Finding Subjects

• Every sentence has a subject and a predicate.
• My friend Jill ran to my house. 
• Look for the verb.  
• My friend Jill ran to my house. 
• Ask, "Who or what" does this verb apply to. 
• My friend Jill ran to my house.   
• That, and any related parts, is your subject.  
• Everything else is the predicate. 
• My friend Jill ran to my house.  
• More Examples:
• Children are at play. ( Noun or noun phrase--no determiner) 
• The child ran to the playground. (Noun or noun phrase with determiner)
• Playing is a delight. (Gerund)
• His constant playing was exhausting to witness. (Gerund phrase)
  
• Whom to ask is a difficult question. (Infinitive)
  
• That spring is glorious is known by everyone. (Full that clause)
  
• Man is a giddy thing is often heard these days. (Direct quotation)
  
• [You] Jump the hurdle! (Understood you)
  
• It snows. (Expletive)  
• It is known (that) spring is glorious. (Cataphoric)