Implied Subject
Summary
A subject is implied when it isn’t explicitly stated but is understood from context. Clauses in English generally have a subject (Anita works in an office). Sometimes, however, sentences have an implied subject.
- Imperative: (You) call me later.
- Minor sentence: (I will) talk to you tomorrow.
- Nonfinite clause: (Since we were) worried about meeting the deadline, we decided to discuss the project again the next day.
What is an implied subject?
An implied subject is not explicitly stated in a sentence but is understood from context. It is also called the zero subject, the null subject, or the understood subject. The implied subject is seen often in imperative sentences, elliptical constructions, and nonfinite clauses.
- Call me tomorrow.
implied subject of the imperative sentence = “you”
- See you at the party tomorrow.
implied subject of the elliptical sentence = “I” (“I will see you . . .”)
- Impatiently walking back and forth, Anita waited.
implied subject of the clause “impatiently walking back and forth” = “Anita”
Sentences in English generally have a clearly expressed subject.(The subject is what or whom the sentence is about.)
- Cats are patient creatures.
- I would like to see you again tomorrow.
- Farley left the house without an umbrella.
In fact, if a sentence doesn’t have a subject readily available, we sometimes have to bring in a dummy subject, like the empty it in “It’s raining.” In certain constructions, however, the subject is not overtly mentioned but is understood or implied.
The understood you in imperatives
In imperative sentences (requests, commands, instructions, warnings), the subject is usually omitted but understood to be the pronoun “you,” or the person or people being addressed.
- Please wait to be seated.
- Sit down.
- Don’t worry.
- Pass the pepper, please.
- Consider the following situation.
- Think of everyone else who’s suffering.
- Shut that door.
- Don’t let the zombies in.
- Run for your life!
It is normal to omit the implied subject “you” in imperative sentences. Explicitly stating the subject emphasizes it and can sound rude or overbearing.
- “Shut the door.”
“You shut the door.”A retort in response to a command. - “You please finish the quarterly report, and then we’ll talk about your leave application.”
Unusual, and stronger than “Please finish the quarterly report . . .”
If the sentence is not an imperative, the subject “you” is stated.
- You called me yesterday.
Omitting “you” would make it unclear who is being referred to: you/he/she/they called me yesterday? The subject is not clear from context and cannot be implied; it needs to be stated.
- You know you’re on holiday when you wake up to the sound of happy waves happily striking the shore.
where “you” means people in general
In elliptical constructions, minor sentences, and fragments
The subject may be implied instead of explicitly stated in elliptical constructions. Such sentences are called minor sentences or fragments and are common in conversations and informal writing.
- “Ready for the trip?” “Yes! Can’t wait to get there.”
Context makes the subject clear: “(Are you) ready for the trip?” “Yes! (I) can’t wait to get there.”
- “Looks lovely. Thank you.”
“(This) looks lovely. (I) thank you.”
- “See you later.”
“(I will) see you later.”
- “No way that happened!”
“(There is) no way that (could have) happened.”
- “Hope you feel better soon.”
“(I) hope you feel better soon.”
- “What’s going on out there?” “Don’t know. Sounds like the zombie apocalypse.”
“(I) don’t know. It sounds like the zombie apocalypse.”
- “Nice to meet you.”
“(It is) nice to meet you.”
- “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“(I am) sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Avoid using fragments in formal writing, such as a business email or a report, where it is better to clearly specify the subject when you can.
- Poor: Applied a week ago for the open position listed on your website.
Better: I applied a week ago for the open position listed on your website.
In nonfinite clauses
A clause normally has a subject. A nonfinite clause, however, may not necessarily contain a subject, but it is implied from context or interpreted from the main clause.
- Farley booked tickets for Spain, believing the zombie pandemic was over.
implied subject of the nonfinite clause “believing the zombie pandemic was over” (who believes?) = Farley (from the main clause)
- Excited about the future, Rita started planning her trip to Mars.
implied subject of the nonfinite clause “excited about the future” (who was excited?) = Rita (from the main clause)
The implied subject of a nonfinite clause is sometimes unclear, resulting in a dangling modifier. Make sure it is clear what or who the subject is.
- Confusing: Being past their expiry date, they had to eat up the figs.
What is the subject? Who or what were past their expiry date: “They” or “the figs”?Better: Being past their expiry date, the figs needed eating up.
Examples from literature
The implied subject is common in creative writing and helps with the rhythm of the text, which would be ruined if the subject were needlessly repeated.
- Implied subject in imperatives
Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can.
— Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country (2005) - Implied subject in minor sentences
Does character develop over time? In novels, of course it does: otherwise there wouldn’t be much of a story. But in life?
— Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending (2011) - Implied subject in sentence fragments
They were a family of Anglophiles. Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away.
— Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (1997) - Implied subject in nonfinite clauses
I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it’s just too much.
— Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go (2005)
Usage guide
An implied subject is one that is omitted in a sentence because it is clear from context. Omit the subject in imperatives (“Don’t panic”), certain nonfinite clauses (“Hoping to win, Farley rolled the dice again”), and minor sentences (“Nice to meet you”). In conversations and informal writing, you may omit the subject when it is easily interpreted from context (“Can’t wait to see you”). Note, however, that you should generally provide the subject in declarative sentences in formal writing (“I have submitted my application”).