Subject in Russian (подлежащее)
Understand what the subject is in Russian, how to recognize it in a sentence, and how it works with verbs and cases. You’ll also learn about hidden subjects, compound subjects, and sentences without a subject at all.
In Russian, the subject of a sentence is called «подлежащее».
What it means
Subject = the main part of the sentence that tells who or what is doing the action or being described.
Subject in Russian is in the nominative case (answers the questions кто? что? - who? what?)
What the subject can be (not just a noun!)
A noun
Машина стоит у дома. — Car stands near the house.
→ Машина = subject
A pronoun
Он работает сегодня. — He is working today.
→ Он = subject
An infinitive (yes, a verb can be the subject)
Курить вредно. — Smoking is harmful.
→ Курить (to smoke) acts as the subject.
Читать полезно. — Reading is useful.
The subject can be missing (but still understood)
Russian sometimes drops subjects when they’re obvious.
Иду домой. — I’m going home.
No я, but we understand it from the verb ending.
Usually pronouns are mandatory, but dropping it happens a lot in:
- conversations
- commands
- diary-style speech
Compound (complex) subjects
Sometimes the subject is more than one word.
Мои брат и сестра приехали. — My brother and sister arrived.
Брат и сестра = subject → plural verb приехали
Word order doesn’t decide the subject
English: Subject usually comes first.
Russian: Case matters more than position.
Маму любит сын. — The son loves (his) mom.
Even though маму comes first, it’s accusative.
Сын is nominative → that’s the subject.
Subject in impersonal sentences (sometimes there is NONE)
Russian has sentences without a real subject.
Темнеет. — It’s getting dark.
Холодно. — It’s cold.
Меня знобит. — I feel chills.
These are called безличные предложения (impersonal sentences).