SUBJECTS IN UNUSUAL ORDER WHY IS GRAMMAR SO

SUBJECTS IN UNUSUAL ORDER (WHY IS GRAMMAR SO COMPLICATED? )

HERE’S THE IDEA. . . It is a sentence where the subject is not before the verb where you would expect to find it. This means you have to actually TRY to FIND the subject (like a terrible game of hide and go seek. . . )

FOUR CATEGORIES OF THESE “UNUSUAL” SENTENCES. . . Questions Commands Inverted sentences Sentences that start with “here” or “there”

QUESTIONS (INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES) In most questions, the subject comes after the verb or between parts of the verb phrase. To find the subject, turn the question into a statement. Example: Is the story scary? (make the question a statement) The story is scary. story is the subject

PRACTICE Will you audition for the school play? Is that dog mean? Did you hear the train whistle blowing? Did the ending surprise you?

COMMANDS (IMPERATIVE SENTENCES) The subject of a command is usually you. Example: Often, you doesn’t appear in the sentence because it is understood. (You) Turn off the lights. You is the subject

PRACTICE Sit perfectly still. Take a jacket or a sweater on your trip. Tell a scary story.

INVERTED SENTENCES In inverted sentences, the subject comes after the verb. Example: Their normal order is reversed. (Normal) A large black cat rushed into the room. (Inverted) Into the room rushed a large black cat.

PRACTICE After the lightning came thunder. Up in the air went the speedy jet. Down the track race the athletes.

SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH HERE OR THERE In some sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb. Example: To find the subject, look for the verb and ask who? or what? There goes our flashlight. What goes? flashlight is the subject

PRACTICE Here is a postcard from the vacation resort. There goes my best friend. Here comes the President’s helicopter. Here is your tennis racquet.