1. When the subject is not in the normal position, which is before the verb, it is sometimes difficult to tell the subject from the complement.

2. When this happens, you must decide which word is more likely to be the subject of the sentence.

3. Normally the subject will be the word that specifically identifies the person or thing that the sentence is about.

Study the following Example:                            Steve Tanner .is. a [Vietnam] /hero/.

4. When the order is reversed as in a question, the subject still comes before the subject complement in most cases: Is Steve Tanner a Vietnam hero?

5. However, sometimes a writer or speaker may put the subject complement first for emphasis.

Examples: How important is being a hero?

(What is important?  Being a hero .is. \important\.)

The phrase, Being a hero, is the subject.

Example:

What a [fine] \speaker\ President Kennedy .was.

(Who was? President Kennedy .was.)

6. In the first sentence above, it is not difficult to distinguish the subject from the verb because ‘important’ is an adjective and cannot be the subject.

7. In the second example, the subject complement, \speaker\, and the subject, President Kennedy, are nouns. This makes it more difficult to find the subject.

8. In this case you must ask yourself which noun more specifically identifies the subject. President Kennedy has a more specific meaning than speaker; therefore, it is more likely to be the subject of the sentence.

Exercise, Lesson 32 

Instructions: Write the following sentences on a separate sheet of paper, and mark the subjects, verbs and complements:

1. The final inning of the game was very exciting!

2. The two small children are twins.

3. His voice sounds weak today.

4. We felt relieved after he came home.

5. The answer was one we were all expecting.

6. These beans are hard and dry.

7. His pants were tight and short.

8. The winter rains were very heavy last year.

9. The sun seems the hottest in mid-afternoon.

10. The car looks green but it is really blue.

Test, Lesson 32

Instructions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What does this mean? It is sometimes difficult to tell the subject from the complement when the subject is not in the normal position. 

2. At what point do you make the choice of which word is more likely to be the subject of the sentence?

3. Normally, what does the subject do in a sentence?

4. In most cases, when the order is reversed as in a question, what happens?

5. Why would a writer or speaker put the subject complement first?

6. Can an adjective be the subject of a sentence?

7. Can the subject of a sentence be a noun?

8. What do you ask yourself when either of two nouns can be the subject?

Instructions: Write the following sentences on a separate sheet of paper and mark the parts of speech:

1. The final inning of the game was very exciting!

2. The two small children are twins.

3. His voice sounds weak today.

4. We felt relieved after he came home.

5. The answer is one we were all expecting.

6. These beans are hard and dry.

7. His pants were tight and short.

8. The winter rains are mostly heavy.

9. The sun seems the hottest in mid-afternoon.

10. The car looks green but it is really blue.