Subject and predicate – what you need to know

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. The subject typically refers to what or whom the sentence is all about. The predicate, on the other hand, shares information about the subject. 

A subject is usually referred to by a noun or a pronoun. A predicate usually contains verbs that help the reader understand what the subject is doing. 

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 considered as 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 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 the 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 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 important 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. 

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