0
Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
*Which is the subject?
Could you explain to me which is the subject in the following sentences?
The question: Who is their English teacher? (a)
"Who" acts as the subject or the predicate of the sentence?
The answer: Mr. Smith is (their English teacher). (1)
or He is Mr. Smith. (2)
In (1), Mr. Smith refers to "who" and acts as the subject of the sentence (1). Am I correct?
In (2), which is the subject? Which is the predicate?
Are both (1) and (2) correct answers to (a)?
Thank you for your help.
The question: Who is their English teacher? (a)
"Who" acts as the subject or the predicate of the sentence?
The answer: Mr. Smith is (their English teacher). (1)
or He is Mr. Smith. (2)
In (1), Mr. Smith refers to "who" and acts as the subject of the sentence (1). Am I correct?
In (2), which is the subject? Which is the predicate?
Are both (1) and (2) correct answers to (a)?
Thank you for your help.
Top answer
, "who" is the subject of the verb "is", "their English teacher" is the predicate.
- , "who" is the subject of the verb "is", "their English teacher" is the predicate.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
To me, in a., "who" is the subject of the verb "is", "their English teacher" is the predicate.
00
Additionally,
with copular structures, like X is Y, the first word functions as the subject, the second word, the verb or copular element, and the last word, the subject complement.
If we replace "Who" with "Mr Smith", we get,
(1) Mr Smith is their English teacher? (Subject)
As for (2), "He is Mr Smith", it's not a match. The following, though,
with copular structures, like X is Y, the first word functions as the subject, the second word, the verb or copular element, and the last word, the subject complement.
If we replace "Who" with "Mr Smith", we get,
(1) Mr Smith is their English teacher? (Subject)
As for (2), "He is Mr Smith", it's not a match. The following, though,
00
In equative sentences like this, the usual analysis that I am familiar with is to call the person to be identified the subject and to call the description of the role they play the predicate noun (or subject complement).
TO BE IDENTIFIED = IDENTIFYING DESCRIPTION ( Subject = Subject complement)
That in mind, "who" is the subject of "Who is their English teacher?", whereas "wh
TO BE IDENTIFIED = IDENTIFYING DESCRIPTION ( Subject = Subject complement)
That in mind, "who" is the subject of "Who is their English teacher?", whereas "wh
00
Even so, "He is Mr. Smith" seems to me to be an acceptable answer to "Who is their English teacher?"
"acceptable" as a meaningful utterance, I agree, but there's the pattern to contend with:
Who is their teacher?
Mr Smith is their teacher?
He is their teacher?
Who is their teacher?
He i
0
Related Questions