Welcome to the World of Subjects and Objects!
Have you ever wondered how a sentence actually works? Think of a sentence like a mini-story or a scene in a movie. In most stories, there is someone doing an action and something that the action happens to. In grammar, we call these the subject and the object.
Understanding these two parts will help you become a master at building strong sentences and will make you a pro at your Year 6 grammar tests!
1. What is the Subject?
The subject is the 'star' of the sentence. It is usually the noun, noun phrase or pronoun before the verb in a statement, and the verb agrees with it. In an active sentence it often does the action; in a passive sentence it receives the action.
Imagine a sentence like a football game. In the active sentence The player kicks the ball, the subject is The player. In The ball is kicked by the player, the subject is The ball.
Example: The brave knight fought the dragon.
In this sentence, who is doing the fighting? The brave knight is! So, "The brave knight" is the subject.
How to find the Subject:
First find the verb. In an active action sentence, asking "Who or what is doing this?" often finds the subject. Check whether the sentence is passive before using that shortcut: the subject of a passive sentence receives the action.
The cat chased the mouse. (Verb: chased. Who chased? The cat.)
A giant spaceship landed on the moon. (Verb: landed. What landed? A giant spaceship.)
Quick Tip: In most English sentences, the subject usually comes at the beginning, before the verb.
2. What is the Object?
The object is a noun, noun phrase or pronoun that completes the meaning of a transitive verb. In many active action sentences it receives the action. Receiving an action alone does not make a word an object: in a passive sentence, the receiver is the subject.
Going back to our football game: if the subject is the player kicking, the object is the ball because it is the thing being kicked!
Example: The brave knight fought the dragon.
The knight is doing the action, but who is being fought? The dragon is receiving the action. So, "the dragon" is the object.
How to find the Object:
Find the verb and the subject first. Then ask: "The subject [verb] what/who?"
The cat chased the mouse. (The cat chased... who? the mouse.)
Sarah ate a shiny red apple. (Sarah ate... what? a shiny red apple.)
Did you know? Not every sentence has an object! Some verbs don't need one. For example: "The baby slept." (The baby is the subject, but there is no object because nothing is being 'slept'.)
3. Subject vs. Object: The Big Difference
For an active action sentence with an object, this simple pattern often helps:
Subject (The Doer) → Verb (The Action) → Object (The Receiver)
Let's look at a "Subject and Object Sandwich":
"The baker made a cake."
Subject: The baker (The person doing the making)
Verb: made (The action)
Object: a cake (The thing that was made)
Quick Review:
In an active action sentence, the subject often performs the action and the object receives it. In The ball was kicked by Sam, The ball is the subject; by Sam names the doer. This passive sentence has no direct object.
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't worry if this seems tricky! Even adults sometimes get confused. Here are two things to watch out for:
Mistake 1: Thinking the object is always at the end
Usually, the object is after the verb, but sometimes sentences are longer. Use the "Who or what?" test with an active action sentence, and check that you have not mistaken the subject of a passive sentence for an object.
Mistake 2: Mixing up Pronouns
Sometimes we use pronouns (words like he, she, it, they) as subjects or objects. (To learn more about these, check out chapter G1 Pronouns).
Some pronouns change their shape depending on if they are the subject or the object!
Subject: I kicked the ball.
Object: The ball kicked me! (You wouldn't say "The ball kicked I.")
5. Step-by-Step: Identifying Subject and Object
If you see a question in your test asking you to identify the subject or object, follow these steps:
Underline the verb (the action word).
Check whether the sentence is active or passive. The subject usually precedes the verb in a statement and agrees with it; in a passive sentence it receives the action.
For an active action sentence, ask "The subject [verb] what or whom?" to help find the object. Remember that not every sentence has one.
Try it with this sentence: "The hungry boy devoured the delicious pizza."
1. The verb is devoured.
2. Who devoured? The hungry boy (Subject).
3. He devoured what? the delicious pizza (Object).
Summary Key Takeaways
The Subject: Usually comes before the verb in a statement and agrees with it. It may do or receive the action.
The Object: Completes the meaning of a transitive verb. In many active action sentences it receives the action and follows the verb.
The Verb: The action that connects them both!
The Test: Check active or passive voice first. The "Who did it?" shortcut does not identify the subject of a passive sentence.