Question

Identify the subject attribute in the given sentence:
Barking dogs seldom bite.
a)Barking
b)Dogs
c)Seldom
d)Bite

Answer 1

Hint: The attribute of a noun can be an adjective, an article, a pronoun, a participle, an infinitive, or a phrase.

Complete step-by-step answer:

 The subject consists of words and it must always have a noun in it. This noun which is the most crucial word in the sentence is often qualified by an adjective which is called its attribute.
Option a ‘Barking’ is the correct option. As per the definition in English Grammar, the attribute qualifies a noun. In the given sentence, the noun ‘Dogs’ is qualified or described by the adjective ‘Barking’ which acts as an attribute.
Option b ‘Dogs’ is the incorrect option. The attributes qualify a noun and the given option is itself a noun. The noun ‘Dogs’ is qualified by an attribute ‘Barking’.
Option c ‘Seldom’ is an incorrect option. The word ‘Seldom’ does not qualify the noun in the given statement. It would have been the option if it described a noun. For example I always have great but seldom pleasure.
Option d ‘Bite’ is incorrect. ‘Bite’ is a verb and can never be an attribute. A verb describes the action of a noun, not the noun itself.

Note: The same word can and cannot be attributes depending on the usage of that word in the given sentence.