Types of Subjects and Objects
Single words
Article + Noun
Adjective(s) + Noun
Noun + relative clause
Gerunds
Infinitives
Noun clauses | Dogs, water, Jeffery
The teacher, a cat, some ice
A big, black spider
The man who lives there
Skiing
To sing
Whatever you do |
Functions
As Subjects
As Objects
As Complements | A dog is a man's best friend.
Whatever you do is up to you.
Skiing is believing.
He ate ten apples.
I like to eat.
Mr. Trump is my friend.
That is the man (whom) I told you about. |
As Objects of prepositions*
I don't approve of John.
I don't approve of singing.
I don't approve of John's singing.
I don't approve of John's singing love songs.
I don't approve of whatever John does.
| (the person)
(the action)
(gerund's subject is possessive)
(S gerund Obj.)
(noun clause) |
*Be careful. Only gerunds (not infinitives) can be used as objects of prepositions.
I look forward to Spring.
I look forward to your party.
I look forward to seeing you.
| Prep. + Object
Prep. + Object
Prep. + Gerund |
(In this case, ?to? is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.)
I want to see you.
I hope to see you.
I enjoy seeing you.
I avoid seeing you.
I'm interested in seeing you.
I'm tired of seeing you.
I am accustomed to seeing you.
| S V to V (infinitive)
S V Ving (gerund)
Prep + gerund |
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