PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program

UNIT 1
THE SUBJECTS
A. WHAT IS SUBJECT?
Building a sentence needs a subject. A subject names the person, place, thing, or idea
of sentence is about. Usually, the subject tells who/what is the primary agent, and the
verb tells what the agent does. The subject of a sentence typically occurs at the beginning
of the sentence (position), consists of a noun phrase (form), and indicates the topic of the
discussion (meaning).
B. THE TYPES OF SUBJECTS
The above has already mentioned that a subject names the person, place, thing, or
idea which placed at the beginning of the sentence that functioned to indicate the topic of
the discussion (meaning). The subject of a sentence can be: pronoun, common noun,
proper noun, gerund, to-infinitive, noun phrase, etc. They will be explained clearly as
follows:
1. Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. It can do all of the things that
nouns can do. It can be as a subjective in any sentences. When pronoun as subjective, it
indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of the sentence. The subjective personal
pronouns are: I, you, we, they, she, he, it. In each of the following sentences, the pronouns
as subjects are highlighted:
a. I go.
b. You speak.
c. We tell.
d. They think.
e. She cries.
f. He studies.
g. It barks.
h. You and I run.
Thus, pronoun as possessive adjective can be also used as the subjects of any
sentences. A verb comes after possessive adjective (PA) such as: my, your, her, his, our,
their, John’s (possessive adjective + Verb-ing ) and a noun comes after possessive
adjective (possessive adjective + noun). In each of the following sentences, the pronouns
as subjects are highlighted:
a. Her teaching is fascinating. (possessive adjective + V- ing )
b. His staring frightens me. (possessive adjective + V- ing )
c. Your coming makes them angry. (possessive adjective + V- ing )
d. Their readings are not perfect. (possessive adjective + V- ing )
e. My projects will be verified by some teams soon. (possessive adjective + Noun )
f. Your orders have been sent. (possessive adjective + Noun )
g. Our explanations did not make them satisfaction. (possessive adjective + Noun )
h. John’s’ teaching is very nice. (possessive adjective + V- ing )
2. Common Nouns
Common nouns are names that do not specify a particular person, place, animal, or
object. They refer to a class of people, place animal or object. Examples are: teacher,
person, animal, city car, vehicle, friend, etc. The common nouns can be used as subjects

