Identifying the subject in a sentence

Question

Sentence: "The book that she recommended was excellent".

Sorry for asking a super basic question like this here. I got different responses from ChatGPT.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

To find the subject, determine what "was excellent."

sectan · Answer

Thanks! Can you please help me understand why it can't be "she" and the primary action being "recommended"? In this way she answers the question "who is responsible for the primary action?".

Edit: Is the correct answer "the book" because the sentence is in passive voice?

joohwangie · Answer

'that she recommended' modify the book
which book? the book that she recommended

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi sectan,

The word  she  is the subject of its own (dependent) clause. The subject of the  main  (independent) clause is  the book that she recommended .

1.    The book that she recommended   was  excellent.

EducationAisle · Answer

Perhaps just a summary of what others have mentioned in bits and pieces.

This sentence has two clauses:

i)  The book was excellent 
- This is the independent clause and the subject is  the book .

ii)  that she recommended  
- This is the dependent clause and the subject is  she .

Identifying the subject in a sentence

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