Question

nouns as subjects
nouns have many functions in a sentence. the first one we will be studying is a noun functioning as the subject of a sentence.
the subject of a sentence tells who or what the sentence is about.
examples: the lamp’s dim light brightened the small room.
what brightened? the light did.
every friday the boys visit the elderly in the nursing home.
who visits? the boys visit.
exercise 18 - underline the noun functioning as the subject in each sentence.

1. the telephone rang in the middle of the night.
2. during skiing season our family went to a lodge for a weekend.
3. the taxi driver left without his change.
4. a shelf for plants was above the window.
5. the parent reads to the children before lunch and dinner.
6. the child stared at the lions and tigers during the trip to the zoo.
7. the band leader returned within five or ten minutes.
8. the librarian gave the books to tom and me.
9. the ball rolled between the chair and the sofa.
10. the whites take their vacation in july and august.
11. that good reader likes stories about horses and reptiles.
12. the meal of steak and potatoes was eaten at our favorite diner.

Explanation:

To solve this, we identify the noun that the sentence is about (the subject) by asking "Who/What + verb?".

1. For "The telephone rang...", ask "What rang?": telephone.
2. "During skiing season our family went...", ask "Who went?": family.
3. "The taxi driver left...", ask "Who left?": taxi driver.
4. "A shelf for plants was...", ask "What was?": shelf.
5. "The parent reads...", ask "Who reads?": parent.
6. "The child stared...", ask "Who stared?": child.
7. "The band leader returned...", ask "Who returned?": band leader.
8. "The librarian gave...", ask "Who gave?": librarian.
9. "The ball rolled...", ask "What rolled?": ball.
10. "The Whites take...", ask "Who take?": Whites.
11. "That good reader likes...", ask "Who likes?": reader.
12. "The meal of steak... was eaten...", ask "What was eaten?": meal.

Answer:

1. $\underline{\text{telephone}}$
2. $\underline{\text{family}}$
3. $\underline{\text{taxi driver}}$
4. $\underline{\text{shelf}}$
5. $\underline{\text{parent}}$
6. $\underline{\text{child}}$
7. $\underline{\text{band leader}}$
8. $\underline{\text{librarian}}$
9. $\underline{\text{ball}}$
10. $\underline{\text{Whites}}$
11. $\underline{\text{reader}}$
12. $\underline{\text{meal}}$