Understanding the Concept of Subjects in Spanish
Grammar Glossary for Spanish Students
Me gustan las enchiladas. (I like enchiladas.).
Regan76/Flickr/CC BY 1.0
Updated on March 24, 2019
Traditionally, the subject is the part of the sentence that performs the action of the main verb of a sentence.
Sometimes, «subject» is used to refer specifically to the noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb. In Spanish (rarely in English except in commands), it is common also for the subject to be implied rather than directly stated. In the following sentences, the subject is in boldface.
- El hombre canta bien. The man sings well. (The noun hombre is performing the action of the verb canta.)
- Los jugadores no están con nosotros. The players aren’t with us. (The noun jugadores is performing the action of the verb están.)
- Ellos no están con nosotros. They aren’t with us. (The subject is a pronoun.)
- No están con nosotros. They aren’t with us. (The subject here in the Spanish sentence is implied to be ellos but isn’t directly stated. In translation, the pronoun here must be stated in English.)
The subject of a verb can be contrasted with its object, which receives the action of the verb rather than performs it.
The subject of the sentence sometimes is considered to include not just the noun, but all the words in the phrase that accompanies the noun. By this definition, «el hombre» in the first sample sentence can be considered the subject of the sentence. By this definition, the subject of a sentence can get quite complex. For example, in the sentence «La chica que va al teatro no me conoce» (the girl who is going to the theater doesn’t know me), «la chica que va al teatro» can be considered the full subject. By this definition, the subject of a sentence can be contrasted with the predicate of a sentence, which includes the verb and often the object of the verb and related words.
In Spanish, the subject and verb (or predicate) match in number. In other words, a singular subject must be accompanied by a verb that is conjugated in a singular form, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Although the subject is usually thought of as the performer of a sentence’s action, in passive sentences this may not be the case. For example, in the sentence «su tío fue arrestado» (her uncle was arrested), tío is the subject of the sentence even though some unspecified person or persons are performing the verb’s action.
In Spanish, as in English, the subject typically comes before the verb except in questions. However, in Spanish, it is not extraordinary for the verb to come before the subject even in direct statements. For example, in the sentence «me amaron mis padres» (my parents loved me), padres (parents) is the subject of the verb amaron (loved).
Sample Sentences
- Un planeta es un cuerpo celeste que orbita alrededor de una estrella. A planet is a heavenly body that orbits around a star.
- No comprendo la revuelta árabe. I don’t understand the Arab revolt. (The subject in the Spanish sentence is implied.)
- Yo y tú podemos hacer todo. You and I can do everything. (This is the use of a compound subject.)
- Me gustan las enchiladas. I like enchiladas. (In the Spanish sentence, the subject here comes after the verb. Note that in translation, the subject in English represents a different word.)
- Hoy empieza la revolución. The revolution begins today. (The subject comes after the verb. Although hoy is sometimes a noun, here it is an adverb.)
- Skype fue comprado por Microsoft. Skype was bought by Microsoft. (In this passive sentence, Skype is the subject even though it is not performing the verb’s action.)
These examples may contain rude words based on your search.
These examples may contain colloquial words based on your search.
Suggestions
There is broad political consensus on this subject in our country.
En nuestro país existe un amplio consenso político acerca de este tema.
This is a very important subject since it concerns our health.
Este es un tema muy importante puesto que atañe a nuestra salud.
This allowed me to observe my subject in its natural habitat.
Esto me permitió… observar a mi sujeto en su hábitat natural.
This is the first evidence of subsequent contact with the subject.
Esta es la primera evidencia de un nuevo contacto con el sujeto.
It is important to be sensitive when dealing with this subject.
Es importante ser sensibles a la hora de tratar con este asunto.
The subject line of campaign should be simple and not misleading.
La línea de asunto de campaña debe ser sencillo y no engañosa.
This is a subject that matters to many millions of citizens.
Se trata de un tema que importa a muchos millones de ciudadanos.
Quite honestly, my ideas on the subject aren’t clear.
La verdad es que no tengo las ideas claras sobre el tema.
Now gentlemen, the subject being vast and my time brief.
Bien, caballeros, el tema es denso y mi tiempo breve.
This is a tricky subject, so best use your judgment.
Este es un tema trampoco, así que usa tu propio juicio.
They cannot, however, be the subject for a paper.
Sin embargo no pueden ser el tema de uno de sus informes.
