Overview
This lecture explains the grammatical function of the subject, its role in verb agreement, methods to identify it, and examines both standard and special subject cases.
The Basics of the Subject Function
- The subject is the grammatical function that determines the agreement of the verb in a sentence.
- To find the subject, ask "Who is it + VERB?" (e.g., Who comes from another planet?).
- The subject usually controls the verb’s ending, based on person and number.
Types and Forms of Subjects
- The subject can be a noun (e.g., "The Little Prince"), a pronoun (e.g., "he," "she," "you"), or a noun phrase.
- Sometimes, the subject can be an infinitive verb (e.g., "Yawning is forbidden") or an entire clause.
Key Rules About Subjects
- To identify the subject, use the question "Who or what + verb?".
- The subject always controls the verb’s agreement (person and number).
- Usually, the subject is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.
Special and Complex Subject Cases
- In imperative sentences ("Look at the sky"), the subject is implied and not explicitly stated.
- Some verbs, like impersonal verbs (e.g., "pleuvoir," "falloir"), use "it" as a subject that refers to nothing specific.
- In passive voice constructions, the subject undergoes the action rather than performing it (e.g., "The planet was inhabited").
- Sometimes, a verb in the infinitive can have its own subject in certain subordinate clauses (e.g., "you hear the well sing").
Key Terms & Definitions
- Subject — The word or group of words that determines the verb's agreement in person and number.
- Noun Phrase — A group of words acting as a noun and functioning as the subject.
- Imperative — A sentence expressing a command, often with an implied subject.
- Impersonal Verb — A verb used without a personal subject, often with "it" (e.g., "it rains").
- Passive Voice — A structure where the subject receives the action.
- Infinitive Clause — A clause with a verb in the infinitive having its own subject.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of different subject types and practice identifying subjects in varied sentence structures.
- (Optional) Watch related videos on the passive voice for deeper understanding.