Subject and predicate – what you need to know

Role of subject and predicate in a sentence

Clear communication is a core skill that can help you accomplish a wide range of personal and professional goals. One of the best ways to improve your communication skills is by learning basic sentence structure & vocabulary. This is precisely where the concept of subject and predicate comes into the picture! Knowledge of these terms and what they symbolize can help construct sentences as clearly and concisely as possible. The subject and predicate are parts of a sentence that describe how individuals construct sentences from smaller pieces of information. 

Keep reading to learn more! 

What is the subject and predicate of a sentence? 

Every complete sentence is divided into two parts – the subject and the predicate. Understanding the subject and predicate is crucial in developing grammatically correct and coherent sentences. By identifying the subject and predicate, a sentence can be structured to convey meaning and clarity.

Identifying the subject of a sentence is crucial in comprehending the meaning of a sentence. The subject is the foundation of any sentence. It is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is focused on and the main character of the sentence. The subject can be a person, place, thing, or idea. It usually comes at the beginning of a sentence, and the predicate follows it.

The predicate, on the other hand, is the part of the sentence that describes the action or state of being of the subject. It includes the verb and any other words that modify or describe the action or state of being of the subject. The predicate is an essential component of a sentence because it helps provide more details and information about the subject.

The concept can be better understood with the following examples- 

In the sentence “the dog is sleeping in the sunshine,” the word ‘dog’ is the subject of the sentence. The predicate of the sentence is what the subject is or what it is doing. Therefore, the clause ‘sleeping in the sunshine’ is the predicate in this sentence. 

What are the different types of subject and predicate? 

Typically, the subject division is into three groups- 

1. Simple subject (where only the subject is present)

Example – Sarah is washing her bike. 

In this sentence, the word ‘Sarah’ is a simple subject. 

2. Complete subject (a subject with a modifier) 

Example – The wise woman called for an ambulance immediately! 

The words ‘the wise woman’ constitute a complete subject in this sentence. 

3. Compound subject (typically two or more subjects joined with a conjunction) 

For example – Christmas and Easter are my favorite holidays! 

In this sentence, ‘Christmas and Easter’ are compound subjects. 

Similarly, predicates are into three core groups- 

1. Simple predicate (where only the verb is present) 

Example – Susan is washing the dishes. 

In this sentence, ‘washing the dishes’ is a simple predicate. 

2. Complete predicate (verbs that are present with a modifier) 

Example – She and her brother always quarrel over the smallest of things. 

In this sentence, ‘always quarrel over the smallest of things’ is a complete predicate. 

3. Compound predicate (two or more verbs that connect with a conjunction) 

Example – Tim enjoys cooking but hates the mess involved. 

In this sentence, ‘loves cooking’ and ‘hates the mess’ are compound predicates joined by a conjunction. 

Examples in different sentences 

Cement your understanding of the concept of subject and predicate by looking at the following examples- 

1. The earth is round. 

Subject – The earth 

Predicate – Is round

2. Tommy plays the piano. 

Subject – Tommy

Predicate – Plays the piano

3. My family is watching the movie. 

Subject – My family 

Predicate – Watching the movie

4. The woman heard a loud noise! 

Subject – The woman

Predicate – heard a loud noise!

5. These flowers smell nice. 

Subject – These flowers

Predicate – Smell nice 

Understanding the concept of subject and predicate can help streamline your communication, making it a lot easier to understand! 

Key takeaways 

• Learning all relevant rules in the English language can help you communicate effectively and without errors. 
• The subject and predicate are essential parts of a sentence that contribute to helping you understand the message being conveyed. 
• Develop your skills in recognizing subjects and predicates by investing efforts in familiarizing yourself with the concept thoroughly. 

English is not just another language, it affects your education and career as well. So to excel in both English and life, connect with our counselor and get the best guidance.

Like this blog? Read next: 5 English learning books to boost your language skills

Can a sentence have more than one subject or predicate? Yes, a sentence can have more than one subject or predicate. When a sentence has multiple subjects, it is referred to as a compound subject. Similarly, when a sentence has multiple predicates, it is referred to as a compound predicate. Compound subjects and predicates can be used to add variety and complexity to writing.

What is the difference between a simple subject and a complete subject? The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, while the complete subject includes all the words that describe or modify the simple subject. For example, in the sentence “The big brown dog barked loudly,” “dog” is the simple subject, while “The big brown dog” is the complete subject.

FAQs

Can a sentence have more than one subject or predicate?

Yes, a sentence can have more than one subject or predicate. When a sentence has multiple subjects, it is referred to as a compound subject. Similarly, when a sentence has multiple predicates, it is referred to as a compound predicate. Compound subjects and predicates can be used to add variety and complexity to writing.

What is the difference between a simple subject and a complete subject?

The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, while the complete subject includes all the words that describe or modify the simple subject. For example, in the sentence “The big brown dog barked loudly,” “dog” is the simple subject, while “The big brown dog” is the complete subject.

How can understanding the subject and predicate help in identifying sentence fragments?

A sentence fragment is a group of words that is not a complete sentence because it lacks either a subject or a predicate. By understanding the components of a sentence, individuals can identify sentence fragments and revise them into complete sentences. For example, the phrase “Running in the park” is a fragment because it lacks a subject and predicate. By adding a subject and predicate, such as “I enjoy running in the park,” the sentence becomes complete.