Subject and Object

How to identify the subject and object of a sentence.

Subject
• The subject is usually the thing or person who performs the action of
the verb.

• All sentences contain subjects and verbs.

James felt delighted.

Object
• The object is the thing or person that is involved in the action of the
verb, but does not carry it out.

• Not all sentences have objects.

Sarah played at the park.

Examples
Jack was being followed by me.

Kate ate the sandwich.

The teacher read a story to the class.

Questions
Identify the subject, object and the verb in each of these sentences.

Lily bought a drink for Mary.

Stamford Bridge is a football stadium.

The wound was healed by antiseptic.

Task
Identify the subject and object in this passage.

Alex Rider was woken by the first chime. His eyes flickered open, but
for a moment he stayed completely still in his bed, lying on his back
with his head resting on the pillow. He heard a bedroom door open and
a creak of wood as somebody went downstairs.