Predicates

Predicates

part two of the sentence

The Sentence

every sentence is made of two parts: the subject and the predicate

Open Ended

What is the simple subject in the following sentence: The long-haired Orange cat is my favorite.

The Predicate

• the predicate tells something or asks something about the subject

• For example: The house is blue. "is blue" = the predicate. It tells something about the subject (the house).

Multiple Choice

What is the predicate in the following sentence: The phone in his pocket rang.

• phone

• pocket

• rang

There are two types of predicates

• simple predicate - otherwise known as THE VERB. The cell phone on the table rang. rang = simple predicate

• complete predicate - tells the whole story of what is happening to the subject of the sentence. It consists of a verb and all the words that describe the verb and its meaning.

• Example: The cell phone on the table rang with a shrill loud sound. rang with a shrill loud sound = complete predicate

Multiple Choice

What is the complete predicate in this sentence: George Washington wanted flags for the army during the American Revolution.

• wanted

• wanted flags for the army

• for the army during the American Revolution

• wanted flags for the army during the American Revolution.

The Verb Phrase

Some simple predicates, or verbs, consist of more than one word. Such verbs are called VERB PHRASES. VERB PHRASES include one or more helping verbs.

Example: Katie is riding the big Ferris wheel. "is riding" is the verb phrase and the entire phrase is the simple predicate.

Open Ended

What is the verb phrase in the following sentence: They were taken by our science teacher.

Compound Subjects

consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction AND that have the same verb. AND and OR are most commonly used to join compound subjects.

**Remember to find the subject of a sentence, find the main verb first! Then ask who or what before the verb.

Example: Paris and London are my favorite cities.

Compound Verbs

consists of two or more VERBS that are joined by a conjunction and that have the same subject. The most commonly used conjunctions to connect compound VERBS ARE and, OR and BUT.

Example: The team played well but lost the game anyway.

Multiple Choice

The thunderstorm brought lots of rain.

Which part is the PREDICATE?

• The thunderstorm

• brought lots of rain.

Multiple Choice

The pencil broke in my hand.

Which part is the PREDICATE?

• The pencil

• broke in my hand.

Multiple Choice

The tall oak trees blow in the wind.

Which part is the PREDICATE?

• The tall oak trees

• blow in the wind.