FINDING SUBJECTS IN VARIOUS SENTENCE STRUCTURES Identify subjects and verbs in Interrogative sentences, Imperative sentences and Inverted sentences Interrogative Sentences
An interrogative sentence asks a question. We recognize the interrogative sentence by the question mark (?) serving as the end-­‐‑sentence punctuation. Only interrogative sentences starting with "ʺwh"ʺ 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. Examples of Interrogative Sentences
Example #1 -­‐‑ Interrogative Pronouns To identify the subject and the verb, we need to disregard the questioning "ʺwh"ʺ word that starts the sentence. Sentence: "ʺWhom is he going to see tonight"ʺ? •
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Identify the WH-­‐‑Word. To identify the subject and the verb, we need to disregard the questioning "ʺwh"ʺ word that starts the sentence. We identify "ʺWhom."ʺ Ignore (remove) the WH-­‐‑Word from the sentence. We remove "ʺWhom."ʺ The sentence now looks like this. is he going to see tonight"ʺ Identify the verb. We identify "ʺis going."ʺ Identify the subject of "ʺis going."ʺ Remember "ʺWhom"ʺ has been removed. You must work with what'ʹs left. We ask: Who or what "ʺis going"ʺ? Answer: "ʺhe"ʺ "ʺis going."ʺ Thus, "ʺhe"ʺ is the simple subject of the complete verb "ʺis going."ʺ Example #2 In some interrogative sentences, you must to be prepared to use the "ʺwh"ʺ word you ignored. Here'ʹs an example of using the "ʺwh"ʺ word that you tried to ignore. Sentence: "ʺWho is running in the next election"ʺ? •
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Follow the steps we used in the first sentence until you get to here. "ʺis running in the next election"ʺ Identify the verb. We identify "ʺis running."ʺ Identify the subject of "ʺis running."ʺ We ask: Who or what "ʺis running"ʺ? The sentence that remains (minus the word "ʺWho"ʺ) does not provide an answer to the question. The answer to the question of who or what "ʺis running"ʺ is the word "ʺWho,"ʺ which we have removed. To provide an answer to the question "ʺwho or what is running,"ʺ we must use the wh-­‐‑
word we tried to ignore in the first place. We retrieve the removed WH-­‐‑Word "ʺwho."ʺ The answer: "ʺwho"ʺ "ʺis running."ʺ Thus, "ʺWho"ʺ is the simple subject of the complete verb "ʺis running."ʺ Post Office Box 2976 Fredericksburg, TX. 78624 (855) EDU-­‐LIFE (338-­‐5433) | www.amblesideschools.com Example #3 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'ʹre used to seeing. Sentence: "ʺDid Sue and her friends go to the concert"ʺ? •
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Identify the verb. We identify "ʺdid go."ʺ Identify the subject. We identify "ʺSue friends"ʺ as the simple subjects of the verb "ʺdid go."ʺ Example #4 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 starts with an adverb, disregard the adverb as you did with the "ʺwh"ʺ interrogative pronouns at the beginning of this module. Sentence: "ʺHow did she know where to find us"ʺ? •
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Identify the interrogative adverb. We identify "ʺHow."ʺ Ignore (remove) the adverb. The sentence now looks like this. "ʺdid she know where to find us.”? Identify the verb. We identify "ʺdid know."ʺ Identify the subject of "ʺdid know."ʺ We identify "ʺshe."ʺ 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. Examples of Imperative Sentences.
Example #1 An imperative subject in an imperative sentence, the subject of the verb is always "ʺyou,"ʺ but the subject is never written into the sentence. The unwritten subject, you, is "ʺunderstood"ʺ to be the subject. Sentence: "ʺSwitch on the power first."ʺ •
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We identify the verb "ʺswitch."ʺ 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 "ʺnormal sequence"ʺ of English sentences. Here are some examples comparing normal and inverted sentences: Normal-­‐‑ordered sentence: "ʺYou should try to visit Calgary more often."ʺ Inverted sentence: "ʺTo visit Calgary more often you should try."ʺ And another, Normal-­‐‑ordered sentence: “The wind was warm and gentle."ʺ Inverted sentence: "ʺWarm and gentle was the wind."ʺ Examples of Inverted Sentences
Example #1 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. Page 2 Sentence: "ʺFrom the water and into the boat jumped the lake trout."ʺ •
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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. Notice the number of words in the sentence before we get to the verb "ʺwas."ʺ The number of words before the verb alerts us to a possibly inverted sentence construction. Simple subject: trout Complete verb: jumped That'ʹs all there is to inverted sentences. Just remember that, after you'ʹve 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 and Exercises
• 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 "ʺyou"ʺ (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 Analyze each of the sentence s using the information above. The correct answers are given •
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Page 3 Does working hard assure one of promotion? working hard does assure Why have some people become bored with politics? people have become Who will teach children about morals and integrity? who will teach Whom did they choose for president? they did choose Take this medicine with food or milk before going to sleep. you take Turn right at the upcoming intersection. you turn As softly as a breeze came her whispered voice. voice came Into the jaws of danger rode the gallant cavalry. calvary rode Somewhere in your coat pockets are the tickets to the games. tickets are Where are the volunteers to help with ticket sales? volunteers are