh is a well planned city.
• Ronald Reagan was the 40^th President of America.

In all of the above sentences the Subject is a proper noun and very easy to identify- Tom Cruise, Mohit, Amazon, Chandigarh and Ronald Reagan.

2) Improper Noun as Subject

Improper Nouns may also be used as a subject in a sentence. An Improper or Common Noun is the name given to a thing, place or a class, like- city, cat, dog, etc. Below given are some examples of sentences using Improper Nouns as subjects.

• The dog is barking loudly.
• Elephant is a big animal.
• Rivers overflow during monsoon.
• The city is packed with tourists.
• Pen is mightier than the sword.

All the above sentences have used improper nouns/common nouns as subjects- dog, elephant, river, city, and pen.

3) Personal Pronouns as Subjects

A personal pronoun is a word which can be used instead of Noun. Words like I, he, she, they, me, you, we etc are all personal pronouns. Some examples of sentences using personal pronouns as subjects are given below-

• He is singing.
• She is waiting for the bus.
• I am going to market.
• They are conducting a checkup.
• You will take care of guests.

In the above sentences pronouns like- he, she, I, they and you are supposed to carry on the verb and are therefore the ‘Subjects’.

4) Interrogative Pronouns as Subjects

Interrogative Pronouns like who, what, which – can be used as simple subjects as shown below-

• Who switched off the lights?
• What is troubling you?
• Which bus is going to Michigan?
• Who is feeding the cat?

Complex Subjects

Unlike the simple subjects which are only single words; complex subjects are a combination of a proper/improper noun and a modifier.

Go through the below given sentences.

• The dog who was sitting beside the road started chasing us.
• The simplicity of Mahatma Gandhi was famous the world over.
• The height of Mount Everest is a challenge for many adventurers.
• The people from Indian villages are migrating to cities.
• Indian students from good institutes are leaving their mother land.

Consider the first subject –

• The dog who was sitting beside the road started chasing us.

First thing to do is to identify the verb; in this case the verb is – ‘chased’. Now ask yourself ‘who is performing the verb?’ i.e. ‘Who is chasing?’ Very simple – ‘The dog who was sitting beside the road’- which is the complex subject of the sentence. A complex subject always has a Noun as centre; in this case it is ‘dog’.

The ‘Complex Subject’ of remaining sentences are-

• The simplicity of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The height of Mount Everest.
• The people from Indian villages.
• Indian students from good institutes.

Compound Subjects

Sometimes a sentence has more than one person or thing performing the same task; such sentences have compound subjects as given below-

• Rahul and Punit are going to college.
• Kanpur and Allahabad are listed as smart cities.
• Dogs and cats are pet animals.
• Cars and buses are convenient modes of transport.
• India and Nepal are jointly operating a bus service.

The above sentences have one or two nouns performing the same verb and therefore have ‘Compound Subjects’. – ‘Rahul and Punit’, ‘Kanpur and Allahabad’, Dogs and Cats’, ‘Cars and Buses’ and ‘India and Nepal’.

Exercise 1

Fill in the Blanks Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Simple Subjects with Answers:

Complete the following sentences with appropriate subjects; also, verify your answers with those provided at the end of the exercise.

1) _________ is the capital of India.

2) _________ is the business capital of India.

3) _________ are faster modes of transport than trains.

4) __________ love watching cartoons.

5) __________ were barking.

6) ____________ is celebrated on 26^th day of January every year.

7) My __________ is just a walk away from my house.

________ did not listen to the lecture attentively.

9) _________ took the keys?

10) Whose __________ are these?

11) _________ are faster than calculators.

12) _________ is better than cure.

13) His __________ gave him good marks in the examination.

14) ___________ a day keeps the doctor away.

15) The __________ was examining his patients.

Answers- 1)Delhi, 2)Mumbai, 3)Planes, 4)children, 5)Dogs, 6)Republic Day, 7)school/office, they/we/he/she/Rohit etc, 9)Who, 10)pens/books etc, 11)computers, 12)Prevention, 13)teacher, 14)an apple, 15) doctor.

MCQ Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Simple Subjects with Answers:

In the below given sentences choose the correct ‘Subject’ from the choices given; also, verify your answers from those given at the end of the exercise:

1) __________ is eating burger.

1. a) is
2. b) burger
3. c) Tommy

2) ________ is singing beautifully.

1. a) She
2. b) singing
3. c) beautifully

3) __________ are leaving tomorrow.

