This document discusses grammatical functions and the subject and object in English syntax. It defines the subject as the grammatical function that precedes the verb, agrees with the verb in number, and is compulsory. The three types of objects are defined as the direct object, which follows the main verb, the indirect object, which benefits from the verb's action, and the oblique object, which follows a preposition. Criteria for identifying the subject include syntactic, morphosyntactic, and semantic criteria. Types of subjects are also defined as grammatical, logical, and psychological subjects.

1. Syntax and Teaching Grammar
Lesson Three
Dr. Rosario María Burneo

2. Texto guía
An Introduction to English Syntax
By Jim Miller

3. Unit 9:Grammatical functions
Roles
Functions
Agent
Subject
Patient
Direct object
Instrument
Indirect object
theme
Oblique object
source

4. The Subject
“subject” is a complex grammatical function. It
has some characteristics:
1.The subject precedes the verb in declarative
statements
These boys build houses
2. It agrees in number with the verb
3. It is compulsory in English structures.

5. the subject…………
4. It goes after the preposition BY in passive
constructions:
Houses are built by these men
5. Single words, phrases and clauses might
appear in subject position:
- We like this book
- Peter lives next door
- Some workers are in my office
- The old lady living dowstairs was a teacher

6. Criteria to identify the subject
Syntactic criterion
The subject controls the occurrence of reflexives and
tag questions
Mike bought himself a computer
Morpho/syntactic criterion
The subject is in the nominative case
Mike is in the nominative case
Semantic criterion
Subjects refer to entities that exist independently of
the action or state of the verb
Mike exists independently.

7. Type of Subject
Grammatical subject
Martha baked a cake
“Martha” is the grammatical subject because it has all
the characteristics already mentioned. It is also the
agent performing the action.
Logical subject
A cake was baked by Martha
“Martha” is the logical subject because it performs the
action.
Psychological subject
It is the theme. The entity we are talking about.

8. The object
Three types of object:
Direct object
In active, declarative clauses, the direct object happens
after the main verb:
Martha baked a cake
Cake = Direct object
It corresponds to the grammatical subject in passive
constructions:
A cake was baked by Martha
a cake = grammatical subject
Direct objects typically refer to patients
He broke the window
The window = patient (is affected by the action of the
verb)

9. Indirect and oblique objects
Oblique object
It refers to the noun phrase that happens after a
preposition:
She wrote a message to Sam
Sam is the oblique object
Indirect object
Indirect object is the NP that benefits from the
action of the verb
She wrote Sam a message
Sam is the indirect object

10. God Bless you
Thank you