Predicate |Definition & Meaning

Master the predicate in English grammar! Discover how the predicate describes the action or state of the subject, making your sentences clear and powerful with simple examples and explanations.The predicate is one of the most crucial parts of a sentence. Without it, a sentence is incomplete. Every sentence has two main components: the subject and the predicate. While the subject tells us who or what the sentence is about, the predicate explains what is happening or what the subject is doing.

The predicate typically contains a verb, but it can also include additional elements like objects or complements. For example, in the sentence, “The dog barked loudly,” the subject is “The dog,” and the predicate is “barked loudly.”

Key Components of a Predicate:

• Verb: The action or state of being (e.g., “barked”).
• Objects: Something that receives the action (e.g., “The dog chased the ball” – “the ball” is the object).
• Complements: Words or phrases that complete the meaning of the verb (e.g., “She is a teacher”).

Remember: A sentence isn’t complete without both a subject and a predicate. The predicate plays the important role of conveying the action or state of the subject, giving meaning to the sentence.

Types of Predicates

Predicates can be classified into three main types: simple, complete, and compound. Understanding these categories will help you form better sentences and avoid errors in sentence structure.

Simple Predicate

A simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase in the sentence. It doesn’t include any modifiers or objects. For example:

• She runs.
• He sings.

In these examples, the simple predicates are “runs” and “sings.” The simple predicate tells what the subject is doing without adding any extra details.

Key points about Simple Predicate:

• Contains only the verb or verb phrase.
• Does not include any other words like objects or complements.

Complete Predicate

The complete predicate consists of the verb or verb phrase and all the words that describe the action or state. It includes any modifiers, objects, or complements that complete the sentence. For example:

• The boy threw the ball across the yard.
• She quickly ate her lunch.

In these examples, “threw the ball across the yard” and “quickly ate her lunch” are complete predicates because they include everything that describes what the subject is doing.

Key points about Complete Predicate:

• Includes the main verb, along with modifiers and objects.
• Provides more information than the simple predicate.

Compound Predicate

A compound predicate occurs when a subject performs more than one action. This type of predicate contains two or more verbs or verb phrases that share the same subject. For example:

• She danced and sang at the party.
• The dog barked and ran after the cat.

In these sentences, the subject performs two actions, which makes the predicate compound.

Key points about Compound Predicate:

• Includes two or more verbs or verb phrases.
• Describes multiple actions performed by the subject.

Understanding these three types of predicates will allow you to better identify and use them effectively in writing. Each type plays a specific role in forming sentences that are clear and grammatically correct.

How to Identify Predicates in a Sentence

Identifying a predicate in a sentence is simple once you know what to look for. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you recognize the predicate in any sentence.

Step 1: Find the Subject

To locate the predicate, you first need to identify the subject of the sentence. The subject tells you who or what the sentence is about. Once you’ve identified the subject, everything else in the sentence is part of the predicate.

For example:

• The cat (subject) is sleeping. In this sentence, “The cat” is the subject, and “is sleeping” is the predicate.

Step 2: Look for the Main Verb

The predicate always contains the verb. A verb can be an action word (like “run” or “sing”) or a state of being verb (like “is” or “seem”). Once you find the verb, you’ve found the core of the predicate.

For example:

• The dog (subject) barked loudly (predicate).

In this case, “barked” is the verb, making it part of the predicate.

Step 3: Include Everything Related to the Verb

After finding the verb, identify any other words that describe the action or state. These can include modifiers, objects, or complements. Everything that comes after the verb and relates to it is part of the predicate.

For example:

• She (subject) finished her homework quickly (complete predicate).

In this sentence, “finished her homework quickly” is the complete predicate because it includes the verb “finished” along with the object “her homework” and the modifier “quickly.”

Quick Tip: The predicate is everything that is not the subject!

The Difference Between Subject and Predicate

Many learners get confused between the subject and the predicate in a sentence. The key difference is simple:

• The subject tells who or what the sentence is about.
• The predicate tells what the subject is doing or what state it’s in.

