Introduction

Relevance of the Topic

Understanding the essential terms of a sentence is fundamental for the comprehension of Portuguese language syntax. The subject, in turn, represents not only a vital component in this process but also establishes one of the bases for identifying the predicate and other terms of the sentence. Mastering the identification and classification of subject types is a crucial skill for syntactic analysis, necessary for text interpretation, construction of clear and cohesive sentences, and consequently, for effective communicative competence. Furthermore, the importance of this knowledge in high school stands out for proficiency exams and college entrance exams, where questions requiring precise identification and analysis of syntactic structures, focusing on the subject of the sentence, are frequently addressed.

Contextualization

The subject theme fits into the broader scope of normative grammar, relevant to the third year of high school, as part of the study of syntax, a subarea of linguistics that examines how words combine to form larger units, such as phrases and sentences. The analysis of the subject is central at this educational stage, as it allows students to improve their language skills in both textual interpretation and writing, essential skills for academic and professional success. In this context, the in-depth study of the subject and its classifications meets the need to understand the role that terms play in the sentence, as well as the meaning effect produced by their use, expanding students' analytical repertoire and preparing them for the practical application of their linguistic knowledge.

Theory

Examples and Cases

Imagine the following sentence: 'The wind knocked down the trees during the storm.' In this example, 'The wind' plays a fundamental role: it is the one who performs the action of knocking down. Here, we have the 'subject' of the sentence. Continuing with the same analysis, consider the sentence 'It rained a lot during the night.' Now, who or what performs the action of raining? This is an example where the subject is not explicit, occurring what we call a hidden or elliptical subject. These sentences illustrate the importance of recognizing both the presence and absence of the subject in a sentence, and the impact of this identification on the understanding of the message conveyed.

Components

Subject Definition

The subject is the term of the sentence that agrees in person and number with the verb and can be identified by the questions 'who' or 'what' for action and state verbs, respectively. This term can be represented by a noun, pronoun, numeral, clause, or any substantiated word. Its presence is so essential that, in many cases, even its absence must be noticed and classified.

Simple Subject

In the simple subject, only one core is identified, that is, a central element that agrees with the verb. This core can be a noun, a pronoun, or any word that is functioning as a noun in the sentence. For example, in the sentence 'The cat sleeps under the bed,' the core of the simple subject is 'cat,' which determines the agreement with the verb 'sleeps.'

Compound Subject

A subject is classified as compound when it has more than one core, that is, when two or more words jointly perform the subject function. The cores of the compound subject can be joined by conjunctions and must be in the plural or agree with the verb in the plural. A classic example is the sentence 'Ana and Pedro went to the movies,' where 'Ana' and 'Pedro' are the cores of the compound subject.

Deepening the Theme

Deepening the understanding of subjects in the sentence, it is essential to consider that subject identification involves a careful analysis of the verb. Portuguese syntax allows a dreamlike variation of structures, in which the subject can assume different positions. Investigate the peculiarities of the hidden subject, which is often previously mentioned in the discourse or implied by the context. Furthermore, it is worth delving into the indeterminate subject, creating an environment of purposeful indefiniteness or in the synthetic passive voice, where the agent is not specified. These are crucial points for the advanced study of Portuguese language syntax.

Key Terms

The 'subject core' is the central term that defines the subject's agreement with the verb. The 'subjectless sentence' occurs with verbs that do not admit a subject, such as natural phenomena or the verb 'haver' indicating time or existence. 'Hidden' or 'elliptical subject' refers to the subject that is not explicit in the sentence but is understood from the context. The 'indeterminate subject' is used when one wants to leave open who performs the action, common with the verb in the third person singular or with the subject indeterminacy index 'se.' 'Agreement' is the gender and number adequacy between the subject and the verb, directly reflecting on the syntactic harmony of the sentence.

Practice

Reflection on the Topic

To Reflect: The structure of a sentence is analogous to the skeleton of a living body; without it, communication falls apart and loses functionality. Just as an engineer needs to understand the foundation of a structure to build robust buildings, a communicator needs to master the structure of sentences to construct solid arguments. Think about countless everyday situations: from composing an email in the workplace to interpreting text messages that define social and professional relationships. What would happen if the essential terms of these messages were misused or misinterpreted? The ability to correctly classify the subject in a sentence is more than an academic requirement; it is a tool for life.

Introductory Exercises

Identify the subject in the following sentences and classify it as simple, compound, or hidden: 'The athletes ran in the morning.'

Rewrite the sentence 'It rained a lot in the afternoon' replacing the nonexistent subject with a simple subject, and then with a compound subject.

Analyze the verbal agreement in the sentence 'The flowers and the grass were watered by the gardener.' and explain the reason for the verbal form used.

Projects and Research

Projects and Research: Conduct a journalistic investigation in which sentences from different media sources will be collected: newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs. The task consists of identifying sentences with different types of subjects and analyzing how the choice of subject impacts the information conveyed. Develop a report highlighting the most interesting cases and the possible reasons why authors opted for such syntactic structures.

Expanding

Expanding: The ability to identify and classify the subject intertwines with concepts such as passive and active voice, pronominalization, and verbal ellipsis. Learning to manipulate these linguistic strategies allows not only for a more fluent and varied writing but also for a more critical and reflective reading of texts. Explore the role that the subject plays in constructing meanings and interpreting subtexts in literary, argumentative, and journalistic genres. Understanding these nuances can facilitate the identification of biases, implicit positions, and the persuasive power of a text.

Conclusion

Conclusions

Throughout the journey of understanding the subject, an essential term of the sentence, the complexity and importance of this element in the syntactic fabric of the Portuguese language were highlighted. The subject, identifiable by the questions 'who' or 'what,' is the pillar of verbal agreement and assumes a leading role in sense-making. It was possible to observe that the subject shapes the information and guides the reader's interpretation, acting as a guide for understanding actions, states, feelings, and thoughts expressed in the text. The analysis of this grammatical piece opened doors to understanding the variety of subjects, whether simple, with a single core, compound, with multiple cores, or even cases where its presence is implied or suppressed, as in hidden or indeterminate subjects. The ability to work with these different types proves to be a critical skill not only for the correct interpretation of statements but also for the creation of expressive and intentionally structured sentences.

The discussions fostered throughout the topics addressed fueled the perception that mastering the essential terms of the sentence equips individuals with powerful linguistic tools for the art of communication. After all, deeply understanding the role of the subject is essential for the art of textual composition and for acumen in reading. The exercise of classifying the subject, besides providing syntactic clarity, empowers individuals to refine their writing style, sculpt their authorial voice, and discern the intentionality behind others' words. The analysis of sentences taken from different media, for example, demonstrates how the intentional choice of a compound subject or the use of an indeterminate subject can dramatically alter the reception of a message by the public.

In conclusion, the careful debate on the subject and its classifications invites reflection on the power of language and on how mastery in its use can strengthen or weaken arguments and narratives. Instructed about the subject, we are now in a position not only to recognize its presence and function but also to appreciate its ability to infuse life and intention into each sentence. Mastering the subject is, therefore, a crucial step in the development of advanced linguistic skills and a gateway to effective communication and refined analytical thinking.