Subjects in Unusual
Positions
Subjects in Unusual
Positions
• In most cases, the
subject is placed before
the verb.
Subjects in Unusual
Positions
• In some sentences,
however, the subject
appears after the verb.
• In other sentences, the
subject is not stated at all.
Inverted Sentences
• In an inverted sentence,
the subject appears after
the verb or between the
words that make up the
verb phrase.
Inverted Sentences
• EX: In his garden grew
an 800-pound pumpkin.
(An 800-pound pumpkin
grew in his garden)
Inverted Sentences
• EX: Never had the
neighbors seen such a
squash! (The neighbors
had never seen such a
squash!)
Sentences Beginning
with Here or There
• When a sentence begins
with here or there, the
subject usually follows
the verb.
Sentences Beginning
with Here or There
• Here and there are
almost never the
subject of a sentence.
Sentences Beginning
with Here or There
• Here and there usually
function as adverbs of
place that modify by
answering the question
where?
Questions
• In most questions, the
subject appears after the
verb or between the
words that make up the
verb phrase.
Questions
• Was the cabbage
large? (Subject after
verb)
Questions
• Did you see it?
(Subject inside verb
phrase)
Questions
• In many questions that begin
with whom, what, or how
many, the subject falls
between the parts of the verb
(EX: How many pounds did
the cabbage weigh?
Imperative Sentences
• The subject of an
imperative sentence is
always you.
• EX: Don’t complain.
Practice
• Where can you get a good
cabbage these days?
• Come to the annual
cabbage competition in
Palmer, Alaska.
Practice
• There is hot
competition for the
$4,000 first prize.
Practice
• Who grew the biggest
cabbage?
• To Lesley Dinkel goes
the title.
Practice
• Among his many
triumphs was a 98-pound
master.
• Do the winners have
advice for the rest of us
gardeners?
Practice
• Here is their best advice.
• Protect your cabbages
from moose.
• How can you argue with
advice like that?