Please share my lesson using your social media platforms. Use the links above.

Student FREE Bookstore   (CLICK HERE)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO AMAZON.COM.BR

What is a “predicate?”

Introduction:

A predicate in English grammar is the part of a sentence that provides information about the subject, typically consisting of a verb and any accompanying modifying words, phrases, or clauses. The predicate serves to express an action, occurrence, or state of being, and it always agrees with the subject in terms of person and number. For example, in the sentence “The children play in the park,” the predicate is “play in the park,” which describes what the subject, “the children,” are doing.

Examples:  Five simple sentences containing predicates.

1. The cat jumped on the table.
2. Sarah is practicing the guitar in her room.
3. People are enjoying the sunny weather at the park.
4. Antonio cooks pasta for dinner every Sunday.
5. The dog barks loudly whenever someone comes to the door.

Predicates:
1. jumped on the table
2. is practicing the guitar in her room
3. are enjoying the sunny weather at the park
4. cooks pasta for dinner every Sunday
5. barks loudly whenever someone comes to the door.

Simple Predicates:

A simple predicate consists of a single verb that represents the action or state of the subject within a sentence. It does not include any additional verbs or auxiliary verbs. For example, in the sentence “The cat sleeps,” the simple predicate is “sleeps.”

Compound Predicates:

A compound predicate, on the other hand, consists of two or more verbs or verb phrases that are connected by conjunctions and share the same subject. The verbs indicate different actions or states related to the subject. For example, in the sentence “The cat sleeps and purrs,” the compound predicate is “sleeps and purrs.”

Differences:

The main difference between a simple predicate and a compound predicate lies in the number of verbs describing the subject’s actions or states. A simple predicate has one verb, while a compound predicate has two or more verbs.

Grammar Questions:

1. What is a simple predicate in a sentence?
2. How do you identify a simple predicate in a given sentence?
3. Can a simple predicate have more than one word?
4. How does a simple predicate differ from a complete predicate?
5. What is the role of the simple predicate in conveying the meaning of a sentence?

1. What is the definition of a compound predicate in a sentence?
2. Can you provide an example of a sentence with a compound predicate?
3. How do you distinguish between a compound subject and a compound predicate?
4. Are there any specific punctuation rules to follow when writing compound predicates?
5. What is the role of coordinating conjunctions in forming compound predicates?

Writing Exercise:

Write five simple sentences using the following subjects: a dog, a cat, your friend, a teacher, the sun. For each sentence, include a clear predicate that describes an action or state.

Example:
Subject: A dog
Predicate: is playing in the park.
Complete sentence: A dog is playing in the park.