Subject to vs subjected to

Subject to means is susceptible to, on condition of, or has a tendency toward. Subject to may also mean that a person is in a legal position whereby certain actions may be perpetrated upon them. For instance, a person boarding an airplane is subject to a pat down. Not everyone who boards an airplane is patted down, but everyone who boards an airplane has the possibility of being patted down, they are subject to being searched. When pronouncing subject to, the accent is on the first syllable.

Subjected to means an action is actually perpetrated upon a person, the action is no longer simply a possibility but an actual event. For instance, a person boarding an airplane who has been physically patted down has been subjected to a search. When pronouncing subjected to, the accent is on the second syllable.

Examples

The European Commission said on Friday that it had approved U.S. drinks can maker Ball Corp’s planned 4.43 billion pound ($6.35 billion) purchase of Rexam Plc subject to the divestment of 12 plants. (Reuters)

The section of 237 between McCarthy and Great America is subject to flooding during high tides. (The Contra Costa Times)

The state’s medical marijuana program is finally coming out of the shadows and soon will be subject to a healthy dose of sunshine. (The Clovis New Journal)

Arsenal are closing in on their transfer target Mohamed Elneny, but the signing of the Egyptian is still subject to the Football Association’s new work-permit regulations. (The Independent)

Foreign workers are subject to background checks before being allowed into the country. (The Star)

RSPCA euthanise three dogs subjected to ‘appalling and abhorrent’ treatment (The Canberra Times)

A celebrated DJ and his fiancé claim they were subjected to homophobic abuse by staff at a central London department store. (The Evening Standard)