Understanding the Complete Subject in English Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide

The complete subject of a sentence is a critical component that tells us who or what is performing the action or undergoing change in the sentence. It is composed of the main noun or pronoun and all the modifiers that describe or give more information about it. This comprehensive guide will explore the concept of the complete subject, its components, and how to identify it in different sentence structures.

What is a Complete Subject?

A complete subject consists of the simple subject plus all its modifiers. The term 'complete subject' refers to the entire group of words in a sentence that together identify or describe the entity doing the action or being acted upon. This includes the main noun or pronoun and any words that describe or modify it, such as articles, adjectives, and prepositional phrases.

Example of the Complete Subject

Consider the following sentence:

The entire orchestra known far and wide as a showcase for its avant-garde selections was enthusiastically greeted upon arriving in town.

In this sentence, the complete subject is:

The entire orchestra known far and wide as a showcase for its avant-garde selections

The simple subject of the sentence is 'orchestra,' while the complete subject includes the descriptive elements that provide more detail about the orchestra.

Identifying the Simple Subject and Complete Subject

The simple subject is the noun or noun phrase that the sentence is about, often just a single word or a short phrase that performs the action or is described. To find the complete subject, identify the simple subject and then add all the modifiers that describe or give more information about it.

Step-by-Step Process

Identify the main verb in the sentence (simple predicate). Identify the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described (simple subject). Add all the modifiers (articles, adjectives, relative clauses, and prepositional phrases) to the simple subject to form the complete subject. Note that adverbs modifying the verb are not included in the complete subject and are usually part of the predicate.

Examples

Let's look at a few examples to understand how to identify the complete subject:

Example 1: "The beautiful blue flowers on the top shelf have begun to wilt."

In this sentence:

Simple predicate: have begun to wilt Simple subject: flowers Complete subject: The beautiful blue flowers on the top shelf

Example 2: "The engagement ring that I gave my fiancée cost me thousands of dollars."

In this sentence:

Simple predicate: cost me thousands of dollars Simple subject: engagement ring Complete subject: The engagement ring that I gave my fiancée

Complex Sentence Structures

It's important to note that the complete subject can be more complex in certain sentence structures, such as interrogative sentences (questions) and imperative sentences (commands and suggestions).

Interrogative Sentences

In an interrogative sentence, the verb or part of the verb often appears before the subject. For example:

Has the entire orchestra arrived in town? (Note that 'the entire orchestra' is the subject)

Imperative Sentences

In an imperative sentence, there is no actual subject, but it is assumed to be 'you,' either singular or plural. For example:

Arrive on time if you can. (In this case, 'you' is implied)

Conclusion

Understanding the complete subject is essential for accurate sentence construction and effective communication. By identifying the simple subject and adding allmodifiers, you can construct clear and concise sentences. This guide provides a clear understanding of the complete subject and how to use it in various sentence structures.