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PEAZIT Aha card

Who or what is the subject of an English sentence?

The subject is who or what a sentence makes a statement about. In an ordinary English statement it comes before the verb; it is not always an active doer.

The same situation can be described with different subjects.

Sentence	Subject	Subject pronoun
Mia lends Tom a book.	Mia	she
Tom borrows a book from Mia.	Tom	he
The books are heavy.	The books	they

One worked example

Mia lends Tom a book.Mia is the subject: she lends the book to Tom.
Mia → sheReplace the name with the subject pronoun she.
Tom borrows a book from Mia.With borrow, we describe the receiver: Tom is the subject.

Watch out: Questions can change the order: Does Anna read? In a passive sentence the subject receives the action: The book is borrowed.

Goal, prerequisites and card origin

What you will learn: Identify the subject of a simple statement.

What you need first: Meanings of simple English words and verbs.

An original PEAZIT working card. Independent expert review and effectiveness testing have not yet taken place. · v1

Show connections

Borrow and lend: one event, two viewpoints

Eva: book owner — subject is the person giving a loan — Eva lends Tom a book.

Tom: temporary recipient — subject is the person receiving a loan — Tom borrows a book from Eva.

Eva lends Tom a book. — describe the same transfer from opposite viewpoints — Tom borrows a book from Eva.

Tom borrows a book from Eva. — a loan implies later return — Tom returns the book to Eva

Tom returns the book to Eva — the item returns to its owner — Eva: book owner

The subject is who or what a sentence makes a statement about. In an ordinary English statement it comes before the verb; it is not always an active doer.

Without JavaScript, write your answer elsewhere before opening the solution.In “The dog follows Anna.”, write the subject.

Solution — open after your own attempt

The dog Who does the sentence say follows Anna? The dog. Anna is the object of the verb, not its subject.

A question for your next return: Supply the English subject pronoun: “Mia and Tom read.” → “___ read.”

Solution — open after your own attempt

They Mia and Tom are plural; the subject pronoun is they.

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Who or what is the subject of an English sentence?

One worked example

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