1. a) tomorrow
2. b) they
3. c) leaving

4) ___________ is running on terrace?

1. a) Who
2. b) running
3. c) terrace

5) _________ are travelling to Calcutta yesterday.

1. a) travelling
2. b) we
3. c) Calcutta

6) ___________ are a mode of transport through the oceans.

1. a) transport
2. b) ships
3. c) oceans

7) _____________ is sitting on the chair and writing a letter.

1. a) sitting
2. b) chair
3. c) he

My _________ is parked in the house on the pavement.

1. a) car
2. b) house
3. c) pavement

9) ___________ is eating dinner with his father.

1. a) dinner
2. b) father
3. c) Rohit

10) ____________ has more village population than Madhya Pradesh.

1. a) village
2. b) Uttar Pradesh
3. c) Madhya Pradesh

11) ____________ can travel longer than small planes.

1. a) Large planes
2. b) travel
3. c) small planes

12) _____________ are bigger mammals than elephants.

1. a) elephants
2. b) mammals
3. c) whales

13) _____________ has longest National Highways than any other state.

1. a) National Highway
2. b) Uttar Pradesh
3. c) Other state

14) ______________ was the first calculating machine developed by a man.

1. a) calculating machine
2. b) man
3. c) abacus

15) My ___________ is the grandfather of my son.

1. a) father
2. b) son
3. c) grandfather

Answers- 1)c, 2)a, 3)b, 4)a, 5)b, 6)b, 7)c, 8)a, 9)c, 10)b, 11)a, 12)c, 13)b, 14)c, 15)a

Exercise 2

Fill in the Blanks Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on complex Subjects with Answers:

Add suitable words to the below sentences so that they make a complete meaningful sentences having ‘Complex Subjects’; also cross check your answers with those provided at the end of the exercise; the answers also have ‘main noun’ and ‘complex subject’ of individual sentences.

Note- After completing the sentences try to identify the ‘main noun ‘and ‘complex subjects’.

1) The _________ who prescribed the __________ was an alumna of AIIMS.

2) The __________ who was sitting on the bench was eating a burger.

3) _________ which is a foreign make; gives good mileage.

4) The ____________ who taught ___________ was facilitated by the management.

5) The _________ with longer ___________ are more on the target of poachers.

6) ________ with lighter weight; float faster.

7) _________ who scores ________ in exams will be rewarded.

The ________ who talks less; thinks more.

9) The apple you ________ me was rotten.

10) The _______ which he was _________; ran out of fuel.

11) A ___________ car is parked beside my house.

12) The woman who was _________ for the bus, booked a cab to go home.

13) __________ who live in villages are more stress free than those living in cities.

14) The man __________ thinks quick, progresses faster.

15) The __________ which were sold in the afternoon; were meant for the evening show.

Answers- 1)doctor, medicine, 2)man/boy etc, 3)My car, 4)teacher, well, 5)elephants, tusks, 6)ships, 7)student, good, person, 9) gave, 10)car, driving 11) black/red, 12) waiting, 13) people, 14) who, 15)tickets

Below given are the ‘Complex Subjects’ for the above example sentences-

1) ‘The doctor who prescribed the medicine’.

2) ‘The man who was sitting on the bench’.

3) ‘My car which is a foreign make’.

4) ‘The teacher who taught well’.

5) ‘The elephants with longer tusks’.

6) ‘Ships with lighter weight’.

7) ‘Student who scores well.’

‘The person who talks less’.

9) ‘The apple you gave me’.

10) ‘The car which he was driving’.

11) ‘A black car’.

12) ‘The woman who was waiting for the bus’.

13) ‘People who live in villages’.

14) ‘The man who thinks quick’.

15) ‘The tickets those were sold in the afternoon’.

More Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Complex Subjects with Answers:

Identify the ‘main noun- subject’ and the ‘complex subjects in the sentences given below-

1) A car with yellow paint speeded past our bike.

2) A small bird with yellow beak was perched on my terrace.

3) Those who have their ID will be allowed to sit.

4) The man wearing a black hat is her grandfather.

5) Cats with blue eyes are rare to find.

6) Men with arms were guarding the building.

7) Women with small children were going to the school.

Soldiers who went on leave were called back in emergency.

9) Children who behave well; are loved by everyone.

10) Birds with long feathers can glide easily.

11) Workers with hands on experience are preferred by the employers.

12) Localities with scarce amenities should be developed first.

