All clauses in English have at least two parts： a noun phrase and a verb phrase：

所有英語句子里最少包括兩個部分：名詞和動詞。

But most clauses have more than two parts：

但幾乎所有句子多于這兩個部分：

The first noun phrase is the subject of the sentence：

第一個名詞部分是句子的主語：

The children laughed.

John wanted a new bicycle.

All the girls are learning English.

She put the flowers in the vase.

English clauses always have a subject：

英語句子里一定會有主語：

His father has just retired. Was a teacher. He was a teacher.

I’m waiting for my wife. She is late.

… except for the imperative which is used to give orders：

除了用于發布命令的祈使句：

Stop！

Go away.

… and for “soft imperatives” like invitations and requests：

Please come to dinner tomorrow.

Play it again please.

If we have no other subject we use “there” or “it” as subject. We call this a“dummy subject”：

如果沒有其他主語，我們用there 或it 作為形式主語。

There were twenty people at the meeting..

There will be an eclipse of the moon tonight.

It’s a lovely day.

It’s nearly one o’clock.

I have toothache. It hurts a lot.

（實習編輯：于曉偉）