subj.
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Subject |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
subj. has two meanings. It stands for Subject (grammar and dictionary) or Subjunctive (grammar and dictionary).
Meanings of subj. at a glance
| # | subj. stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subject | Writing & Everyday › Grammar and Dictionary |
| 2 | Subjunctive | Writing & Everyday › Grammar and Dictionary |
1. Subject
Writing & Everyday · Grammar and Dictionary Abbreviations
Marks the subject of a clause, the noun phrase that typically performs the action or is described by the verb, in grammar exercises, sentence diagrams and teaching notes.
Example: In "The committee approved the plan," the subj. is "the committee."
In English the subject normally comes before the verb and controls agreement ("she runs," "they run"). Grammar teachers often shorten it to S in sentence patterns such as SVO. English requires an overt subject even when it carries no meaning, as in "It is raining," unlike Spanish or Italian, which can drop it.
2. Subjunctive
Writing & Everyday · Grammar and Dictionary Abbreviations
Labels the subjunctive mood, the verb form used for wishes, hypotheses and demands, as in "If I were you" or "We insist that he be present." It appears in grammars and language textbooks.
Example: The subj. appears in "I suggest that she arrive early," where the verb lacks the usual -s.
The English subjunctive is largely limited to "were" in hypotheticals and the base form in mandative clauses, which American English uses more than British English. Spanish, French and Italian use the subjunctive constantly, after many triggering verbs and conjunctions. Some grammars write subjv. to avoid confusion with "subject."