subject predicate order

Any complete sentence has two main parts, called the subject and the predicate. The subject is what the sentence is about; it is often a noun or a pronoun. The predicate is the part of the sentence that makes a statement about the subject; the main part of the predicate is the verb.

Usually, the subject comes before the predicate in an English sentence:

• Janet and Alex went out for dinner. [subject = Janet and Alex; predicate = went out for dinner]
• They ordered green curry and rice. [subject = They; predicate = ordered green curry and rice]

However, the subject isn’t always first. There are three situations in which the subject appears after the verb instead of before it.

1. In most questions:
   • Are you ready?
     (The subject you appears after the verb are.)
   • Did I forget to feed my iguana again?
     (The subject I is placed after the helping verb did.)
2. In many sentences beginning with here or there:
   • Here comes the jury.
     (The subject jury appears after the verb comes.)
   • There were fifteen cats and an eviction notice on Janet’s front porch.
     (The subject fifteen cats and an eviction notice is placed after the verb were.)
3. In some sentences beginning with one or more prepositional phrases:
   • Across the clearing and through the stream ran the frightened deer.
     (The subject deer appears after the verb ran.)