Subject facts for kids

The word subject can mean many different things! It's a word we use a lot, but its meaning changes depending on where you hear it. It comes from a Latin word, subiectus, which means "lying beneath."

Think of it like this: a subject is often something that is under something else, or something that is being acted upon. Let's explore some of the ways we use this interesting word!

What "Subject" Means in Different Areas

In School

When you go to school, you study different subjects. A school subject is a specific area of learning, like math, science, history, or art. Each subject teaches you about a particular topic or skill.

• School subject: A course of study you take in school.

In Language and Grammar

In grammar, the subject of a sentence is the person or thing that performs the action or is described. It's who or what the sentence is about.

For example, in the sentence "The dog barks loudly," the dog is the subject because it's doing the barking.

• Subject (grammar): The part of a sentence that performs the action or is described.
• Nominative case: This is a grammatical term for the form a noun takes when it is the subject of a sentence.

In Music

In music, a subject is a main melody or tune. Composers use subjects to build longer pieces of music.

• In a fugue: This is a type of musical piece where a main melody (the subject) is introduced and then repeated by different parts or instruments.
• In sonata form: This is a common way to structure a piece of music. It often has two main themes or melodies, called the first subject and the second subject.

In History and Society

Historically, a subject could also mean a person who lived under the rule of a king, queen, or other powerful leader. They were "subjected" to that ruler's authority.

• Feudalism: In medieval times, people were often subjects of a lord or king in a system called feudalism. They owed loyalty and service to their ruler.
• British subject: Even today, in some countries with a king or queen (like the United Kingdom), people are sometimes called subjects. This means they are citizens of that country and owe loyalty to the monarch.

In Science and Experiments

In science, when researchers do an experiment, the people or things they are testing are called subjects.

• Experiment subject: A person, animal, or thing that is being tested or observed in a scientific experiment. For example, if scientists are testing a new medicine, the people taking the medicine are the subjects.

In Libraries and Information

When you look for books or information in a library, things are often organized by subject. This helps you find all the books about a particular topic.

• Subject (documents): How documents are classified or organized based on what they are about.
• Subject term: A word or phrase that describes the main topic of a document, used to help you find it.