The Predicate of the Sentence Is: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know what a predicate is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on predicate, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What is a predicate?

According to Collins English Dictionary, a predicate is the part of a sentence or clause that is not the subject of the sentence, but the part in which something is said about the subject. There are different types of predicates, including a complete predicate, predicate of a proposition, compound predicate, and more. These can include a dependent clause with a verb phrase, linking verb, indirect-object, direct-object, independent clauses, a proposition and more in the main parts of a sentence. A predicate turns a fragment into a complete sentence.  In English grammar, a simple predicate or a compound predicate are both useful. Each of these can come after a comma or have a modifier.

Different parts of sentences have different roles. A simple subject or compound subject formed from a group of words tells us what the sentence is about, while the predicate tells us what is going on. It tells us the state of being of the subject, the form of the verb (such as tenses ending in ing or ed), and the direct object of the verb. Coordinating conjunction can affix the subject to the predicate in complex sentences or a compound sentence. A subject is usually a noun or pronoun modified by an adjective, coupled with a verb modified by an adverb as the predicate to form a complete thought.

Many different languages also contain words that mean predicate. You may notice that some of these translations of predicate look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases in different languages that likely have the same root or language of origin, causing them to sound the same. The below list of translations of predicate is provided by Word Sense

  •  Russian: сказу́емое‎ (neut.), предика́т‎ (masc.)
  •  Irish: faisnéis‎ (fem.)
  •  Romanian: predicat‎ (neut.)
  •  German: Prädikat‎ (neut.)
  •  Swedish: predikat‎ (neut.)
  •  Ukrainian: прису́док‎ (masc.), предика́т‎ (masc.)
  •  Cyrillic: предикат‎ (masc.), прирок‎ (masc.)
  •  Arabic: خَبَر‎ (masc.)
  •  Turkish: yüklem‎
  •  Buryat: хэлэгшэ‎
  •  Esperanto: predikato‎
  •  Czech: přísudek‎ (masc.)
  •  Icelandic: umsögn‎ (fem.), umsagnarliður‎ (masc.)
  •  Southern Altai: айдылаачы‎ (aydılaaçı)
  •  Slovak: prísudok‎ (masc.)
  •  Japanese: 述語‎ (じゅつご, jutsugo)
  •  Kalmyk: келгч‎
  •  Macedonian: при́рок‎ (masc.)
  •  Interlingua: predicato‎
  •  Polish: orzeczenie‎ (neut.)
  •  Finnish: predikaatti‎; predikaattiosa‎
  •  Portuguese: predicado‎ (masc.)
  •  Tagalog: panaguri‎
  •  Mongolian: өгүүлэхүүн‎
  •  Slovene: povedek‎ (masc.)
  •  Hungarian: állítmány‎
  •  Greek: κατηγόρημα‎ (neut.)
  •  Vietnamese: thuộc từ‎, vị ngữ‎
  •  Armenian: ստորոգյալ‎
  •  Spanish: predicado‎ (masc.)
  •  Mandarin: 謂語‎, 谓语‎ (wèiyǔ), 述語‎, 述语‎ (shùyǔ)
  •  Tajik: мустанад‎
  •  Hebrew: נָשׂוּא‎ (nasu)
  •  French: prédicat‎ (masc.)
  •  Dutch: gezegde‎ (neut.)
  •  Korean: 술어‎
  •  Belarusian: выка́знік‎ (masc.), прэдыка́т‎ (masc.)
  •  Roman: predikat‎ (masc.), prirok‎ (masc.)
  •  Ido: predikato‎ (masc.)
  •  Persian: مسند‎
  •  Bulgarian: сказу́емо‎ (neut.)

What are examples of predicates?

Predicates can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or grammatical technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of predicates that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use.  Take a look at these predicate examples from Your Dictionary, Grammar Monster and Thought Co and see how many you can identify the predicate in!

  •   Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and dogs are a man’s best friend. Now you know which sex has more sense. (Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor)
  •  Felix laughed.
  •  My husband has been my strength and stay all these years, and I owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim. (Queen Elizabeth II)
  •  Bosses can be demanding.
  •  We will try harder next time.
  •  Children grow older every day.
  •  Rachel lives in Dublin and speaks Irish.
  •  Kathy has been my neighbor since I moved in.
  •  Wind turbines are a renewable source of power.
  •  John is smart and articulate.
  •  Adam lives in Bangor.
  •  Sandy prefers to run first and then eat breakfast afterward.
  •  The family outran the hurricane.
  •  Jupiter is massive and gaseous.
  •  The lumber is large and heavy.
  •  People can come up with statistics to prove anything. Forty percent of all people know that. (Homer Simpson)
  •  John did his math homework. 
  •  No one is happy all his life long. (Greek actor-tragedian Euripides)
  •  The telegram was late but contained exciting news.
  •  After the long hike up the mountain, the tour group rested and took in the views.
  •  They need to absorb nitrogen and keep above 20 degrees.
  •  The mountain air smells piney and clean.
  •  Elvis lives.
  •  My mother took our dog to the vet for its shots.
  •  The flag is red, white and blue.
  •  We will try.
  •  I have the heart of a man, and I am not afraid of anything. (Queen Elizabeth I)
  •  Winnie will sing.
  •  Apples taste sweet and delicious.
  •  The British constitution has always been puzzling and always will be. (Queen Elizabeth II)
  •  After my workout, I feel powerful and energized.
  •  His stand-up routine proved funny and thought-provoking.
  •  True friends appear less moved than counterfeit. (Greek philosopher Homer)
  •  Rhonda used to be the tallest girl in her class.
  •  I would like to remain anonymous.
  •  The purchase of the black opal ring is extravagant.
  •  Hummingbirds sing with their tail feathers.
  •  Our school cafeteria always smelled like stale cheese and dirty socks.
  •  Time flies.
  •  Mount Rushmore looks amazing.
  •  The grass is always greener on the other side.
  •  I think the house is well-built and affordable.
  •  The climate here appears idyllic and temperate.
  •  The telegram contained exciting news.
  •  Tornadoes appear menacing.
  •  Finally, all the laundry is washed, dried and folded.
  •  Bobo has never driven before.
  •  Pedro has not returned from the store.
  •  My brother flew a helicopter in Iraq.
  •   I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody. (Actor Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy in the 1954 film “On the Waterfront”)
  •  Larry is mortal and his behavior is rude.

Overall, a predicate is used in grammar and logic to refer to the part of a sentence that describes an attribute or makes an assertion about the subject. 

Sources:

  1. Glossary of grammatical terms | OED 
  2. predicate: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  3. Definition and Examples of a Predicate in a Sentence | Thought Co 
  4. Predicate | What Is a Predicate? | Grammar Monster 
  5. Examples of Predicate Nouns in Sentences | Your Dictionary 
  6. Examples of Predicate Adjectives | Your Dictionary 
  7. Predicate Definition & Meaning | Dictionary