How do nouns function as subjects in a sentence?

Nouns function as subjects in a sentence by performing the action or being the main focus of the sentence. They typically answer the question "Who or what is doing the action?" or "Who or what is being described?" In other words, the subject noun is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is primarily about.

To identify the subject noun in a sentence, it is important to look for the verb and ask yourself who or what is performing that action. The subject noun usually comes before the verb and agrees with it in terms of number (singular or plural). For example:

- "The cat is sleeping." In this sentence, the subject noun is "cat" as it is the one performing the action of sleeping.

- "The students are studying." Here, the subject noun is "students" as they are the ones performing the action of studying.

- "My favorite book is on the shelf." In this sentence, the subject noun is "book" as it is the main focus of the sentence and is being described as the favorite.

It is important to note that a sentence can have more than one subject noun, especially in complex sentences or when using compound subjects. In such cases, both subject nouns will be connected by a coordinating conjunction like "and" or "or." For example:

- "John and Mary are going to the party." Here, both "John" and "Mary" are subject nouns connected by the coordinating conjunction "and."

In summary, nouns function as subjects in a sentence by being the main focus or performer of the action. They answer the question "Who or what is doing the action?" and typically come before the verb.