13) Employees who are honest; are worth retaining and encouraging.

14) The dog standing at the gate, started chasing us.

15) Birds of a feather flock together.

Answers to the above exercise are given in the form of – (main subject/complex subject)

1) Car/ ‘A car with yellow paint’.

2) Bird/ ‘A small bird with yellow beak’.

3) Those/ ‘Those who have their ID’.

4) Man/ ‘The man wearing a black hat’.

5) Cats/’ Cats with blue eyes’.

6) Men/ ‘Men with arms’.

7) Women/ ‘Women with small children’.

Soldiers/ ‘Soldiers who went on leave’.

9) Children/ ‘Children who behave well’.

10) Birds/ ‘Birds with long feathers’.

11) Workers/ ‘Workers with hands on experience’.

12) Localities/ ‘Localities with scarce amenities’.

13) Employees/ ‘Employees who are honest’.

14) Dog/’ The dog standing at the gate’.

15) Birds/ ‘Birds of a feather’.

Exercise 3

Fill in the Blanks Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on Compound Subjects with Answers:

Complete the following compound sentences by using appropriate words (nouns) or coordinating conjunctions (and, or, neither, or, nor etc). Cross check your answers with those provided at the end of the exercise.

Note- Assumptions may be made wherever necessary.

1) Haryana ______ Himachal Pradesh are two states in western India.

2) Either Rohit _______ Sahil will be selected for the tournament.

3) The dogs ________ the cats are pet animals.

4) The old books _______ the old clothes have to be discarded.

5) We have decided to resale either the car ________ the bike.

6) Neither the car ________ the bike is in running condition.

7) Ram and his mother _________ going to the grocery stores.

Desktops _______ laptops ________ two advanced forms of computers.

9) Me_________ my neighbor clean the society every weekend.

10) ________ Ronit nor Roy are going to the party.

11) _________ Ronit or Roy is going to the party.

12) ______and cattle were the first to be domesticated by men.

13) Me ______ my brother can’t live without playing.

14) The ________ and the trouser should be ironed well.

15) Education ________ skill is the keys to success.

Answers- 1)and, 2)or, 3)and, 4)and, 5)or, 6)nor, 7)are, 8)and,are, 9)and, 10)neither, 11)either, 12)dogs, 13)and, 14)shirt, 15)and

The subjects in the above examples are-

1) ‘Haryana’ and ‘Himachal Pradesh’.

2) ‘Rohit’ and ‘Sahil’.

3) ‘Dogs’ and ‘Cats’.

4) ‘Books’ and ‘Clothes’.

5) ‘Car’ and ‘Bike’.

6) ‘Car’ and ‘Bike’.

7) ‘Ram’ and ‘his mother’.

‘Desktops’ and ‘Laptops’.

9) ‘My neighbor’ and ‘me’.

10) ‘Ronit’ and ‘Roy’.

11) ‘Ronit’ and ‘Roy’.

12) ‘Dogs’ and ‘Cattle’.

13) ‘Me’ and ‘My brother’.

14) ‘Shirt’ and ‘Trouser’.

15) ‘Education’ and ‘skill’.

More Exercises/Worksheets/Examples on Compound Subjects with Answers:

Identify the compound subjects in the following sentences-

1) Dogs and cats are domestic animals.

2) Cars and bikes are different modes of transport.

3) Sam, Peter and Julie are going for the movie.

4) Tea and coffee are bad for health.

5) Me, my brother and my cousin Sam love cricket.

6) The pastry was delicious than the cupcake.

7) Neither you nor your friends are going on the trip.

Either he or his parents have to pay for the loss.

9) Neither Sam nor Lilly are going to get the medal this year.

10) Either the car or the bike has to be painted yellow.

11) You and your dog get quite noisy sometimes.

12) My phone and my laptop are always kept beside me.

13) His cousin and his parents are coming to see him.

14) Ram and Ronny are playing cricket since afternoon.

15) She and her mother are excellent cooks.

Answers-

1) ‘Dogs’ and ‘Cats’.

2) ‘Cars’ and ‘Bikes’.

3) ‘Sam’, ‘Peter’ and ‘Julie’.

4) ‘Tea’ and ‘Coffee’.

5) ‘Me’, ‘Brother’ and ‘Sam’.

6) ‘Pastry’ and ‘Cupcake’.

7) ‘You’ and ‘Your friends’.

‘He’ and ‘His parents’.

