What Is a Predicate In a Sentence?
A predicate is the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is. It includes the verb and any additional information that completes the meaning of the action or state described.
Introduction
Every complete sentence has two main parts: the subject and the predicate. The subject tells who or what the sentence is about, while the predicate tells what the subject does or is.
Understanding the Predicate
The predicate is the part of the sentence that explains what the subject does or what happens to the subject. It includes the verb and provides information about the action or state of the subject. Without a predicate, a sentence would not be complete.
Types of Predicates
Simple Predicate
A simple predicate consists of only the verb or verb phrase.
Example: She runs.
Example: They are singing.
Rule: A simple predicate can be just one word if that word is a verb.
Complete Predicate
A complete predicate includes the verb and all the words that modify or explain the verb.
Example: She runs every morning.
Example: They are singing beautifully.
Rule: A complete predicate provides more information about the action or state described by the verb.
Compound Predicate
A compound predicate contains two or more verbs or verb phrases joined by a conjunction.
Example: She runs and jogs.
Example: They are singing and dancing.
Rule: A compound predicate allows you to describe multiple actions performed by the subject without repeating the subject.
Components of the Predicate
The main component of the predicate is the verb. Verbs are action words or state-of-being words. Predicates can also include objects and complements that provide additional information about the action or state.
Verb: The main word that describes the action or state.
Example: He writes.
Example: The dog barked.
Rule: Every predicate must contain a verb.
Object: The noun or pronoun that receives the action.
Example: He writes letters.
Example: She bakes cakes.
Rule: An object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" after the verb.
Complement: A word or phrase that completes the meaning of the verb.
Example: He is a teacher.
Example: The soup smells delicious.
Rule: Complements can be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that provide more detail about the subject.
Identifying the Predicate in Sentences
To find the predicate, locate the verb first. The predicate includes the verb and all the words that relate to it.
Example: The cat slept on the mat.
The verb is "slept," and the complete predicate is "slept on the mat."
Example: The children played in the park.
The verb is "played," and the complete predicate is "played in the park."
Practice Exercise: Identify the predicate in the following sentences:
The dog chased the ball.
She is reading a book.
They will go to the movies.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learners often confuse the subject with the predicate or omit parts of the predicate. Here are some common errors and how to fix them:
Mistake: She running fast.
Correction: She is running fast.
Rule: Ensure that the verb form matches the subject and tense.
Mistake: They happy.
Correction: They are happy.
Rule: Use a linking verb like "is," "are," "was," or "were" to connect the subject to a complement.
Mistake: He eats every day.
Correction: He eats breakfast every day.
Rule: Include objects or complements when necessary to provide complete information.
Additional Practice Exercises
Identify the predicates in the following sentences:
The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
Birds are chirping in the trees.
The company launched a new product.
We have finished our homework.
The athlete trained hard for the competition.
Correct the following sentences:
She eating lunch.
They going to the store.
He is teacher.
The flowers smells nice.
We playing soccer.