Identifying the Subject and Predicate in a Sentence

In every complete sentence, you will always find these two main parts. Here are some examples to clarify the distinction:

• The boy (subject) plays soccer (predicate).
• The birds (subject) are chirping (predicate).
• She (subject) is a teacher (predicate).
• The cat (subject) is sleeping (predicate).
• The boy (subject) runs fast (predicate).
• She (subject) teaches English (predicate).
• The car (subject) is parked outside (predicate).
• They (subject) are watching TV (predicate).
• The sun (subject) is shining brightly (predicate).
• The dog (subject) chases the ball (predicate).
• We (subject) are going to the mall (predicate).
• The flowers (subject) are blooming (predicate).
• He (subject) writes poems (predicate).
• The kids (subject) are playing in the park (predicate).
• The train (subject) arrives at noon (predicate).
• She (subject) is reading a book (predicate).
• The chef (subject) cooks delicious meals (predicate).
• The birds (subject) are flying high (predicate).
• The teacher (subject) is grading papers (predicate).
• The dog (subject) is barking loudly (predicate).
• They (subject) are traveling to Japan (predicate).
• The cake (subject) is baking in the oven (predicate).
• He (subject) plays guitar (predicate).

In these examples, the subject is highlighted, and the rest of the sentence forms the predicate. It’s that simple!

Why is Understanding the Difference Important?

Knowing the difference between the subject and predicate helps you form complete sentences. A sentence without a subject or predicate is incomplete, and the meaning can be lost.

For example, “The girl” by itself is an incomplete sentence because there is no predicate to explain what the girl is doing or what is happening to her. Adding a predicate completes the thought: “The girl is reading a book.”

Predicate vs Object: Understanding the Distinction

Another common confusion in grammar is between the predicate and the object. While both can occur in the same sentence, they serve different functions.

What is the Predicate?

As we’ve discussed, the predicate tells us what the subject is doing or what state it is in. It contains the verb and any additional information about the verb, such as modifiers, objects, or complements.

For example:

• He kicked the ball. In this sentence, “kicked the ball” is the complete predicate.

What is the Object?

The object is the part of the sentence that receives the action of the verb. Objects are often nouns or pronouns and answer the question “what?” or “whom?” after the verb.

In the sentence, “He kicked the ball,” “the ball” is the object because it receives the action of the verb “kicked.”

How are They Different?

The predicate includes the verb and describes what is happening, while the object is the recipient of that action.

Here’s an easy way to think about it:

• The predicate shows the action.
• The object receives the action.

For example:

• She (subject) threw (verb) the frisbee (object). In this sentence, “threw the frisbee” is the complete predicate, but “the frisbee” is specifically the object that receives the action.

Practical Examples of Predicates in Sentences

Let’s look at some more examples of predicates in sentences to solidify your understanding.

Simple Predicate Examples

• The dog runs.
  • Predicate: “runs”
• She sings.
  • Predicate: “sings”

These are simple predicates because they contain only the main verb.

Complete Predicate Examples

• The boy threw the ball across the yard.
  • Predicate: “threw the ball across the yard”
• She quickly ate her lunch.
  • Predicate: “quickly ate her lunch”

These are complete predicates because they include the verb and additional information.

Compound Predicate Examples

• She danced and sang at the party.
  • Predicate: “danced and sang at the party”
• The dog barked and ran after the cat.
  • Predicate: “barked and ran after the cat”

These are compound predicates because the subject is performing more than one action.

Practice with Predicates

To get comfortable with predicates, try finding the predicate in the following sentences:

1. The cat sat on the windowsill.
2. They played soccer in the park.
3. He laughed and cried during the movie.

By practicing, you’ll become better at identifying predicates and understanding their role in sentence structure.

FAQs

What is a predicate in a sentence? 

A predicate is the part of a sentence that tells us what the subject is doing or what condition it’s in. It usually contains the verb and sometimes includes other words like objects or modifiers. Every complete sentence needs a subject and a predicate to make sense.

How do you find the predicate in a sentence? 

To find the predicate, first look for the subject (who or what the sentence is about). Then, find the verb, because the verb is part of the predicate. Everything that tells what the subject is doing or describes its state is the predicate.

What’s the difference between subject and predicate? 

The subject tells who or what the sentence is about, while the predicate explains what the subject is doing. In other words, the subject names the person or thing, and the predicate shows the action or condition of the subject. Both are needed for a complete sentence.

What is a simple predicate? 

A simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase in a sentence. It tells us what action the subject is doing without any extra details. For example, in “He runs,” the simple predicate is “runs.”

What is a compound predicate? 

A compound predicate is when the subject does more than one action, so the sentence has two or more verbs. For example, in “She danced and sang,” the subject “She” is doing two actions: dancing and singing. Both actions are part of the compound predicate.

Conclusion

The predicate is a vital part of any sentence, providing information about the action or state of the subject. Whether you’re dealing with a simple, complete, or compound predicate, knowing how to identify and use predicates correctly is key to writing clear and effective sentences.