A subject in every sentence

Some languages, such as Spanish and Japanese, do not require a subject in every sentence. Every English sentence, however, needs a subject. An exception is commands, in which the subject you is understood but not present:

Example sentence: Give to the poor.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Your aunt is very energetic. Seems young for her age. Revised sentence: Your aunt is very energetic. She seems young for her age. Explanation: The second sentence is missing a subject. In the revision, the subject “She” has been added.

it as subject

The word it is used as the subject of a sentence in certain situations:

Subject following verb

In most English sentences, the subject appears before the verb. Some sentences, however, are inverted: The subject comes after the verb. In these sentences, a placeholder called an expletive (there or it) often comes before the verb.

Example sentence: There are many people here today. Explanation: The expletive is “There.” It is followed by the verb “are” and the subject “many people.” The sentence can be rearranged with the subject, “Many people” first: “Many people are here today.”

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Is an apple in the refrigerator. Revised sentence: There is an apple in the refrigerator. Explanation: The expletive “There” has been added before the verb “is.”

Notice that the verb agrees with the subject that follows it: apple is, sects are.

Some inverted sentences have an infinitive (to work) or a noun clause (that she is intelligent) as the subject. In such sentences, the placeholder it is needed to open the sentence. It is followed by a linking verb (is, was, seems, and so on), an adjective, and then the subject.

Example sentence: It is important to study daily. Explanation: The expletive is “It.” It is followed by the verb “is,” the adjective “important,” and the subject “to study.” The sentence can be rearranged with the subject, “To study” first: “To study daily is important.”

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Is healthy to eat fruit and grains. Revised sentence: It is healthy to eat fruit and grains. Explanation: The expletive “It” has been added before the verb “is.” The subject “to eat fruit and grains” follows the verb.

here and there

The words here and there are not used as subjects. When they mean “in this place” (here) or “in that place” (there), they are adverbs—not nouns—and can’t be used as the subject of a sentence.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: I just returned from a vacation in Japan. There is very beautiful. Revised sentence: I just returned from a vacation in Japan. It is very beautiful there. Explanation: The subject “It” has been added at the beginning of the sentence. The adverb “there” is moved to the end of the sentence.

Exercises:

Omissions and repetitions 1

Omissions and repetitions 2

Sentence structure 1

Sentence structure 2

Related topics:

Linking verbs and subject complements

Verbal phrases

Noun clauses