Finding Subjects and Verbs

Question 1

Verb?

Answer 1

A Verb is a word that shows action (runs, hits, slides) or state of being (is, are, was, were, am, and so on).

Question 2

Find the main verb in the following sentences:
I like to walk.
The efforts to get her elected succeeded.

Answer 2

I LIKE to walk.
(subject: I; main verb: like)

The efforts to get her elected SUCCEEDED.
(subject: efforts; main verb: succeeded)

Rule 1: If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive phrase and is not the main verb. You will find the main verb either before or after the infinitive phrase.

Question 3

Subject?

Answer 3

A Subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the verb.

Example: The woman hurried.
subject: woman; verb: hurried

Question 4

Find the subject in the following sentence:

A bouquet of yellow roses will lend colour and fragrance to the room.

Answer 4

Rule 2: A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of.

A bouquet of yellow roses will lend colour and fragrance to the room.
(Subject: bouquet; Verb: will lend)

Question 5

Find the subject and verb in the following sentence:

The jet engine passed inspection.

Answer 5

Rule 3: To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first. Then ask who or what performed the verb.

The jet engine passed inspection.

Passed is the verb. Who or what passed? The engine, so engine is the subject. If you included the word jet as the subject, lightning will not strike you. Technically, jet is an adjective here and is part of what is known as the complete subject.

Question 6

Find the subject and verb in the following sentence:

From the ceiling hung the chandelier.

Answer 6

Rule 3: To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first. Then ask who or what performed the verb.

From the ceiling hung the chandelier.

The verb is hung. Now, if you think ceiling is the subject, slow down. Ask who or what hung. The answer is chandelier, not ceiling. Therefore, chandelier is the subject.

Question 7

Find the subject and verb in the following sentence:

Please bring me some coffee.

Answer 7

Rule 4: Any request or command such as “Stop!” or “Walk quickly.” has the understood subject you because if we ask who is to stop or walk quickly, the answer must be you.

(You) Please bring me some coffee.

Bring is the verb. Who is to do the bringing? You understood.

Question 8

Find the subject(s) and verb(s) in the following sentences:

I like cake and he likes ice cream.
He and I like cake.
She lifts weights and jogs daily.

Answer 8

Rule 5. Sentences often have more than one subject, more than one verb, or pairs of subjects and verbs.

I like cake and he likes ice cream.
Two pairs of subjects and verbs.
(Subject: I; Verb: like & Subject: he; Verb: likes)

He and I like cake.
Two subjects and one verb.
(Subjects: He, I; Verb: like)

She lifts weights and jogs daily.
One subject and two verbs.
(Subject: She; Verbs: lifts, jogs)