{"id":1384,"date":"2020-10-17T10:29:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-17T09:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englishforums.com\/blog\/?p=1384"},"modified":"2020-10-17T10:29:32","modified_gmt":"2020-10-17T09:29:32","slug":"what-is-a-predicate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/what-is-a-predicate\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Predicate?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The English language can be very confusing sometimes, and predicates are no exception. In fact, many native English speakers would find it difficult to define <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">predicate<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 Examples of predicates appear in every English sentence. Once you know more about predicates, they won&#8217;t be confusing anymore. This easy guide to predicates will help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.englishforums.com\/blog\/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">better understand<\/a> how to correctly identify and use different types of predicates.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is a simple predicate definition?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put simply, a predicate modifies, or changes the subject of a sentence in some way. A complete sentence in the English language has at least one subject, one verb, and expresses a complete thought. For example:<\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She is a tennis player.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The word<\/span><b> She<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Is<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the one verb<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>A tennis player<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the\u00a0 predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is a good dog.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The word<\/span><b> He <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Is<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the one verb<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>A good dog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are moving next year.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The word <\/span><b>We<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Are <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the verb<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Moving next year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;ll notice that the verb (is) is included in the predicate phrase. In traditional English grammar, anything in a sentence that isn&#8217;t a subject is considered a predicate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What are the types of predicates?<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simple Predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compound Predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complete Predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Predicate Noun<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Predicate Adjective<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What is a simple predicate?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To understand a simple predicate, it&#8217;s important to understand verbs. A verb or verb phrase make up the part of a sentence that tells the action the subject is doing or the action that is being done to the subject. In a sentence, the verb phrase is the part of the sentence that has a verb and a direct or indirect object, but does not include the subject. Additionally, a verb phrase can join with a noun or noun phrase to make a simple sentence. In this case, the noun or noun phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, the simple predicate is the part of the sentence that contains the verb or verb phrase and typically follows a subject, verb, predicate formula.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jane was running quickly to her mother.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Jane<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject of the sentence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Was running<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the simple predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My football team is taking a bus to the game.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>My football team<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Is taking <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the simple predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simple predicate could be as short as one word. The imperative verb command <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an example of verb that is a one word simple predicate. Here are a few more examples of simple predicates with the predicate underlined.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kids<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> left the movie early<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The delivery person <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">drove to the wrong address<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our flight <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will leave on time<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The elephant <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ate all of the food<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four children <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are playing in the park<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tiny snake <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">slithered through the grass<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What is a compound predicate?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you understand simple predicates, understanding compound predicates is easy. Basically, a compound predicate is when two or more verbs or verb phrases are connected with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) and have the same subject. For example, this sentence contains two predicates:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samantha rode her bike and then met her friend.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Samantha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Rode her bike<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is predicate one in the sentence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>And <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the conjunction (Note: Any conjunction that is used to join the verb or verb phrases of a compound predicate is not included in the compound predicate.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Then met her friend<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is predicate two in the sentence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We will eat one pizza at home or go out to a restaurant.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>We<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Will eat pizza<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is predicate one in the sentence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Or<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the conjunction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Go out to a restaurant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is predicate two in the sentence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When one predicate is combined with another predicate in the same sentence and joined by a conjunction, we get a compound predicate. Here are a few more examples of compound predicates with the predicates underlined.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I will <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">go to college first<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">then find a job<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> usually goes to the library<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the morning, but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">today she went in the evening<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">favorite noodle shop was closed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so I <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">went to the school cafeteria<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sam and Jane <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">went shopping all afternoon<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">then they went to see a movie in the evening<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are interesting animals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I think whales are more interesting<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wanted a blue car<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">my wife wanted a red car<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What is a complete predicate?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people consider the terms <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">predicate<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">complete predicate<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be interchangeable. A complete predicate includes all the other parts of the sentence that are not the subject. For instance:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jennie found a stray cat.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Jennie<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Found a stray cat <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a complete predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sasha was late for school.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Sasha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Late for school <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the complete predicate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that the verb is included in the predicate phrase. Here are a few more examples of complete predicates with the predicate <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">underlined<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cat <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ran quickly around the house<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our school <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is going on a field trip next week<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My sister <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will visit me in Beijing next week<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are going on a long hike during our camping trip<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tall building <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is scheduled to be demolished next month<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is a predicate noun?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>predicate noun<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> renames the subject and is a noun or pronoun.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That horse is the fastest one.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>That horse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the subject<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fastest runner<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the predicate nominative<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fastest runner<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> renames the subject (horse). Here are a few more examples with the predicate underlined.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mary is t<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he best swimmer on the team<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My cat is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the cutest cat in the neighborhood<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Main street is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">my favorite street<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jenna, who is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the best student at school<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, will study in Europe next year.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My neighbor, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a very friendly guy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, offered to mow my lawn when I am out of town.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven&#8217;t seen Dan, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">my best friend<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in almost five years.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is a predicate adjective?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet another type of predicate is a predicate adjective. This type of predicate is an adjective that modifies the verb. Adjectives are used to describe a person, place, or thing.<\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My son is getting taller every day.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><b>Taller<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the predicate adjective<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All but one child is asleep.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><b>Asleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the predicate adjective<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few more examples of predicate adjectives with the predicate adjective underlined.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That tree is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shorter<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than I remember.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">green, shiny<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> boat moved slowly down the river.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The outside of my school was painted <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">red<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yellow<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is a predicate? The short version<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, examples of predicates include simple predicates, compound predicates, predicate nouns and complete predicates. A noun and a verb can be within a predicate in a sentence. No matter the subject or meaning, predicates are everywhere in the English language.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is a basic predicate definition: A predicate is any sentence or sentence clause that includes a verb that says something about the subject of that clause or sentence. The next time you&#8217;re asked, &#8220;What&#8217;s a predicate?&#8221;, the simple the answer is, everything but the subject.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The English language can be very confusing sometimes, and predicates are no exception. In fact, many native English speakers would find it difficult to define &#8230; <a title=\"What is a Predicate?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/what-is-a-predicate\/\" aria-label=\"More on What is a Predicate?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_generate-full-width-content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[292],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1384"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}