There’s a powerful firewall in the subject‘s auxiliary brain.
Hay un poderoso muro de fuego en el la mente del sujeto.
Well, you know that that is quite a topical subject.
Bien, ya hemos visto que es un tema de bastante actualidad.
Within the general subject, each piece has its own place.
Dentro del marco del tema general, toda obra tiene su sitio.
Sample the best videos and talk to friends about the subject.
Muestre los mejores videos y hable con sus amigos sobre el tema.
Several have been the point of view concerning this subject treated.
Varios han sido los punto de vista tratados referentes a este tema.
The subject is vast, complex, and often starkly brutal.
El tema es extenso, complejo, y a menudo duramente brutal.
As a person, man is therefore the subject of work .
Como persona, el hombre es, pues, sujeto del trabajo.
Passive voice can also remove the subject of a sentence altogether.
La voz pasiva puede eliminar al sujeto de la oración por completo.
Click on each underlined word or phrase to activate the subject.
Haga clic en cada palabra o frase subrayada para activar el tema.
Suggestions that contain subject
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Word index: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900
Expression index: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
Phrase index: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
noun
1. (person or thing being discussed)
a. el tema
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
Please don’t change the subject.Hazme el favor de no cambiar de tema.
b. el asunto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
The war is still a sensitive subject in the Balkans.En los Balcanes la guerra todavía es un asunto delicado.
c. el objeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
(of condemnation or debate)
The new law has been a subject of intense public debate.La nueva ley ha sido objeto de un debate público intenso.
2. (area of study)
a. la asignatura
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
My favorite subject is Spanish.Mi asignatura favorita es español.
b. la materia
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
Which subjects do you teach?¿Qué materias imparte?
3. (grammar)
a. el sujeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
In English, every sentence must have a subject.En inglés, toda oración debe tener un sujeto.
4. (citizen or resident)
a. el súbdito
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
, la súbdita
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
He was born in Madagascar but has been a British subject since 2000.Nació en Madagascar pero es súbdito británico desde 2000.
5. (in science or medicine)
a. el sujeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
At present, a clinical trial is being carried out with 1000 subjects.En estos momentos, se lleva a cabo un ensayo clínico en el que participan 1000 sujetos.
6. (music)
a. el tema
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
An underlying melody unites the fugue’s subject with the prelude.Una melodía de fondo enlaza el tema de la fuga con el preludio.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
adjective
7. (under)
a. sujeto
The terms of this contract are subject to the laws of the state.Los términos de este contrato están sujetos a la jurisdicción del estado.
8. (conditional upon)
a. sujeto
The pool hours are subject to changes in the weather.El horario de la piscina está sujeto a los cambios de tiempo.
9. (prone to)
a. propenso
I’m subject to headaches.Soy propensa a los dolores de cabeza.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
transitive verb
10. (to force to undergo)
a. someter
A San Diego gang leader subjected several people to slavery conditions.El líder de una pandilla de San Diego sometió a varias personas a condiciones de esclavitud.
11. (to subjugate)
a. someter
The Romans subjected the Carthaginians among many other peoples.Los romanos, entre muchos otros pueblos, sometieron también a los cartagineses.
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subject
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun
1. (of conversation, book, painting, photograph)
a. el tema
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
2. (at school, university)
a. la asignatura f, materia
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
while we are on the subjectya que hablamos del tema
to change the subjectcambiar de tema
subject mattertema m, asunto m
3. (grammar)
a. el sujeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
4. (of monarch)
a. el súbdito(a)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
la súbdito(a)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
adjective
6. (prone)
a.
to be subject to illness/jealousy/depressionser propenso(a) a las enfermedades/los celos/la depresión
to be subject to delay/a fine of £50estar sujeto(a) a retrasos or
subject tosujeto(a) a
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
transitive verb
7. (subjugate; people, nation)
8. (force to undergo)
a.
