The Predicate
Before we talk about the predicate, remember that
The subject is the part of the sentence about which
something is told or asked.
Prices are higher.
subject
What Is the Predicate?
The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells or asks
something about the subject.
Prices .
predicate
You can easily find the subject and the predicate of a sentence by asking two simple
questions:
Prices are higher.
QUESTION 1: About what is the sentence telling something?
ANSWER:
Prices.
The subject is Prices.
QUESTION 2: What is the sentence saying about Prices?
ANSWER: Prices are higher.
The predicate is
My sister Karen is waiting for us.
QUESTION 1: About whom is the sentence telling something?
ANSWER:
My sister Karen.
The subject is My sister Karen.
QUESTION 2: What is the sentence saying about My sister Karen?
ANSWER: My sister Karen is waiting for us.
The predicate is
Was Andy angry?
QUESTION 1: About whom is the sentence asking something?
ANSWER:
Andy.
The subject is Andy.
QUESTION 2: What is the sentence asking about Andy?
ANSWER:
Was Andy angry?
The predicate is
Position of the Predicate
The predicate usually comes after the subject, but it can also appear in other positions.
PREDICATE AFTER THE SUBJECT:
The parking lot
S. P.
PREDICATE BEFORE THE SUBJECT:
the parking lot.
P. S.
PREDICATE PARTLY BEFORE AND PARTLY AFTER THE SUBJECT:
Is the parking lot
P. S. P.
EXERCISE 1. First draw a single line under the complete subject of the sentence.
Then, above the double line at the right, write the predicate.
Samples:
SUBJECT PREDICATE
The temperature dropped suddenly.
Has the plane landed?
Under the tree lay many rotting apples.
Under the tree lay
Has . . . landed
dropped suddenly
next to the stadium?
Next to the stadium is
is next to the stadium.
Was angry.
is waiting for us.
8 PARTS OF SPEECH
1. Has our teacher recovered from the flu?
2. Behind the wheel was my sister Maria.
3. How comfortable these new seats are!
4. Finally, the suspect surrendered to the
police.
5. A flock of seagulls landed on the beach.
EXERCISE 2. Complete the sentence by adding a predicate.
Samples:
The apple
A speck of dust
1. The onion soup
2. Your suede jacket
3. Her new pen
4. The owner of the car
5. My desk at home
flew into my eye.
was not ripe.
THE PREDICATE
The main word in the predicate is called the verb.
Here are a few examples:
1. The temperature
PREDICATE: dropped rapidly
VERB: dropped
2. José
PREDICATE: often visits exhibits at the natural history museum
VERB: visits
3. you
PREDICATE: Have no sense
VERB: Have
Without a verb, the predicate cannot tell or ask anything about the subject. For instance, if the verb
dropped is left out of the first sentence above, the resulting sentence
cannot convey any clear meaning:
The temperature. . . rapidly.
Question:
Does a verb ever consist of more than one word?
Answer:
Yes, often. A verb may consist of one to four words:
SENTENCE VERB
no questions. have
you any questions? Do . . . have
We John all week. have been calling
His phone . may have been disconnected
Action and Linking Verbs
ACTION VERBS
What Is an Action Verb?
An action verb is a verb that expresses action.
There are two kinds of action verbs:
1. Verbs that express physical action—action that can be seen or heard:
The car skidded, left the road, and smashed into a telephone pole.
(Skidded, left, and smashed express physical action.)
2. Verbs that express mental action—action that takes place in the mind and
therefore cannot be seen or heard:
We believed and trusted them because we knew them.
(Believed, trusted, and knew express mental action.)
EXERCISE 1. If the italicized verb expresses physical action, write P in the space
provided. If it expresses mental action, write M.
Samples:
Pat tagged the runner.
Did you understand the lesson?
1. I forgot the combination.
2. Open a window.
3. Who rang the bell?
4. He considers me his best friend.
5. We are hoping for the best this season.
LINKING VERBS
Not all verbs are action verbs. The verb is in the following sentence does not express
action. It is a linking verb.
Jordan is angry at us