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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program
in any sentences in which they act as the subjects of the sentence. In each of the
following sentences, the common nouns as subjects are highlighted:
a. Teacher teaches.
b. Baby cries.
c. Snake hisses.
d. Dog barks.
e. Students studied.
Thus, a plural common noun can be the subject of a sentence such as: birds, babies,
dogs, cocks, parrots, pigeons, etc. In each of the following sentences, the common nouns
as subjects are highlighted:
a. Birds sing.
b. Babies cry.
c. Dogs bark.
d. Cocks crow.
e. Parrots talk.
3. Proper Nouns
Proper nouns name people (Poltak, Bonar, Brown, Johannes) things (Toyota, Kijang,
Eiffel Tower), animals (monkey, pig, dog) and places ( Parapat, Medan, London, Jakarta,
Surabaya, etc.). The proper nouns can be functioned as a subject of any sentences. In
each of the following sentences, the proper nouns as subjects are highlighted:
a. Mary kicked the ball.
b. New York City is a nice city
c. King has a big power.
d. Indonesia has 34 provinces.
e. Parapat is a nice place to visit.
Thus, appositive noun can be used after proper nouns such as: Selamat Heppy
Napitupulu, Jimmy, Basuki Chaya Purnama, Joko Widodo. It functions to explain the
other noun (noun in the left). In each of the following sentences, the appositive noun as
subjects is highlighted:
a. Selamat Heppy Napitupulu , the lecturer of UNINDRA PGRI JAKARTA, is
writing three modules in this semester.
b. Jimmy, the carpenter, has retired.
c. Basuki Cahaya Purnama , the governor of Jakarta, is smart.
d. Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia, is wise to manage his country.
4. Noun Phrases
A noun phrase (NP) is a phrase which has a noun (or indefinite pronoun) as its head
word, or which performs the same grammatical function as such a phrase. An article can
be used as the modifier of a noun such as: a, an, the, as follows:
a. a teacher ; the teacher
b. a reporter ; the reporter
c. a president ; the president
d. a king ; the king
e. a dog; the dog
f. an apple ; the apple
g. an envelope; envelope the etc.
In each of the following sentences, the noun phrases as subjects are highlighted:
a. A teacher teaches English in the class room.
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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program
b. The teacher explains the material.
c. A reporter reports news of corruption.
d. The reporter interviews some poor people.
e. A president visited the poor.
f. The president has summit his new program.
g. The river is deeper after it rains.
h. An enormous tree stands on the riverbank.
Thus, an adjective can be also used as a modifier that modifies a noun called adjective
phrase, as follows:
a. a formal teacher
b. our diligent workers
c. the brave guard
d. few new students
e. these angry men
f. few young boys
In each of the following sentences, the adjective phrases as subjects are highlighted:
a. A formal teacher works in a school.
b. Our diligent workers are growing the rice in the field now.
c. The brave guard guarantees us our security in visit.
d. Few new students here study hard.
e. This old library gives old lessons.
5. To-Infinitive Phrases
“ To-infinitive phrase ” may function as a subject in any sentences. It is a phrase in
which the head word is a to-infinitive. The head word in the phrase can be followed by an
adverb or a noun, or a noun phrase. “ to + verb phrase ” such as : to stay, to go, to come,
to wait, to review, to study, etc. In each of the following sentences, the “ to infinitive
phrases “ as subjects are highlighted:
a. To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required.
b. To review all the courses can remain us the past lessons.
c. To study in the morning is fresher than in the afternoon.
d. To stay in this city live peacefully.
e. To go to bed early thinks well.
6. Gerunds
A gerund is a verbal that ends in “ – ing ” and functions as a noun. The term verbal
indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbal, is based on a verb and
therefore expresses action or a state of being. A gerund may be used as the subject of a
sentence. When a gerund functions as the subject of the sentence is used for the
statements such as opinions or for listing activities, for examples:
Verb Verb-ing ( Gerund)
tell telling
speak speaking
study studying
operate operating
demonstrate demonstrating
In each of the following sentences, the gerund as subjects are highlighted:
a. Walking is good for your heart.
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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program
b. Swimming makes us healthy.
c. Cooking is a good hobby.
d. Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
But, like verbs, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole
expression (gerund + object/ complement to the verb) can be the subjects of any
sentences. In each of the following sentences, the “gerund + object/ complement to the
verb” as subjects are highlighted:
a. Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money. (gerund + object)
b. Using online practices helps students who don't have books. (gerund + object)
c. Studying online is very convenient. (gerund + object)
d. Working from home allows a person to work in comfort. (complement to the
verb)
e. Running in the morning makes me fresh. (complement to the verb)

7. There
As general, position of subject in the beginning of sentence. The position of subject
can be in the middle of the sentence. It can be introduced with ‘ there ‘. The function of
“there” is to introduce new topic. As a matter of fact that the real subject is in the
middle, but it can be introduced with ‘ there ‘. Now, look at the subjects are highlighted:
There Real Subjects
1 There is a book on the table. A book is on the table.
2 There are some students in the class Some students are in the class room.
room.
3 There was a car in the garage last A car was in the garage last night.
night.
4 There were many people in the Many people were in the concert two
concert two days ago. days ago.
5 There has been a new English A new English lecturer has been in
lecturer in this faculty since last week. this faculty since last week.
6 There have been five seminars in the Five seminars have been n the hall for
hall for two days. two days.
7 There will be three English education Three English education professors
professors at my campus. will be at my Campus.
8. Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that is used to point to something specific
within a sentence. These pronouns can indicate items in space or time, and they can be
either singular or plural. They may function as subjects in any sentences. When used as
subjects, the demonstratives, in either singular or plural form, can be used to refer to
objects as well as persons.
In each of the following sentences, the “ demonstrative pronouns ” as subjects are
highlighted:
a. This is my father.
b. That is my book.
c. These are our children
d. Those are my shoes.

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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program

Thus, demonstratives can be preceded with a noun. Here demonstratives modify the
nouns. These are called demonstrative adjectives such as: this party, that city, these
chocolates, those flowers, etc. These demonstrative adjectives can be used as subjects of
any sentences. In each of the following sentences, the “demonstrative pronouns” as
subjects are highlighted:
a. This party is boring. (singular)
b. That city is busy. (singular)
c. These chocolates are delicious. (plural)
d. Those flowers are beautiful. (plural)

9. The Adjective
The subject of a sentence can be an adjective as noun equivalence. This adjective
must be preceded by the definite article “the” such as: the rich, the clever, stupid,
beautiful, the poor, etc. In each of the following sentences, the “the + adjective” as
subjects are highlighted:
a. The rich has much money.
b. The clever leads an easy life.
c. The stupid does not think much.
d. The beautiful has a happy life.
e. The poor lives hand.

