Can the object of a preposition also be the subject of a sentence? My teacher and I are having a debate over this and I just wanted to have clarification on the answer!
1 Answer
No, at least not at the same time.
Explanation:
Take, for example, the sentence:
The rabbit dashed into the log.
Since into is a preposition, the log is the object of the preposition.
If we try to make the log the subject of a new clause, we run into some issues. The following sentence is incorrect:
The rabbit dashed into the log was very moldy.
We can remedy this by adding a dependent clause, starting with the relative pronoun which:
The rabbit dashed into the log, which was very moldy.
In this sentence, which is the subject of the second clause, BUT it refers directly to the log, which is the object of the preposition.
So, you can convey the idea of the object of a preposition concurrently being a subject, but the actual word itself cannot function as both simultaneously.
