Every sentence is divided into two parts : the

SUBJECT and the PREDICATE SUBJECT : person, place or thing about which something is said. PREDICATE : what is said about the subject, always contains the principal verb. Example: Koalas live in Australia (S) (P)

Complete subject
To determine the complete subject, ask who or what

question. The answer will be the complete subject.

Example : a) The man on the train reminded Penny of her father. Who reminded Penny of her father? The man on the train. (complete subject) b) The increasing extinction of plant and animal species is alarming. What is alarming? The increasing extinction of plant and animal species.(complete subject)

Main(Simple) Subject
Main subject : word in the complete subject that controls

the verb in the sentence. The main subject is never located in a prepositional phrase(a phrase beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun, for example, on the table) Example: main subject is circled, prepositional phrases are underlined, arrow drawn between main subject and verb.

One of my friends has nine credit cards.

Either of the plans is worthwhile.

There
There is linked to a word later in the sentence that

controls the verb. In the following sentences, an arrow connects the word there and the noun it is linked to. Example :
There are numerous animals on the Endangered Species

List.
There is a large, fierce dog guarding the house.

Compound Subjects
Compound subjects : subject which is composed of more than

one item. The item is often connected by and. Example : Ron and Laurie are going to health club. ( Two subjects : Ron, Laurie) Sometimes word appear to be compound subjects, but they are actually a single phrase made up of two or more items acting as a unit. These take a singular verb. Example : Bacon and eggs is a high cholesterol but nourishing meal.(Bacon and eggs is a single dish.)

Pronoun-antecedent is similar to subject-verb agreement. Pronouns agree in person, number, and gender with their antecedents(words they refer to). Example : Jack ate his lunch quickly.(His agrees with Jack.) Martha stopped by to see her mother after class.(Her agrees with Martha) Each of us needs to bring our own ideas to the meeting.(Our agrees with us)

Formal and Informal Usage of Pronouns

Formal (writing and formal speech) Everyone drove his or her own car to the picnic. If you see anyone from our office, tell him or her to see me. Everybody may leave when he or she wishes. Informal (only for conversation) Everyone drove their own car to the picnic. If you see anyone from our office, tell them to see me. Everybody may leave when they wish.

Either/or & Neither/nor

Either the president or his cabinet members are

responsible for this environmental policy. (members is closer to the verb and requires the plural are) Neither the members of the city nor the mayor supports more real estate development.(mayor is closer to the verb and requires the singular verb supports)

Reversing the above sentences

Either the cabinet members or the president is

responsible for this environmental policy. Neither the mayor nor the members of the city council support more real estate development.