sujeto
/soo-HEH-toh/
subject
Sujeto (Grammar): The dog is the subject performing the action.
📝 In Action
En la frase 'Ella canta', el sujeto es 'Ella'.
B1In the sentence 'She sings,' the subject is 'She.'
El sujeto de nuestra discusión de hoy es la economía.
B2The subject of our discussion today is the economy.
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying the Subject
The 'sujeto' is the person or thing performing the action of the verb. Even if it's not explicitly written, Spanish verbs often tell you who the subject is (e.g., 'Canto' already means 'I sing').
Sujeto (Informal): A simple illustration of a guy.
sujeto(noun)
guy
?informal person
,individual
?general term for a person
suspect
?police/investigative context
,fellow
?neutral reference
📝 In Action
Vimos a un sujeto sospechoso cerca de la tienda.
A2We saw a suspicious individual near the store.
Ese sujeto siempre llega tarde a las reuniones.
B1That guy always arrives late to the meetings.
La policía está buscando a un sujeto de 40 años.
B2The police are looking for a 40-year-old suspect.
⭐ Usage Tips
Slightly Negative Connotation
While 'sujeto' can be neutral, in informal Spanish, using it to refer to someone often implies the person is unfamiliar, suspicious, or perhaps slightly annoying. Use 'persona' or 'chico/a' for a warmer reference.
Sujeto (Dependent on): The balloon is subject to the anchor, keeping it from floating away.
sujeto(adjective)
subject to
?dependent on
,fastened
?held or secured
subordinate
?under authority
📝 In Action
La decisión está sujeta a la aprobación del director.
B2The decision is subject to the director's approval.
Ella mantuvo el libro sujeto con ambas manos.
C1She kept the book held tight with both hands.
El descuento está sujeto a ciertas condiciones.
B2The discount is dependent on certain conditions.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'sujeto' must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes: 'sujeto' (m. sing.), 'sujeta' (f. sing.), 'sujetos' (m. plural), 'sujetas' (f. plural). Pay attention to the ending!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong preposition
Mistake: "El precio es sujeto por las reglas."
Correction: El precio está sujeto a las reglas. ('Sujeto' almost always uses the preposition 'a' (to) when referring to dependency.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sujeto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sujeto' to mean 'dependent on'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'sujeto' means 'guy' or 'grammar subject'?
If 'sujeto' is followed by a description of a person (like 'sospechoso' or 'alto'), it means 'guy' or 'individual.' If you are analyzing a sentence structure, it refers to the grammar part. Context is key!
Is 'sujeto' the same as the verb 'sujetar'?
They are related! 'Sujetar' means 'to hold' or 'to fasten.' 'Sujeto' is the past participle of that verb, which is why it can mean 'held' or 'fastened' when used as an adjective.