Thread: The book was read by me. Where is the subject?

The book was read by me.

Is "the book" or "me" the subject there?

I simply want to understand whether or not the subject and the agent are the same?
And if "the book" is the subject, what is name of "me" then?

"Книга", конечно, подлежащее. "Была прочитана" - сказуемое. Это страдательный залог. "Мной" - дополнение.

Простое правило: в английском строгий порядок слов, (обстоятельство) + подлежащее + сказуемое + (дополнение + обстоятельство). Таким образом сказуемое не может быть перед подлежащим.

In a sentence such as "The boy kicked the ball", "the boy" is the agent and the subject. However, when the sentence is rendered in the passive voice, "The ball was kicked by the boy", "the ball" is the grammatical subject, but "the boy" is still the agent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_(grammar)

Originally Posted by delog

Таким образом сказуемое не может быть перед подлежащим.

Ну, не всегда: 'Whhhrrrr...' said Arthur Dent. ))

Originally Posted by E-learner

In a sentence such as "The boy kicked the ball", "the boy" is the agent and the subject. However, when the sentence is rendered in the passive voice, "The ball was kicked by the boy", "the ball" is the grammatical subject, but "the boy" is still the agent.

That's just what I wanted to hear!
Thanks a lot!