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.
I like to eat.
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 |