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Predictaes types
There are two essential building blocks in every sentence: the subject and the predicate. While the subject of the sentence is responsible for containing “who” or “what” is performing the action or experiencing a particular state in the sentence, the predicate is responsible for describing the action performed or state experienced by the subject. When joined together, subjects and predicates create a complete thought. When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here.
What We Review
The Basics of Predicates
What is a Predicate?
What are the different types of predicates?
How are predicates different from subjects?
3 Tips for Understanding Predicates
Tip #1. Predicates always describe an action or a state of being
Tip #2. Predicates are made up of the main verb and all of its objects and/or modifiers
Tip #3. The predicate does not always come after the subject of the sentence
Applying the Basics: Predicate Review & Practice
The Ultimate List of Predicates
Predicate Exercises and Review
Try for Yourself: Predicates Quiz
Teacher’s Corner for Predicates
Summary for Predicates
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The predicate of a sentence describes either what the subject is doing or the state of the subject. The predicate must always contain a verb, but it can also include objects, either direct or indirect, and different types of modifiers, such as adverbs, prepositional phrases, or objects.
For example:
The ballerina twirled gracefully across the stage.
In this sentence, the predicate begins with the verb, “twirled”, which describes what the subject is doing. The predicate also includes how and where the ballerina twirled: gracefully and across the stage.
What are the different types of predicates?
Predicates can be divided into two main categories: action and state of being.
Predicates that describe an action can be simple, compound, or complete.
A simple predicate is a verb or verb phrase without any modifiers or objects.
For example:
Remy cooked.
A compound predicate is a combination of two or more verbs or verb phrases.
For example:
Remy cooked and baked.
A complete predicate includes a verb or verb phrase with modifiers and/or objects.
For example:
Remy cooked a delicious soup and baked a mouth-watering ratatouille for the food critic.
In this sentence, not only are there compound predicates, but there are also two direct objects and a prepositional phrase, making this a complete predicate.
Predicates that describe a state of being are labeled as predicate adjectives or predicate nominatives.
Predicate adjectives follow linking verbs to describe how the subject is feeling or how the subject appears.
For example:
She was exhausted.
The linking verb, “was”, begins the predicate and is followed by a predicate adjective that describes how the subject is feeling.
Predicate nominatives also follow linking verbs, but these are used to rename or label the subject with another noun.
For example:
She is the cheer captain.
In this sentence, the linking verb, “is”, begins the predicate and is followed by a predicate nominative, or noun, that renames the subject and is not considered a direct object.
While the predicate of a sentence describes an action or state of being, the subject lets the reader know who or what is doing the action or experiencing the state of being.
Usually, the subject appears before the predicate in a sentence, but this is not always the case! That is why it is very important to know the functions of both subjects and predicates to avoid confusion.
When predicates appear before subjects in sentences, it is usually an example of inverted syntax. Sometimes writers “invert,” or flip-flop, the normal flow of a sentence to draw attention to certain words.
Think Yoda-speak whenever you think about inverted syntax: For example:
Patience you must have, my young padawan.
This sentence contains an example of a predicate adjective. “You” is the subject, and the verb phrase is “must have”, but since the predicate adjective appears out of place before the subject, the reader is forced to look twice.
Yoda speaks this way on purpose; he wants Luke Skywalker to pay attention to the most important word in the sentence, which is “patience”. When authors use inverted syntax, it is for this same reason.
Predicates always describe an action or a state of being
For example:
In the abandoned mansion on the hill, I saw a flickering candle.
In this sentence, the complete predicate describes the action of the subject, “I”, and includes both an object and prepositional phrases acting as modifiers.
Here is another example:
Upon seeing the light, I was terrified.
In this sentence, a predicate adjective is used along with a linking verb to describe how the subject feels.
Tip #2. Predicates are made up of the main verb and all of its objects and/or modifiers
For example:
I silently approached the rotting doorway of the mansion and knocked.
In this sentence, there is a compound predicate that describes the two actions performed by the subject, “approached” and “knocked”, an adverb modifying the first verb, “silently”, as well as an object: “the rotting doorway of the mansion”.
Tip #3. The predicate does not always come after the subject of the sentence
For example, in one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poems, “The Raven”, a line is repeated over and over:
“Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore’.”
In this sentence, Poe wants to emphasize that the Raven only ever says one word in response to the narrator’s endless questioning, which in turn drives the narrator into madness. Therefore, he places the predicate, “quoth” (which in Modern English means “said”) before the subject, “Raven” to emphasize the direct object or what the subject says over and over again.
ow that you understand how predicates function in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize predicates.
The Ultimate List of Predicates
Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Predicates:
This list, obviously, does not include all possible predicates; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while differentiating predicates from subjects.
Predicate Exercises and Review
Now that you know some common predicates, test your ability to find these in the context of sentences.
Select the predicate in the sentences below. Remember, predicates describe an action performed by the subject or a state of being experienced by the subject and include all modifiers and objects.
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