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Subject

A noun or pronoun that comes before the verb in an ordinary affirmative sentence. The subject often says (in an active sentence) who or what does the action that the verb refers to.

• Helen broke another glass today.
• Oil floats on water.

In a sentence containing more than one clause, each clause has its own subject. A simple example is given below.

Susie told me that Natalie was ill.

Here Susie is the subject of the main clause, while Natalie is the subject of the complement clause.