How to identify Subject/Verb in a Sentence?

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by GMAT Kolaveri » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:14 am
doer is the subject.
what the subject does is the verb.

Dogs bark.[Dogs subject. bark verb]
Dog barks.[dog subject barks singular verb]
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by avik.ch » Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:58 am
Every sentence has two components - subject phrase and a verb predicate. A subject defines the topic and a predicate adds a comment about the topic.

So, first of all first try to identify the main verb (signifying tense) and see how other words structure itself to form a clause. What makes a clause is the existence of a finite verb. A subject is the one about whom the verb predicate comments.

The other way is : place the auxiliary Verb ( when there is no auxiliary verb, used do, did..)before the subject, converting it into a interrogative one : if it make sense then it is the subject.

The president will visit Moscow in June.
Will the president Visit Moscow in June ? --- if this makes sense, then the identified subject is correct.

Please note : this can be used only you have a concrete subject , not with some, any.....(SANAM pronoun).(for deciding S-V agreement)
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doer is the subject.
what the subject does is the verb.
This is not always true. If I write,

The book is on the table. --- then "the book" is not doing the action. "on the table" is an adverb predicate or some texts refer it as a subject complement.

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Hope this helps !!

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