The subject is king

Exploring what constitutes the subject of a sentence and how it is used.

A KING rules over his subjects, yes – but no, this article is not an anti-monarchist call. Rather it is a tract concerning a cardinal rule in English grammar, viz. that the subject (of a sentence) rules over the verb (specifically a finite verb). This rule manifests itself as follows: a singular subject governs a singular verb, and a plural subject governs a plural verb; e.g. the dog barks (singular subject, singular verb), and the dogs bark (plural subject, plural verb). A subject may, of course, rule over several verbs, as in a compound sentence, e.g. that dog usually barks, then chases after the ambulance, but gives up the chase after a short run.