Question

Identify the complete subject in the following sentence.

On the topmost shelf of that cupboard are lying several books written by them.

• A. several books
• B. several books written by them
• C. on the topmost shelf
• D. on the topmost shelf of that cupboard.

Answer 1

The correct option is B several books written by them

Option B is the correct answer. The complete subject is indeed several books written by them, since they are being talked about in the sentence, justified by the use of the verb are lying. Option A is a part of the subject, not the entire subject of the sentence. The rest of the sentence is what is being said about the subject,i.e., it is the predicate. The statements of options C and D are parts of the predicate and, thus, cannot be the subject.