The basic building blocks of an English sentence are the subject and the predicate. Together, the subject and the predicate form a clause.<\/p>\n
The complete subject is the main part of the sentence that contains at least one noun (or noun equivalent) and all of its modifiers.<\/p>\n
The complete predicate contains at least one verb and its auxiliaries, modifiers, and completing words if they are present. It explains all that is being said about the subject.<\/p>\n
If you remove the subject and its modifiers from a sentence, everything that remains is the predicate.<\/p>\n
\nExamples<\/em><\/strong>
\nJosefina<\/u> (complete subject) reads<\/u> (complete predicate).<\/p>\n“Reliable” Ricky<\/u> (complete subject) scored the winning basket<\/span> (complete predicate).<\/p>\n
Everyone at the concert<\/u> (complete subject) will love the show even if it rains<\/u> (complete predicate).\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The Simple Predicate<\/h2>\n
Our quick review of the complete subject and predicate helps us understand the role of the simple predicate.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
The simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase that identifies solely the action in a sentence. It does not include modifiers and completing words, but it does include auxiliaries.<\/p>\n
\nExamples<\/em><\/strong>
\nJosefina reads<\/u>. (The simple predicate is reads.<\/em>)<\/p>\n“Reliable” Ricky scored<\/u> the winning basket. (The simple predicate is scored.<\/em>)<\/p>\n
Everyone at the concert will love<\/u> the show even if it rains. (The simple predicate is the auxiliary will <\/em>and the main verb, love.<\/em>)\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Let’s look at a few more examples of simple predicates including compound verbs as well as different tenses:<\/p>\n
\nAlyssa worked<\/u> a full day and then met<\/u> her friends for dinner. <\/em>(Worked<\/em> and met <\/em>are both simple predicates.)<\/p>\n
Helmut has been<\/u> a student at the university for three years. (Has been <\/em>is the simple predicate in the present perfect tense.)<\/p>\n
They will have been<\/u> in line for three hours by the time they can ride the rollercoaster. (Will have been <\/em>is the simple predicate in the future perfect tense.)\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Note also that the simple predicate can be separated by modifiers that are not a part of the predicate.<\/p>\n
\nBeth Ann will<\/u> always be<\/u> my sweetheart.<\/p>\n
Nathan has<\/u> often said<\/u> he wants to run for county treasurer.<\/p>\n
That information had<\/u> not previously been<\/u> known.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n
Using what you’ve learned in this article, identify the simple predicates in the following sentences.<\/p>\n
1. I want to be an astronaut someday.<\/p>\n
2. Helen often tends to her garden and, because of her care, attracts many people to it.<\/p>\n
3. Will you have at least read through the manual by the time the project begins?<\/p>\n
4. They are debating whether to install the new fountain in the town square.<\/p>\n
5. If you want to get the best price at the flash sale, leave now.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n
1. I want<\/strong> to be an astronaut someday.<\/p>\n
2. Helen often tends<\/strong> to her garden and, because of her care, attracts<\/strong> many people to it.<\/p>\n
3. Will<\/strong> you have<\/strong> at least read<\/strong> through the manual by the time the project begins?<\/p>\n
4. They are debating<\/strong> whether to install the new fountain in the town square.<\/p>\n
5. If you want to get the best price at the flash sale, leave<\/strong> now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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