What is the subject?

AnonymousWhat is the subject of this sentence?Being able to use the computers has improved my writing skills.Answers and explanations are most appreciated.

The predicate is "has improved my writing skills". So the question is, "What has improved my writing skills?" So the subject is "Being able to use computers".

CJ

What is the subject of this sentence? What is the subject.


Being able to use the computers has improved my writing skills. Being able to use the computers is the subject. The one-word subject is being.

Being able to use the computers has improved my writing skills.

I'd say it's the gerund, "being."

Perhaps it's more correct to say it's the gerundive phrase (NP is more stylish) "Being able to use the computers." At any rate, that's the "complete subject."

OK. So "has" is correct because it agrees with the subject "being." This is similar to "Running is good for your health," or a similar sentence that has a gerund as the subject? For some reason the "being able to" was throwing me.

AnonymousThis is similar to "Running is good for your health,"

Right.
The only difference is in the tense of the verb. (The number is the same.)
"is good" is the simple present tense of the verb "to be" plus an adjective complement.
"has improved" is the present perfect tense of the transi

AnonymousSo "has" is correct because it agrees with the subject "being."

Right.

Anonymoussimilar sentence that has a gerund as the subject

Yes. Gerunds are singular. Ignore any plural objects they carry with them. For example, in

Frying potatoes is not very hard to do.

it's not "potatoes is"; it's "fryin

Thanks, Jim. I should have seen that that was the question!

- A.