What are predicates in grammar?
A predicate tells us what's going in any given sentence. Take the simple sentence I fell as an example.
The subject is the pronoun I in the first-person singular. The predicate (e.g., fell) tells us what the subject is or does.
Predicates in sentences
On a broad level, when we communicate, we do so in the form of sentences. In English, the standard lesson on sentence structure is the formula, Subject -Verb-Object (SVO, for short).
To return to our example, I fell—between the two words, "fell" must be the predicate because—
- It's the only actio/verb in the sentence and
- It says what the subject did or what happened to them (i.e., they fell).
Identifying predicates in sentences
- They communicate what subjects do or states experienced (what we may be going through). Examples: She reads; He feels down.
- Predicates always include a verb
- Apart from the main verb, predicates can also comprise of objects (direct or indirect), and modifiers (e.g., adverbs, prepositional phrases).
We know now that a predicate tells us what goes on in a sentence, and always consists of the verb/action performed. Aside from a few exceptions, sentences are made up of two core components: a subject and a predicate.
To help identify the sentence predicate, start by eliminating the subject. Subjects are either nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases.
- [Traditional Belgian waffles] [are dotted with little pearls of sugar.]
- [My friend Sarah] [puts ketchup on everything.]
- [The baby goats] [climbed up the cliff face reluctantly.]
Types of predicates
There are several types of predicates:
Mention the main verb or verb phrase; such as,
Friendship is valuable.
When two or more actions or states are in the same sentence through the use of a conjunction:
Bridgette reads and writes.
The simple predicate as well as the other words which complete the state or action:
She is studying at university to earn her degree.
Nouns or pronouns that follow linking verbs and rename or elaborate on the subject; e.g.,
Samuel Clemens's pen name is Mark Twain.
Adjectives that come after a linking verb and describe the subject:
He is exhausted.
Practice: Identify the predicate
Which part is the predicate in “The red balloon floated away slowly.”?
Identify the predicate: “My neighbors were singing on the porch.”
Which is the predicate in “A sudden chill ran through the crowd.”?
Choose the predicate: “Her explanation was perfectly clear.”
Find the predicate: “The toddlers napped after lunch.”
FAQs
What is a predicate in a sentence?
Do all predicates have verbs?
How do I find the predicate quickly?
What’s the difference between a simple and complete predicate?
Can a predicate come before the subject?
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