C. THE UNDERSTANDING OF SUBJECTS

Based on all the above explanations to the subjects of any sentences, when NOUN as
subjects of verbs, there are three understandings of subject such as the following:

1. As a doer/agent of an action:
Examples:
a. Sir. Sanggam Siahaan published his new books last week.
b. Miss. Dumaris continues her study at Education Magister Program.
c. They went to book store.

2. As a topic of action:
Examples:
a. The store is very interesting.
b. The key is blue.

3. As an instrument :
Examples:
a. The key opens it
b. The fan colds the room

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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program

EXERCISES
EXERCISE-1
Direction: Read the following sentences and underline each subject of the sentences.
Example:
 Mr. Brown drives a taxi every day.
 Mr. Brown drives a taxi every day.
 The subject is Mr. Brown
1. I live in Jakarta.
2. Eagle screams.
3. Snakes hiss.
4. A teacher works in a school.
5. The guard guarantees us our security in visit.
6. Some soldiers found the battle ground the hell of the world.
7. Ten chairs are useless.
8. Few students here study hard.
9. This library gives old lessons.
10. These men have shown me their driving license.
11. That man is a serious worker.
12. To read carefully will learn much.
13. Our writings are still not good yet.
14. Peter works in this company.
15. Mary will tell me the story next week.
16. Jakarta is a crowded city in Indonesia.
17. To see is to believe.
18. These angry men have shown me their driving license.
19. Those serious women think our company a challenge to them
20. That young boy is serious worker.
21. The election year politics are annoying for many people.
22. Almost every sentence contains at least one noun phrase.
23. Current economic weakness may be a result of high energy prices.
24. To drive carefully will arrive there safely.
25. He wrote a handbook on politics.
26. Indonesia faced educational problems at the time of independence.
27. Lawyers have public duties beyond their individual citizenship.
28. Political scientists remained faithful to the constitution
29. Learning is a process of acquiring cognitive, affective, or psychomotoric competence.
30. We tend to forget the informal aspects of political organization and process.
EXERCISE-2
Direction: Read the following sentences. Underline each subject and identify what kinds
of subject they are.
Example:
 Mr. Brown drives a taxi every day.
 Mr. Brown drives a taxi every day.
 The subject is Mr. Brown

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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program
 Mr. Brown is Proper noun
1. John often comes late to class.
2. These are the times that try men’s souls.
3. My friend and I both have a dog named Spot.
4. This is where he works.
5. Your ESL teacher speaks a little Russian.
6. We do the test today.
7. This is a journal postulate of civilized society as we know it.
8. Those packages arrived late.
9. The big dog is barking the men.
10. Those were the days, my friends.
11. A doctor works in a hospital or clinic.
12. There will be a new English lecturer in this tomorrow.
13. That approach will fail.
14. Playing tennis is fun.
15. The tall handsome police investigated the woman last night.
16. Many people could not get the better lives in this district.
17. Listening is very difficult skill for me.
18. Canada is a big country.
19. These cases should resolve the controversy.
20. The wise always makes the best decisions.
21. That girl is a headmistress.
22. Driving a car isn’t easy.
23. Some student did not pass the test.
24. To practise is quiet harder than theory especially in studying English.
25. Those are some good books.
26. These slim nice girls are performing the passion show.
27. There have been five seminars in the hall for two days.
28. The grazy always attacks the children here.
29. This issue has troubled us in the past.
30. Smoking costs a lot of money.

EXERCISE-3
Direction: Read the following sentences. Underline the subject and identify the subjects
of the sentences into: (a) as a doer/agent of an action; (b) as a topic of action; (c) as an
instrument.
Example:
 Markus has explained the cases well.
 Subject : Markus
 Markus : as a doer/agent of an action
1. Sir Selamat wrote a book: sentence writing last week.
2. The big high house is Mr. Jack’s house.
3. The sharp knife slices the cakes.
4. He demonstrated some teaching demos.
5. The car is still new.
6. The air conditioners colds the rooms.
7. The two policemen shot the thieves.
8. The bag is very nice.

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PART OF SENTENCE: Subject English Education Study Program
9. The gas cooks the food.
10. The teacher is explaining the lesson now.

8 FBS - UNINDRA JAKARTA By : Selamat H. Napitupulu