Syntactic Characteristics of Subjects

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Questions and Answers

In the sentence, 'It was very pleasant at the seaside,' what grammatical function does 'it' serve?

  • Introductory subject
  • Indefinite subject (correct)
  • Emphatic subject
  • Logical subject

Which of the following sentences uses 'they' as an indefinite subject?

  • They went to the store yesterday.
  • I saw them leaving the movie theater.
  • They say that the new manager is very strict. (correct)
  • Did they finish the assignment on time?

Which of the following best represents a compound subject acting as a single element?

  • "The book and the pen were on the desk".
  • "The cat and the dog played".
  • "The car and the bike are new".
  • "The singer and composer was recognized". (correct)

In the sentence, 'It's no use crying over spilt milk,' what type of subject is 'it'?

<p>Anticipatory subject (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence uses a gerund as its subject?

<p>&quot;Walking is good exercise&quot;. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of subject is 'it' in the sentence 'It is raining'?

<p>Impersonal subject (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the grammatical subject in passive constructions?

<p>It is not identical to the logical subject. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence, 'There appeared some marks on the X-ray plate,' what is the function of 'there'?

<p>It is an introductory subject because emphasis is laid on the existence of marks. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences uses a nominative with infinitive construction?

<p>&quot;She seems to be happy.&quot; (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these options illustrates an anticipatory 'it' with an infinitive?

<p>It is important to practice every day. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence uses a demonstrative pronoun as its subject?

<p>&quot;That was a good idea.&quot; (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence, 'It's his stubbornness that exasperates me,' what is the function of 'it'?

<p>Emphatic subject (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT typically a way a subject is expressed according to the context?

<p>Adjective (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences uses a verb of seeming with the introductory 'there'?

<p>There seemed to be no other choice. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences contains a subject clause?

<p>&quot;Whether she comes is not yet determined.&quot; (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct classification for the subject in the sentence 'He knows the answer'?

<p>Grammatical subject (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the word 'there' when it's inserted into a sentence?

<p>To act as a dummy subject, while the real subject has moved to a post-verbal position. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase demonstrates the function of 'there' as a subject in a non-finite clause?

<p>I don't want there to be any misunderstanding. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In sentences where 'there' is inserted, the NP functioning as the logical subject is typically:

<p>Usually indefinite, indicated by indefinite determiners. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these sentences does not require the insertion of 'there' due to an initial adverbial of place?

<p>On the table stood plates full of cakes. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The difference between 'it' and 'there' in forward reference to the real subject is that:

<p>'it' anticipates definite subjects while 'there' anticipates indefinite ones. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these sentences uses there in a way that indicates an impersonal construction?

<p>There had been rain the night before. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these sentences correctly demonstrates the behavior of 'there' as a subject in a tag question?

<p>There's nothing wrong, is there? (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences uses 'there' in a way that indicates a condition using the simple present tense?

<p>There is much noise in the street. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Subject of a Sentence

The part of a sentence that performs an action or is described by the predicate. It is usually a noun phrase, pronoun, or a clause.

Subject Expression

A noun phrase, pronoun, or clause that functions as the subject of a sentence.

Compound Subject

Subjects that represent one element, even though they are made up of two or more coordinated nouns.

Coordinated Subjects

Subjects that refer to multiple separate entities, each performing the action or being described.

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Impersonal Subject

A subject that doesn't refer to a specific person or thing; it typically doesn't carry semantic meaning.

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Grammatical Subject

A subject that directly relates to the predicate and determines agreement between them.

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Subject Forms

Subjects that are expressed by using a noun phrase, pronoun, numeral, or even a non-finite verb form.

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Subject Clause

A clause that functions as the subject of another clause.

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Indefinite/Generic Subject

A type of pronoun that refers to something indefinite or general, like 'people' or 'things' in general.

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Indefinite/Generic Subject Pronouns

Pronouns like 'they,' 'we,' 'you,' and 'one' that stand in for an unspecified group of people.

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Logical Subject

The real author or doer of an action in a sentence.

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Grammatical Subject is Identical to Logical Subject

When the word performing the action is the same as the word that comes before the verb.

