Writing: Subject and Predicate

In English grammar, sentence structure is of the utmost importance in conveying clear and concise messages. One of the fundamental keys to unlock that structure is understanding the parts of a sentence. The two primary components that sentences consist of are the subject and the predicate. In this tutorial, we will delve into the definitions, differences, and examples of subject and predicate to ensure you have a clear understanding of how to correctly structure sentences.

Table of Contents

What is a Subject?

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being. It’s typically the part of the sentence that the rest of the sentence tells something about. Essentially, the subject is what (or whom) the sentence is about.

Examples of Subjects

Here are some subject examples:

In the sentence “John reads a book,” the subject is John.
In the sentence “The dog barked loudly,” the subject is the dog.
In the sentence “Love is powerful,” the subject is love.

What is a Predicate?

The predicate of a sentence tells what the subject does or is. It contains the verb and explains the action or state of being expressed in the sentence. At times, the predicate may also include objects or modifiers that provide additional information beyond the basic action.

Examples of Predicates

Here are some predicate examples:

In the sentence “John reads a book,” the predicate is “reads a book.”
In the sentence “The dog barked loudly,” the predicate is “barked loudly.”
In the sentence “Love is powerful,” the predicate is “is powerful.”

Understanding the Different Types of Predicates

There are two main types of predicates: simple predicates and complete predicates.

Simple Predicates

A simple predicate is the main word or words in the predicate part of a sentence. It is always the verb, and it shows the action performed by the subject.

Examples of Simple Predicates

Here are some simple predicate examples:

In the sentence “John reads a book,” the simple predicate is “reads.”
In the sentence “The dog barked loudly,” the simple predicate is “barked.”
In the sentence “Love is powerful,” the simple predicate is “is.”

Complete Predicates

A complete predicate includes not only the verb but also all the words that provide additional information about what the subject does or is. It contains the verb plus any dependent clauses, direct objects, indirect objects, or predicate words.

Examples of Complete Predicates

Here are some examples of complete predicates:

In the sentence “John runs quickly to the store,” the complete predicate is “runs quickly to the store.”
In the sentence “The dog barks loudly when it sees a squirrel,” the complete predicate is “barks loudly when it sees a squirrel.”
In the sentence “Love is a powerful emotion that can change people,” the complete predicate is “is a powerful emotion that can change people.”

Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates

Sometimes a sentence may have more than one subject or predicate. This is called a compound subject or predicate. Compound subjects have two or more subjects that do the same action, while compound predicates have two or more verbs or verb phrases that relate to the same subject.

Examples of Compound Subjects and Predicates

Here are some examples:

In the sentence “John and Mary are friends,” “John and Mary” is the compound subject.
In the sentence “John reads books and writes essays,” “reads books and writes essays” is the compound predicate.

Conclusion

Understanding the subject and predicate of a sentence is fundamental to structuring our thoughts and communicating clearly. By mastering these concepts, you will be able to create and analyze a wide range of sentence structures and enhance your writing skill. Remember, the subject is who or what the sentence is about, and the predicate is what the subject is or does. This core principle will guide you in forming accurate and comprehensive sentences.