Subject of Sentence

Okay, I am trying to understand the subject of this sentence:

Two plus three equals Five.

Obviously, two plus three is equal to five, I got that. But isn't the "two plus three" part the subject that is equal to five? I mean, it cannont be two or three alone that is equal, that doesn't make any sense.

Please help if you can answer this. I am trying to understand why plus which is a preposition can form this subject.

Thanks

alkaspeltzar said:

Okay, I am trying to understand the subject of this sentence:

Two plus three equals Five.

Obviously, two plus three is equal to five, I got that. But isn't the "two plus three" part the subject that is equal to five? I mean, it cannont be two or three alone that is equal, that doesn't make any sense.

Please help if you can answer this. I am trying to understand why plus which is a preposition can form this subject.

Thanks

Click to expand...

IMO "two plus three" is the subject, in the same way that "two and three" would be.

Okay, that makes sense from what I have found. Thanks

One quick question, can a subject contain a preposition then?

alkaspeltzar said:

Okay, that makes sense from what I have found. Thanks

One quick question, can a subject contain a preposition then?

Click to expand...

plus[plʌs]1 conj You use plus to show that one number or quantity is being added to another. Two plus two equals four... Send a cheque for £18.99 plus £2 for postage and packing.

This is the first definition of "plus" in Collins Cobuild, they call it a conjunction.

Plus | Define Plus at Dictionary.com

Interesting that this cites a Collins World English Dictionary that states "plus" is a preposition.

Must be still a matter of academic dispute.

Yeah, that is really interesting. But from a math usage and stand point, the conjunction usage makes the most sense.

I think since i see it as both ways, I will just let this problem go.

I think it is safe to say that I understand what math means, what to do with equations, and when someone states "two plus three is five", it simply is stating that two with the three, will make five.

As for all the englsih, well, math and english are two different subject and I am probably making this into more than it should be. I know better, sorry to confuse everyone.

Thanks for all the help answering the question, I appreciated it. THanks again

Alkaspeltzar

No problem. To be honest, I would have thought it a conjunction had I not looked it up!

----- Not an English teacher -----

alkaspeltzar said:

Okay, I am trying to understand the subject of this sentence:

Two plus three equals Five.

Click to expand...

The subject is "Two plus three." Just remember to "ask the verb":
What equals? In this case, equal is a linking verb.

alkaspeltzar said:

Obviously, two plus three is equal to five, I got that. But isn't the "two plus three" part the subject that is equal to five?

Click to expand...

Even if two plus three were not equal to five the subject would still be "two plus three." You could as well say: "Two plus three equals six." It is grammatical.

alkaspeltzar said:

One quick question, can a subject contain a preposition then?

Click to expand...

Yes. For instance:
"The boy with stripped pajamas died."
"The book under the table is not to be read."
"The girl with kaleidoscope eyes taught me English."
The subjects of the above sentences contain prepositions.