Example 1: Kevin spikes volleyballs.
To find the subject, ask yourself who or what does something? In example 1, Kevin is doing something; Kevin is the subject.
To find the verb in that sentence, ask yourself what is Kevin doing? Kevin spikes; spikes is the verb.
Subject: Kevin
Verb: spikes
Example 2: Kevin spikes volleyballs at Michael.
Follow the same procedure as above to find the verb. Here, there are two people in the sentence: Kevin and Michael. Which one of them is doing something? Kevin.
What is Kevin doing? Kevin still spikes.
Subject: Kevin
Verb: spikes
Example 3: Kevin spikes volleyballs at Michael that Kim pumped up.
Follow the same procedure as above. Here, there are three people in the sentence: Kevin, Michael, and Kim. Which of them is doing or has done something? Kevin and Kim.
Separate those two parts of the sentence:
Kevin spikes volleyballs at Michael.
That Kim pumped up.
Which of those two sentences is complete (i.e. it can exist by itself)? Kevin spikes volleyballs at Michael. (“That Kim pumped up” cannot be a sentence by itself; it depends on the first part of the sentence for sense.) Kevin is still the subject of this sentence.
What is Kevin doing? Kevin spikes.
Subject: Kevin
Verb: spikes
Example 4: Kevin and Dan spike volleyballs at Michael.
Again, follow the same procedure. Here, there are three people in the sentence: Kevin, Dan, and Michael. Which of them is doing something? Kevin and Dan.
What are Kevin and Dan doing: Kevin and Dan spike.
Subject: Kevin and Dan
Verb: spike
The subject does the main action in a sentence. The subject can be singular or plural. The verb is the main action that the subject does.
Resources
St. Cloud State University explains subjects and verbs well; DeAnza College has a fairly thorough explanation; and D’Youville College has a much shorter one as well as two quizzes. GrammarBook has a good quiz.
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