The Sentence’s Action Hero: Understanding Predicates
Remember: What Makes a Sentence?
A sentence needs two main parts to express a complete thought:
- Subject: The who or what the sentence is about.
- Predicate: The part of the sentence that tells us something about the subject.
The Predicate’s Role
Think of the predicate as the action hero of the sentence. It tells us:
- What the subject does (action)
- What the subject is (state of being)
Finding the Predicate
The predicate is everything in the sentence that is NOT the subject. It usually starts with a verb.
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Example 1: The cat chased the mouse.
- The subject is “The cat.” The predicate is “chased the mouse.”
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Example 2: Maria is a talented singer.
- The subject is “Maria.” The predicate is “is a talented singer.”
Types of Predicates
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Verb as Predicate: The simplest predicate is just a verb.
- Examples: The dog barked. She laughs.
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Verb Phrase as Predicate: This includes a verb and any words that help it (helping verbs or auxiliary verbs).
- Examples: They are eating dinner. We have finished our work.
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Complete Predicate: This includes the verb (or verb phrase) AND everything else that tells about the subject.
- Examples: The cat chased the mouse under the table. Maria is a talented singer with a beautiful voice.
Let’s Practice!
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Underline the Predicate: In the following sentences, underline the predicate.
- The sun shines brightly.
- The birds are singing a sweet song.
- The children played in the park all afternoon.
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Complete the Sentence: Fill in the blank with an appropriate predicate.
- The teacher _______. (explained the lesson)
- The flowers _______. (are blooming)
- We _______. (will go to the beach tomorrow)
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Make Your Own Sentences: Write three sentences. Make sure each sentence has a clear subject and predicate.
Remember: The subject and predicate work together to make a complete sentence. Think of the subject as the star, and the predicate as the action or description that brings the sentence to life!
