ESL Tips NEED TO FILL SUBJECT POSITION All sentences and questions in English must include a subject. The only exception is the command, where it is not necessary to state the subject, which is always "you." Migdalia is playing the tuba. (Statement) Is she playing the tuba? (Question) (__) Play that tuba! (Command; you is the omitted subject) Here are some sentences that contain a tricky subject: It is fun to play the tuba. It is hard for kids to handle that huge instrument. It was a lot of work for Migdalia. It could have been a nightmare for her mother. In these sentences, the subject, it, doesn't mean anything without the help of other words in the sentence, so some students are tempted to skip such a vague subject entirely. Resist this temptation. Check each sentence that you write to make sure that you have included a word in the subject position (unless your sentence gives a command).

CONTENTS MAIN PAGE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS Technical Requirements Navigating Sentence Sense Using Applications Using a Word Processor ESL TIPS CHARTS AND TABLES Auxiliary Verbs Common Verb Contractions Use of Modal Auxiliaries The Four Forms of Regular Verbs Common Irregular Verbs Some Common Prepositions Verbs, Gerunds and Infinitive Completers Summary of Comma Use Uses of Reported Speech Clause Connectors Summary of Solutions for Run-ons Agreement With to do, to have & to be Pronouns Spelling Chart Correction Tally OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES SEARCH ENGINE