9) ‘Sam’ and ‘Lilly’.

10) ‘Car’ and ‘Bike’.

11) ‘You’ and ‘your dog’.

12) ‘My phone’ and ‘My laptop’.

13) ‘His cousin’ and ‘His parents’.

14) ‘Ram’ and ‘Ronny’.

15) ‘She’ and ‘her mother’.

Related Links:

Predicate
Object

What image comes to your mind when someone uses the word subject in a sentence? If something is the subject of a discussion, debate, talk, conversation, or sentence, it is what that activity or the sentence revolves around. In this post, we will understand what a subject is, how it looks like, and the different types of subjects in English.

A subject of a sentence is a part that the sentence revolves; it is what the sentence focuses on. In linguistics, the subject of a sentence is a person that does an action or a person/thing that about whom/which the sentence gives information about.

Examples:

1. Jacob calls me in the morning. (Focusing on the subject and what he does)

2. One of my friends called me last night. (Focusing on who called me)

3. I have invited all of them. (Focusing on the subject performing an action)

In these sentences, we are focusing on the doer of the action: subject. Now, let’s study some examples where the subject does not perform an action, where the sentence gives information about the subject by renaming it (using a name or modifying it (using an adjective).

1. Jacob is a dancer. (renaming the subject)

2. My sister is my best friend. (renaming the subject)

3. Jon and Monica were enemies. (renaming the subject)

4. You are talented. (modifying the subject)

5. Mangesh has been very supportive. (modifying the subject)

6. My friends were quite rich back in the day. (modifying the subject)

In the first three examples, we are giving a name to the subject using a noun or a noun equivalent.

• Jacob = a dancer.
• My sister = my best friend
• Jon and Monica = enemies

In the last three examples, we are describing the subject with an adjective.

• You = talented
• Mangesh = very supportive
• My friends = quite rich back in the day

We can also talk about the mental state, emotional state, or possessional state of the subject using stative verbs. Let’s study some examples to understand this.

1. Jon loves talking to kids. (talking about the emotional state of the subject)

2. I understand the gravity of this gravity. (talking about the cognitive state of the subject)

3. We own this house. (talking about the possessional state of the subject)

Here, the subject is not performing a dynamic action; we are just showing the state the subject is in.

Types of subjects in English

There are three types of subjects in English:

1. Simple subject
2. Compound subject
3. Complete subject

Types of subjects	Explanation	Examples	Subject in the example
Simple subject	it is a noun or pronoun without any modifiers in it.	1. Jon is my best friend. 2. We love you. 3. Some people want to meet you. 4. The story of the movie was fascinating.	1. Jon 2. we 3. people 4. story
Compound subject	it is a combination of two or more subjects (of any type) together.	1. Jon and I live together. 2. My father and I don’t see eye to eye. 3. Jon, Conor, and Tim are not going on the trip.	1. Jon and I 2. My father and I 3. Jon, Conor, and Tim
Complete subject	it is a combination of a simple subject and the modifiers that come right before or after it.	1. My friends are waiting for me. 2. Someone from your class has been messaging me. 3. Some people want to meet you. 4. The story of the movie was fascinating.	1. My friends 2. Someone from your class 3. Some people 4. The story of the movie

Simple subject

A simple subject is a one-word subject. It does not include any modifiers.

Examples:

• Simran has everything she needs.
• India is the biggest democratic country in the world.
• Jacob loves pancakes.
• The man in the white coat is a doctor.
• The best dancer of this group was Ronny.

Complete subject

A complete subject is a combination of a simple subject and the words that modify it.

Examples:

1. The movie was amazing.

Simple subject = movie
Modifier = the
Complete subject = the movie

2. A wise man once said that money is an illusion.

Simple subject = man
Modifiers = a, wise
Complete subject = a wise man

3. Some people just make excuses for their failures.

Simple subject = people
Modifier = some
Complete subject = some people

4. People living in this area are very poor.

Simple subject = people
Modifier = living in this area (present participle phrase)
Complete subject = people living in this area

5. The man in the blue coat teaches History here.

Simple subject = man
Modifiers = the, in the blue coat
Complete subject = the man in the blue coat

A complete subject is formed using a simple subject and one or more modifiers. Here are the ways to form a complete subject:

