Predicate Definition

What is Predicate?

There should be a subject and a predicate in every sentence. A subject, as you are already aware, is a noun or a group of nouns or pronouns that operate as the agent of the activity described in the phrase. You probably already know that the rest of the sentence is the predicate if that is what a subject is. A predicate is the final clause of the sentence, which includes a verb and additional details about the subject or action being carried out.

A predicate is defined as "a part of a sentence containing a verb that makes a statement about the subject of the verb, such as 'went home' in Rohan went home," and a predicate is defined as "the part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said of the subject and that usually consists of a verb with or without objects, complements, or adverbial modifiers." A predicate is, at its most fundamental level, what the subject performs. It includes the verb as well as any modifiers or objects that fall under the verb's control.

A predicate in the following example could be just one verb.

Example of Subject and Predicate:

• Sita ran.

"Sita" is the subject and "ran" is the verb in this particular instance. The word "ran" is used as the predicate.

Along with the verb, a predicate may also contain other modifiers that describe what the subject performs. It is referred to as a complete predicate.

• Sita ran fast.

In this instance, "Sita" is the subject and "ran fast" is the predicate. Here, the adverb "fast" refers to how Sita ran.

Predicates in Sentences Examples:

• Rohan
• Rohan chewed loudly.
• Rohan chewed the food loudly.
• Rohan chewed the food loudly in front of the guests.

Each italicised phrase is predicate.

A predicate can appear in either an Independent or Dependent clause.

Example of Predicate in Independent Clause:

• Sita jumped.
• Rohan ate the food loudly.
• Ravi sleeps.
• Charu walks fast.
• Rohan laughed.
• Shivam cried.
• Vishal slept.

Example of Predicate in dependent Clause:

• Because she woke up late, Sita had to cancel the plan.

There are two predicates in the preceding example.

The predicate is contained in the independent clause (the part of the phrase following the comma): "had to cancel the plan." This is specifically what Sita does.

The sentence's underlined part is a dependent clause. It includes the predicate "woke up late." The subject of the conversation is "she" in this case.

Different Types of Predicates

1. Simple Predicates

What exactly is a simple predicate? A simple predicate is exactly what its name implies: simple. The simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase without any objects, modifiers, or other qualifiers.

A single word can be used as a simple predicate. This single word will always function as a verb.

• Rita went.

The verb "went" serves as the predicate in this case.

• Deva laughed.

The verb "laughed" serves as the predicate in this case.

• Kartik jumped.

The verb "jumped" serves as the predicate in this case.

• Vartika baked.

The verb "baked" serves as the predicate in this case.

Predicates of Verb Phrases:

A simple predicate can also be a verb phrase if there are no objects, modifiers, etc.

• Rita has gone.

The simple predicate in this case is two words long and includes the verb phrase "has gone."

• Vishal has eaten.

The simple predicate in this case is two words long and includes the verb phrase "has eaten."

• Rita has awakened.

The simple predicate in this case is two words long and includes the verb phrase "has awakened."

• Rita has jumped.

The simple predicate in this case is two words long and includes the verb phrase "has jumped."

Predicates with multiple words:

A predicate can also consist of multiple words. This will have at least one verb or verb phrase.

• Rita went to a concert.

The predicate in this case is the verb "went" and the prepositional phrase "to a concert."

• Rita has gone to a concert.

The predicate in this case is the verb phrase "has gone" followed by the prepositional phrase "to a concert."

• Rita has been to a concert.

The predicate in this case is the verb phrase "has been" followed by the prepositional phrase "to a concert."

2. Compound Predicates

What do compound predicates mean? A compound predicate has more than one verb. A compound predicate can comprise any version of the predicates outlined above (except simple predicate), as long as it contains more than one verb.

Examples of Compound Predicates:

Here are some examples of how to use the verbs "to run" and "to win:"

• Aman ran and won. (more than one verb)
• Aman has run and won. (more than one verb with verb phrase)
• Aman ran and won the match gracefully. (more than one verb and multi-word)

3. Predicate Adjective

An adjective predicate, what is it? An adjective that serves as a predicate alters the verb's subject. Following the linking verb is the predicate adjective.

Predicate Adjective Examples:

• Charu is beautiful.

In this illustration, "Charu" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. Following the linking verb is the adjective "beautiful," which describes the subject "Charu."

• Aarti is excited.

In this illustration, "Aarti" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. Following the linking verb is the adjective "excited," which describes the subject "Aarti."

• Lina is angry.

In this illustration, "Lina" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. Following the linking verb is the adjective "angry," which describes the subject "Lina."

• Vishal is happy.

In this illustration, "Vishal" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. Following the linking verb is the adjective "happy," which describes the subject "Vishal."

4. Predicate Nominative

What is the nominative predicate? A noun that renames the subject is known as a predicate nominative. A connecting verb is followed by a predicate nominative.

Predicate Nominative Examples:

• Rohan is the captain.

In this illustration, "Rohan" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. The word "Captain" follows the linking verb and renames the subject "Rohan."

• Saru is a chef.

In this illustration, "Saru" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. The word "Chef" follows the linking verb and renames the subject "Saru."

• Ram is a professor.

In this illustration, "Ram" is the subject and "is" is the connecting verb. The word "Professor" follows the linking verb and renames the subject "Ram."

• Sara is a doctor.

In this illustration, "Sara" is the subject, and "is" is the connecting verb. The word "Doctor" follows the linking verb and renames the subject "Sara."

The Traditional Grammar

Aristotelian logic is where the concept of a predicate originated in conventional grammar. A property that a subject possesses or is associated with is referred to as a predicate. Thus, an assertion that can be true of something is referred to as a predicate. Everything that is moving is considered to be moving when the phrase "is moving" is used. This ancient conception of predicates was more or less immediately incorporated into Latin and Greek grammar.

From there, it spread to English grammar, where it is directly used to analyze sentence construction. It also entails comprehending predicates as they are described in dictionaries of the English language. One of the two essential components of a sentence, together with the subject (which the predicate changes), is the predicate.