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

所有英语句子里最少包括两个部分：名词和动词。

But most clauses have more than two parts：

但几乎所有句子多于这两个部分：

The first noun phrase is the subject of the sentence：

第一个名词部分是句子的主语：

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：

英语句子里一定会有主语：

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：

除了用于发布命令的祈使句：

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”：

如果没有其他主语，我们用there 或it 作为形式主语。

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.

（实习编辑：于晓伟）