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Passive Constructions

A sentence structure where the logical subject (the agent) is NOT the grammatical subject. The grammatical subject is the thing being acted upon.

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Emphatic Constructions

Sentences that emphasize a specific part by using 'it' as a placeholder subject. The real subject is then included later in the sentence.

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Anticipatory Constructions

Sentences that use 'it' or 'there' as introductory subjects, delaying the main subject. The real subject follows.

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Sentences with There

Sentences that use 'there' as a subject to emphasize the existence or absence of something.

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Existential "There"

A grammatical construction in English that introduces a sentence with the word "there" followed by a verb and a subject, often used to establish the existence of something.

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Indefinite Subject

The subject in an existential "there" construction is typically indefinite, meaning it refers to a non-specific item or concept.

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Subject Movement

The insertion of "there" in a sentence involves moving the actual subject to the end of the sentence, leaving the "there" in its place.

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"There" and Adverbials

The use of "there" in existential sentences often implies the presence of an adverbial of place or time, indicating where or when something exists.

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Subject Function of "There"

Sentences with "there" can act as subjects in various grammatical structures, including general questions, tag questions, and non-finite clauses.

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"It" vs. "There" in Impersonal Sentences

"There" is often interchangeable with "it" in impersonal constructions, where the "it" also serves as a placeholder for a subject that is introduced later in the sentence.

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Definiteness and Subject Anticipation

The choice of "there" in a sentence is related to the definiteness of the subject it anticipates. "There" typically anticipates indefinite subjects, while "it" anticipates definite subjects.

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Purpose of "There" Sentences

The "there" construction is used in English to introduce a new topic or describe a situation, emphasizing the presence or existence of something in a particular place or time.

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Study Notes

Subject: Syntactic Characteristics

  • Subjects are expressed using noun phrases, e.g., "The library closes at 8 o'clock."

  • Compound subjects can represent one element. Example: "A great poet and revolutionist was lost..."

  • Coordinated subjects include multiple nouns, e.g., "Tom and Maggie are the principal characters..."

  • Noun substitutes include pronouns (personal, possessive, etc.), e.g., "His is a large family."

  • Numerals can act as subjects, e.g., "Four were missing."

  • Non-finite forms (infinitives or gerunds) can be subjects, e.g., "To escape would be difficult."

  • Complex constructions with infinitives or participles can function as subjects, e.g., "He happened to be in town..." or "He was noticed entering the house."

  • Subject clauses can also be subjects, e.g., "Whether he admits it or not is another matter."

Subject: Classification by Content

  • Subjects can be classified as grammatical, impersonal, or logical based on their meaning.
  • Grammatical subjects are directly linked to the predicate and determine agreement. Example: "He knows you."
  • Impersonal subjects don't refer to a specific person or thing and lack semantic content. They are often expressed by "it," e.g., "It is raining."
  • Logical subjects refer to the actual agent or doer of an action.

Subject: Impersonal Subjects

  • Impersonal subjects lack semantic content and are usually expressed by "it."
  • Common examples include impersonal verbs like "dew, rain, snow," and sentences describing time, weather, or general states of things. Example: “It was late when I arrived.”
  • Indefinite/generic subjects represent vague or general meanings and often use pronouns like "they," "we," "you," "one," or "people." Example: "People drink a lot of tea in Britain."

Subject: Logical vs. Grammatical

  • The logical subject is the actual doer or agent of the action in a sentence.
  • The grammatical subject is structurally connected to the predicate in the sentence.
  • In passive constructions, the logical subject (agent) isn't identical to the grammatical subject. Example: “New victories have been won by our sportsmen.”
  • There are constructions highlighting a part of a sentence where the logical subject isn't the grammatical subject, for emphasis. Example: "It's his stubbornness that exasperates me."

Subject: "There" constructions

  • There anticipates the logical subject when used with verbs like "be," "exist," "happen," and others when expressing existence or absence of the subject.
  • "There" is often used with existential verbs (e.g., be, exist, or occur) and verbs of motion or appearance to emphasize the subject's existence and action. Example: "There once lived in the flat an eccentric lady."

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