Examples Of A Complete Subject

Understanding Complete Subjects: A Deep Dive with Examples

Identifying the complete subject in a sentence is a fundamental skill in grammar. A complete subject includes the simple subject (the main noun or pronoun performing the action) and all the words that modify or describe it. Understanding complete subjects is crucial for proper sentence construction and analysis, allowing for clearer communication and stronger writing. This article will delve into the intricacies of complete subjects, providing numerous examples to solidify your understanding. We'll cover various sentence structures and explore how to identify the complete subject even in complex sentences.

What is a Complete Subject?

The complete subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that is performing the action (the simple subject) plus all of its modifiers. These modifiers provide extra detail about the simple subject, enriching the sentence and giving the reader a more complete picture. Think of it as the core idea of the sentence, fully fleshed out.

Let's contrast this with the simple subject: The simple subject is just the main noun or pronoun. For example, in the sentence "The big red dog barked loudly," the simple subject is "dog." However, the complete subject is "The big red dog." The words "The," "big," and "red" all modify "dog," providing additional information about its size and color.

Examples of Complete Subjects: A Gradual Progression

To grasp this concept effectively, let's progress through examples of increasing complexity:

1. Simple Sentences with Simple Subjects:

• Sentence: The cat slept.

  • Simple Subject: cat
  • Complete Subject: The cat

• Sentence: Birds sing.

  • Simple Subject: Birds
  • Complete Subject: Birds

• Sentence: She laughed.

  • Simple Subject: She
  • Complete Subject: She

These are the most basic examples. The complete subject is identical to the simple subject because there are no modifiers.

2. Sentences with Adjectives Modifying the Simple Subject:

• Sentence: The fluffy kitten purred contentedly.

  • Simple Subject: kitten
  • Complete Subject: The fluffy kitten

• Sentence: A tall, dark stranger entered the room.

  • Simple Subject: stranger
  • Complete Subject: A tall, dark stranger

• Sentence: My old bicycle needs repair.

  • Simple Subject: bicycle
  • Complete Subject: My old bicycle

Here, adjectives like "fluffy," "tall," "dark," "old," and "my" modify the simple subject, expanding the complete subject.

3. Sentences with Phrases Modifying the Simple Subject:

• Sentence: The dog with the floppy ears chased the ball.

  • Simple Subject: dog
  • Complete Subject: The dog with the floppy ears

• Sentence: The girl in the blue dress sang a beautiful song.

  • Simple Subject: girl
  • Complete Subject: The girl in the blue dress

• Sentence: The house on the hill overlooks the valley.

  • Simple Subject: house
  • Complete Subject: The house on the hill

Prepositional phrases ("with the floppy ears," "in the blue dress," "on the hill") act as modifiers, adding descriptive information about the simple subject.

4. Sentences with Multiple Modifiers:

• Sentence: The small, playful golden retriever puppy with the bright eyes barked excitedly.

  • Simple Subject: puppy
  • Complete Subject: The small, playful golden retriever puppy with the bright eyes

• Sentence: My incredibly talented and hardworking friend from college finally achieved her dream.

  • Simple Subject: friend
  • Complete Subject: My incredibly talented and hardworking friend from college

These examples showcase sentences with multiple adjectives and prepositional phrases modifying the simple subject, creating a more detailed and descriptive complete subject.

5. Complex Sentences with Compound Subjects:

• Sentence: The cat and the dog played together in the garden.

  • Simple Subject: cat and dog
  • Complete Subject: The cat and the dog

• Sentence: John, Mary, and Susan went to the beach.

  • Simple Subject: John, Mary, and Susan
  • Complete Subject: John, Mary, and Susan

In these sentences, the complete subject includes multiple simple subjects joined by conjunctions.

6. Sentences with Appositives:

• Sentence: My sister, a talented artist, is exhibiting her work.
  • Simple Subject: sister
  • Complete Subject: My sister, a talented artist

The appositive phrase ("a talented artist") adds further information about the sister, forming part of the complete subject.

7. Sentences with Clauses Modifying the Subject:

• Sentence: The man who won the lottery is incredibly happy.
  • Simple Subject: man
  • Complete Subject: The man who won the lottery

The relative clause ("who won the lottery") modifies the simple subject, making it part of the complete subject.

Identifying Complete Subjects: A Step-by-Step Guide

To reliably identify the complete subject, follow these steps:

1. Locate the verb: Find the action word in the sentence.

2. Identify the simple subject: Ask yourself, "Who or what is performing the action?" The answer is the simple subject.

3. Find all words modifying the simple subject: Look for adjectives, prepositional phrases, appositives, and clauses that describe or modify the simple subject.

4. Combine the simple subject and its modifiers: The combination forms the complete subject.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: What is the difference between a complete subject and a complete predicate?

  • A: The complete subject is the noun or pronoun performing the action plus its modifiers. The complete predicate is the verb and everything that follows it, describing the action or state of being.

• Q: Can a complete subject contain a prepositional phrase?

  • A: Yes, prepositional phrases frequently modify the simple subject and are included in the complete subject.

• Q: What if the subject is implied (understood)?

  • A: In imperative sentences (commands), the subject "you" is implied but still part of the complete subject. For example, in "Close the door," the complete subject is "you."

• Q: Can the complete subject be very long?

  • A: Yes, particularly in complex sentences, the complete subject can contain numerous modifiers and become quite lengthy.

• Q: How is understanding the complete subject helpful?

  • A: Understanding complete subjects helps in sentence diagramming, analyzing sentence structure, and improving writing clarity and precision.

Conclusion

Mastering the ability to identify the complete subject is a cornerstone of strong grammatical understanding. By following the steps outlined and reviewing the diverse examples provided, you can confidently analyze even the most complex sentences and pinpoint the complete subject, enhancing your comprehension and written communication skills. Remember to always consider all modifiers – adjectives, phrases, and clauses – when determining the complete subject. With practice, identifying the complete subject will become second nature, strengthening your grammatical foundation. Continue practicing with various sentence structures to solidify your skills.