to subject somebody to somethingsometer a alguien a algo
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
subject
[ˈsʌbdʒɪkt]
noun
1 (topic, theme) tema (m); (plot) argumento (m); asunto (m)
to change the subject cambiar de tema
she tried to change the subject he quickly changed the subject and started talking about his mother
let’s change the subject cambiemos de tema; changing the subject … hablando de otra cosa …; cambiando de tema …
it’s a delicate subject es un asunto delicado
on the subject of … a propósito de …
(while we’re) on the subject of money … ya que de dinero se trata …
this raises the whole subject of money esto plantea el problema general del dinero
2 (Educ) (Univ) asignatura (f)
3 (Gram) sujeto (m)
4 (Med) caso (m)
he’s a nervous subject es un caso nervioso
5 (Sci)
guinea pigs make excellent subjects los conejillos son materia excelente para los experimentos etc; (para los experimentos etc)
6 especially (Britain) (Pol) súbditoasúbdita (m) (f);a súbdita
British subject súbditoasúbdita (m) (f) británicoabritánica;a súbdita a británica liberty of the subject libertad (f) del ciudadano
[ˈsʌbdʒɪkt]
adjective
1 [+people, nation] dominado; subyugado
2
subject to (liable to) [+law, tax, delays] sujeto a; [+disease] propenso a; [+flooding] expuesto a; (conditional on) [+approval etc] sujeto a
A woman who is subject to herpes simplex infections needs to look after herself extremely well during pregnancy animals which are stroked regularly are less subject to stress than those who are not Subject to many tropical diseases, they lived in fear and superstition in the darkness of the deep rain forests spaniels are subject to heart disease
these prices are subject to change without notice estos precios están sujetos a cambio sin previo aviso; subject to correction bajo corrección
subject to the approval of
subject to confirmation in writing sujeto a confirmación por escrito
[səbˈdʒekt]
transitive verb
to subject sb to sth someter a algn a algo; to subject a book to criticism someter un libro a la crítica; to be subjected to inquiry ser sometido a una investigación; I will not be subjected to this questioning no tolero este interrogatorio or esta interrogación; she was subjected to much indignity tuvo que aguantar muchas afrentas
[ˈsʌbdʒɪkt]
modifier
subject heading (n) título (m) de materia
subject index (n) (in book) índice (m) de materias; (in library) catálogo (m) de materias
subject matter (n) (topic) tema (m); asunto (m); [of letter] contenido (m)
subject pronoun (n) pronombre (m) (de) sujeto
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Phrases
|
what is your favorite subject |
cuál es tu materia favorita |
|
my favorite subject is |
mi materia favorita es |
|
school subject |
la materia escolar |
|
my favorite subject is math |
mi materia favorita es matemáticas |
|
What is your favorite subject in school? |
¿Cuál es tu materia favorita en la escuela? |
|
subject matter |
tema |
|
favorite subject |
materia favorita |
|
he mastered the subject of reading comprehension |
dominó el tema de la comprensión de lectura |
|
subject to |
sujeto a |
|
my favorite subject |
mi materia favorita |
|
subject pronoun |
el pronombre personal de sujeto |
|
my favorite subject is science |
mi materia favorita es la ciencia |
|
my favorite subject is history |
mi asignatura favorita es historia |
|
Was it your favorite subject? |
¿Era tu asignatura favorita? |
|
my favorite subject is English |
mi materia favorita es el inglés |
|
subject-verb agreement |
la concordancia entre sujeto y verbo |
|
what’s your favorite subject |
cuál es tu materia favorita |
|
subject line |
la línea de asunto |
|
What was your favorite subject in school? |
¿Cuál era tu materia favorita en la escuela? |
|
subject to change |
sujeto a cambios |
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WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2023:
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2023:
‘subject‘ aparece también en las siguientes entradas: In the English description: Spanish: |
|
1. 
asignatura
asignatura Para mí, la historia es una asignatura fascinante.
¿Cuál es la asignatura que más te gusta?
Spanish word «subject»(asignatura) occurs in sets:
TOEFL — Vocabulario del campus 126-150
Escuela y Educación — School and Education
Vocabulario en inglés de entrevista a Mario Vargas…
study from English to Spanish — Webxicon. org (Eng…
Super Minds Unit 0 and 1
2. sujeto
sujeto Si puedes traducir el sujeto y el objeto, lo que viene después no es tan difícil.
Esta oración tiene un predicado pero ningún sujeto.
No hacía falta que nos ayudara el trabajo de aquel sujeto.
Algunas personas que hablan inglés creen que la omisión del sujeto no existe en esa lengua, sin embargo, el sujeto se omite en frases como «thank you» o «bless you».
Spanish word «subject»(sujeto) occurs in sets:
1000 sustantivos más importantes en inglés 201 — 300
Top 1000 spanish words
3. la tema
Spanish word «subject»(la tema) occurs in sets:
school in Spanish — la escuela en español
Chapter Two- List 1