FINDING SUBJECTS IN VARIOUS SENTENCE STRUCTURES
In this module, you will learn to identify subjects and verbs in
 Interrogative sentences
 Imperative sentences
 Inverted sentences.
Introduction
In this module, we'll look at sentence structures in which subjects and verbs are more
radically separated than those dealt with in "Matching Subjects to Verbs Despite
Prepositional Phrases and Indefinite Pronouns." We'll look declarative, interrogative,
imperative, and inverted sentence structures.
Let's look at four different sentence constructions.
Declarative (a statement):
"The boy fell down."
Interrogative (a question):
"Did the boy fall down"?
Imperative (an order):
"Sit down."
Inverted (delayed subject):
"Down fell the boy."
We'll look first at identifying and matching subjects and verbs in interrogative sentences;
then we'll have a look at imperative sentences and at inverted sentences.
Interrogative Sentences
An interrogative sentence asks a question. We recognize the interrogative sentence by the
question mark (?) serving as end-sentence punctuation. Only interrogative sentences
starting with "wh" pronouns (who, whom, whoever, whomever, etc.) seem to be
troublesome while interrogative sentences starting with interrogative adverbs (how, when,
why, where, wherever, etc.) are quite straightforward.
Interrogative Pronouns
To identify the subject and the verb, we need to disregard the questioning "wh" word that
starts the sentence. Let's try a couple of sentences. We'll follow a procedure that you can
adopt if you wish.
Sentence:
"Whom is he going to see tonight"?
1. Identify the WH-Word.
We identify "Whom."
2. Ignore (remove) the WH-Word from the sentence.
We remove "Whom."
The sentence now looks like this.
"
is he going to see tonight"
4. Identify the verb.
We identify "is going."
Identify the subject of "is going."
Remember "Whom" has been removed. You must work with what's left.
We ask: Who or what "is going"?
Answer: "he" "is going."
Thus, "he" is the simple subject of the complete verb "is going."
In some interrogative sentences, you must to be prepared to use the "wh" word you
ignored. Here's an example of using the "wh" word that you tried to ignore.
Sentence:
"Who is running in the next election"?
Follow the steps we used in the first sentence until you get to here.
Sentence:
"
is running in the next election"
4. Identify the verb.
We identify "is running."
5. Identify the subject of "is running."
We ask: Who or what "is running"?
The sentence that remains (minus the word "Who") does not provide an answer to the
question. The answer to the question of who or what "is running" is the word "Who," which
we have removed.
To provide an answer to the question "who or what is running," we must use the wh-word
we tried to ignore in the first place.
We retrieve the removed WH-Word "who."
Answer: "who" "is running."
Thus, "Who" is the simple subject of the complete verb "is running."
No Wh-Word
Some interrogative sentences do not start with any wh-word. In these sentences, simply
identify the verb then identify its subject. But be careful because the verb is usually out of
the regular order that you're used to seeing.
Sentence:
"Did Sue and her friends go to the concert"?
Identify the verb.
We identify "did go."
Identify the subject.
We identify "Sue friends" as the simple subjects of the verb "did go."
Interrogative Adverbs
It is important to remember that an interrogative adverb can never be the subject of any
verb. So when you run into an interrogative sentence that start with an adverb, disregard
the adverb as you did with the "wh" interrogative pronouns at the beginning of this module.
Sentence:
"How did she know where to find us"?
1. Identify the interrogative adverb.
We identify "How."
2. Ignore (remove) the adverb.
The sentence now looks like this.
"
did she know where to find us."
3. Identify the verb.
We identify "did know."
Identify the subject of "did know."
We identify "she."
Imperative Sentences
An imperative sentence gives forceful advice, gives an order, or gives an instruction. We
recognize the imperative sentence by its impersonal tone created by the absence of a
subject.
Below are a few examples of imperative sentences.
Sentences:
"Be careful."
"Look both ways before crossing the street."
"Take only what you need."
Imperative Subject
In an imperative sentence, the subject of the verb is always "you," but the subject is never
written into the sentence. The unwritten subject, you, is "understood" to be the subject.
Example
"Switch on the power first."
We identify the verb "switch."
We identify the subject as (you): you understood.
Inverted Sentences
Inverted sentences do not play any significant role in technical or business writing because
their structure makes them very conspicuous.
You may construct inverted sentences by rearranging the "normal sequence" of English
sentences.
Here are a few examples of inverted sentences.
Normal-order sentence:
"You should try to visit Calgary more often."
Inverted sentence:
"To visit Calgary more often you should try."
Normal-order sentence:
"The wind was warm and gentle."
Inverted sentence:
"Warm and gentle was the wind."
You can usually recognize an inverted sentence by the amount of detail that is presented
before the verb. So, if you encounter such a sentence, intensify your efforts in identifying
subjects and verbs. One thing that will help you identify the subject and verb in an inverted
sentence is this:
The verb is usually near the end of the sentence, and the subject generally follows closely
after the verb.
Sentence:
"In the far corner of the bank, not easily visible was the camera."
Notice the number of words in the sentence before we get to the verb "was." The number
of words before the verb alerts us to a possibly inverted sentence construction.
Try the following sentence. Identify the subject and the complete verb.
Sentence:
"From the water and into the boat jumped the lake trout."
Simple subject: trout
Complete verb: jumped
That's all there is to inverted sentences. Just remember that, after you've been alerted to a
possibly inverted construction, intensify your efforts. Look for the subject to be after the
verb and near the end of the sentence.
Review
An interrogative sentence asks a question.
Many interrogative sentences start with WH-Words.
Removing WH-Words helps us find subjects and verbs.
At times, the WH-Word can be the subject.
Interrogative adverbs can never be subjects.
Imperative sentences give strong advice, an order, or an instruction.
The subjects of an imperative sentences are "you" (understood).
The subjects of inverted sentences are usually quite close to the verb and can be found
either before or after the verb near the end of a sentence.
Exercises
For all 10 questions, analyze the sentence and then select the answer that correctly
indicates the simple subject and its complete verb. The answers appear after the last
question.
1. Does working hard assure one of promotion?
A. promotion assure
B. promotion working hard
C. working hard does assure
2. Why have some people become bored with politics?
A. people have become
B. some become bored
C. people become
3. Who will teach children about morals and integrity?
A. children teach
B. children will teach
C. who will teach
4. Whom did they choose for president?
A. whom did choose
B. they did
C. they did choose
5. Take this medicine with food or milk before going to sleep.
A. you take
B. medicine take
C. medicine going to sleep
6. Turn right at the upcoming intersection.
A. intersection upcoming
B. you turn
C. you upcoming
7. As softly as a breeze came her whispered voice.
A. breeze came
B. breeze whispered
C. voice came
8. Into the jaws of danger rode the gallant cavalry.
A. cavalry rode
B. jaws rode
C. danger rode
9. Somewhere in your coat pockets are the tickets to the games.
A. pockets are
B. tickets are
C. games are
10. Where are the volunteers to help with ticket sales?
A. where are
B. volunteers are
C. sales are
Answers
1, C. 2, A. 3, C. 4, C. 5, A. 6, B. 7, C. 8, A. 9, B. 10, B.