Definition

Noun: * Subject (of a sentence): The main noun, noun phrase, or pronoun in a sentence that performs the action of the verb or is described by the verb. It is a core grammatical component that typically answers the question "Who?" or "What?" in relation to the main verb.

Usage

• Identifying the Subject: In a sentence, the subject is what the sentence is about. It often comes before the verb in Vietnamese.
• Agreement: In English grammar, the verb must agree in number (singular/plural) with its subject. This concept is important when translating from Vietnamese to English.

Usage Examples

• In Vietnamese Sentences:
  • "Tôi ăn cơm." (I eat rice.) -> "Tôi" is the subject.
  • "Con chó đang chạy." (The dog is running.) -> "Con chó" is the subject.
  • "Học tập là quan trọng." (Studying is important.) -> "Học tập" is the subject.
• Explaining Grammar:
  • "Hãy xác định chủ ngữ của câu này." (Please identify the subject of this sentence.)
  • "Chủ ngữ và vị ngữ phải hài hòa với nhau." (The subject and the predicate must agree with each other.)

Advanced Usage

• Implied/Elliptical Subject: In imperative sentences or certain contexts, the subject (like "you" or "we") can be omitted but is understood.
  • "Hãy ngồi xuống." ((You) Sit down.) -> The subject "bạn" (you) is implied.
• Compound Subject: A subject that consists of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by a conjunction.
  • "Lan và Hùng đã đến." (Lan and Hung have arrived.) -> "Lan và Hùng" is a compound subject.

Variants and Related Words

• Vị ngữ (Predicate): The part of a sentence that contains the verb and states something about the subject.
  • "Chủ ngữ và vị ngữ tạo thành câu cơ bản." (The subject and the predicate form a basic sentence.)
• Tân ngữ (Object): The noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.
  • "'Quyển sách' là tân ngữ trong câu 'Tôi đọc quyển sách.'" ('The book' is the object in the sentence 'I read the book.')

Synonyms

• Đề ngữ (Topic): In linguistic analysis, sometimes used to describe the topic of a sentence, which may or may not be the grammatical subject. This is a more specialized term.
  • "Trong câu 'Cá, tôi thích ăn cá hồi.', 'Cá' là đề ngữ." (In the sentence 'Fish, I like to eat salmon.', 'Fish' is the topic.)

Related Phrases / Idioms

• (Không có thành ngữ hoặc cụm động từ phổ biến trực tiếp liên quan đến từ ngữ pháp 'chủ ngữ')

noun

1. Subject (of a sentence)