1. Pre-modifier/s + simple subject
2. Simple subject + modifier/s
3. Pre-modifier/s + simple subject + post-modifier/s

Pre-modifier + simple subject

• My friends love me. (Premodifier = my)
• A school is being built here. (Premodifier = a)
• That car is more expansive than our house. (Premodifier = that)
• His performance was amazing. (Premodifier = his)
• A few people have gathered here. (Premodifier = a few)
• Three women were hit by his car. (Premodifier = three)

Simple subject + post-modifier

• People in my village support each other. (post-modifier = in my village)
• Events of such nature kept happening. (post-modifier = of such nature)
• Girls protesting outside the college are from different parts of the country. (post-modifier = outside the college)

Pre-modifier + simple subject + post-modifier

• The man looking at us looks strange. (premodifier = the, post-modifier = looking at us)
• The goal of this gathering is to raise money for some poor kids. (premodifier = the, post-modifier = of this gathering)
• The movie that we watched the other day opened my eyes in many ways. (premodifier = the, post-modifier = that we watched the other day)

Compound subject

A compound subject is a combination of two or more (generally two) simple subjects or complete subjects. It is joined by a coordinating conjunction, usually with ‘and’, ‘nor’, and ‘or’.

Examples:

• Mohit and Rohan are best friends.
• Jon and Max came to see me the other day.
• Susan or I can go there and talk to the mangement about this.
• The teachers or the management can solve this problem.
• Some green vegetables, milk, sugar, and flour are needed for this dish.

A compound subject can also be joined with correlative conjunctions such as ‘not only…but also‘, ‘Both…and‘, and ‘neither…not’.

• Neither the doctors nor the patients were happy with the ongoing protests.
• Both the police and the protestors are working together.
• Not only my parents but I am also in support of this rule.

Note: when ‘neither…nor‘ and ‘either…or‘ form a subject, the verb follows what comes after ‘nor’.

• Neither the students nor the teacher is excited about the new rules of the school.
• Either you or she is coming with me.

What can be a subject of a sentence?

The following things can act as the subject of a sentence:

1. Noun/Noun phrase
2. Noun clause
3. Pronoun
4. Gerund/Gerund phrase
5. Infinitive/Infinitive phrase

NOUN

• Money can buy happiness, some say.
• Democracy is the strongest pillar of this country.
• Courage is what you need to show.

NOUN PHRASE

• My money is not your money.
• A dog bit him.
• Some of your friends don’t appreciate what you do.

Click here to master noun phrases in English.

NOUN CLAUSE

• What I want is love.
• Who called you yesterday was a friend of mine.
• Why he left that job is still a mystery to me.

PRONOUN

• I love teaching English.
• Everyone loves Ashish.
• That is a beautiful house.

GERUND

• Teaching is my passion.
• Smoking can kill you.
• Running keeps me fit.

Click here to master gerunds in English.

GERUND PHRASE

• Playing with kids makes me happy.
• Going there alone was a bad decision.
• Starting an NGO for the poor is one of the things I want to do.

Click here to master gerund phrases in English.

INFINITIVE

• To smoke can kill you.
• To dance is my passion.

NOTE: gerunds are preferred as a subject.

• Smoking can kill you.
• Dancing is my passion.

Click here to master infinitives in English.

INFINITIVE PHRASE

• To open a school is my dream.
• To leave her there alone was very stupid of you.
• To be an army officer is my goal.

Click here to master infinitive phrases in English.

Related lessons:

• Main verbs
• Auxiliary verbs
• Linking verbs
• Transitive and intransitive verbs
• Ditransitive verbs

Practice set!

Find the subject in the following sentences and also mention its types:

1. Everything I do has a reason.
2. You look amazing.
3. Some of you are really creative.
4. These dogs are my friends.
5. A man in a black suit was standing next to your car.
6. This guy’s driving is crazy.
7. Some brown people living in this area are filthy rich.
8. Your approach to this game is strangely good.
9. She and I don’t live together now.
10. Either your friends or you can come.

Answers:

1. Simple subject = everything
Complete subject = everything I do

2. Simple subject = you

3. Simple subject = some
Complete subject = some of you

4. Simple subject = dogs
Complete subject = these dogs

5. Simple subject = man
Complete subject = a man in the black suit

6. Simple subject = driving
Complete subject = this guy’s driving

7. Simple subject = people
Complete subject = some brown people living in this area

8. Simple subject = approach
Complete subject = your approach to this game

9. Compound subject = she and I

10. Compound subject = either your friends or you

Do share the lesson with others to help and support. Feel free to ask your doubt or question in the comment section.

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