Subject and Predicate: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Sentence Structure

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 6 min read

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Understanding sentence structure is an important part of learning any language. One of the basic building blocks of a sentence is the subject and predicate. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore these concepts and their various forms in a simple and relatable manner. Let's dive in!

Defining Subject and Predicate

In this section, we'll define the terms subject and predicate and discuss their roles in sentence construction. By the end of this section, you'll have a solid understanding of these fundamental concepts and be one step closer to mastering sentence structure.

What is a Subject?

The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. It answers the question "who" or "what" the sentence is focused on. Here are some examples of subjects in sentences:

Tom ate the apple.
The dog barked loudly.
Books can transport you to another world.

As you can see, the subject is the main focus of the sentence and sets the stage for the information that follows.

What is a Predicate?

The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells us something about the subject. It usually contains a verb and provides information about what the subject is doing or what state it is in. Here are some examples of predicates in sentences, with the verbs in bold:

Tom ate the apple.
The dog barked loudly.
Books can transport you to another world.

The predicate provides essential information about the subject and helps to complete the meaning of the sentence.

Now that we've defined the subject and predicate, let's explore their different forms and how they work together in sentences. In the next sections, we'll discuss simple and complete subjects and predicates, as well as compound subjects and predicates.

Simple and Complete Subjects and Predicates

In this section, we'll discuss the differences between simple and complete subjects and predicates. Understanding these distinctions will help you identify and analyze more complex sentence structures.

Simple Subjects

A simple subject is the main noun or pronoun in the subject part of the sentence. It doesn't include any modifiers or additional details. Here are some examples of simple subjects:

Tom ate the apple.
The dog barked loudly.
Books can transport you to another world.

In these examples, the simple subjects are "Tom," "dog," and "books." They are the main focus of the sentences without any additional information.

Complete Subjects

A complete subject consists of the simple subject and all its modifiers or additional details. Here are some examples of complete subjects:

Tom ate the apple.
The big, brown dog barked loudly.
Well-written books can transport you to another world.

In these examples, the complete subjects are "Tom," "the big, brown dog," and "well-written books." They provide more information about the main focus of the sentences.

Simple Predicates

A simple predicate is the main verb in the predicate part of the sentence. It doesn't include any additional details or modifiers. Here are some examples of simple predicates, with the verbs in bold:

Tom ate the apple.
The dog barked loudly.
Books transport you to another world.

In these examples, the simple predicates are "ate," "barked," and "transport." They tell us what the subjects are doing without any additional information.

Complete Predicates

A complete predicate consists of the simple predicate and all its modifiers or additional details. Here are some examples of complete predicates, with the verbs in bold:

Tom ate the apple.
The dog barked loudly.
Books can transport you to another world.

In these examples, the complete predicates are "ate the apple," "barked loudly," and "can transport you to another world." They provide more information about what the subjects are doing or what state they are in.

With a better understanding of simple and complete subjects and predicates, let's move on to compound subjects and predicates, which add more complexity to sentence structure.

Compound Subjects and Predicates

Compound subjects and predicates add complexity to sentence structures by combining multiple subjects or predicates within a single sentence. This can help create more varied and interesting sentences. Let's explore these concepts further.

Compound Subjects

A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects connected by a coordinating conjunction, such as "and," "or," or "nor." Here are some examples of compound subjects:

Tom and Jane went to the store.
Neither the dog nor the cat seemed interested in the toy.
Books, movies, and music can be entertaining.

In these examples, the compound subjects are "Tom and Jane," "neither the dog nor the cat," and "books, movies, and music." They contain multiple simple subjects, making the sentences more engaging.

Compound Predicates

A compound predicate consists of two or more simple predicates connected by a coordinating conjunction, such as "and," "or," or "nor." Here are some examples of compound predicates, with the verbs in bold:

Tom ate the apple and drank some water.
The dog barked loudly but did not chase the squirrel.
Books transport you to another world or inspire you to create your own.

In these examples, the compound predicates are "ate the apple and drank some water," "barked loudly but did not chase the squirrel," and "transport you to another world or inspire you to create your own." They contain multiple simple predicates, making the sentences more dynamic.

Now that you're familiar with compound subjects and predicates, it's important to understand how subjects and predicates agree in sentences. This will help you create grammatically correct and coherent sentences.

Subject and Predicate Agreement

Subject and predicate agreement is essential for creating clear and accurate sentences. Ensuring that your subjects and predicates agree will help your writing be more easily understood by readers. Let's explore the rules for subject and predicate agreement.

Singular and Plural Agreement

When dealing with subject and predicate agreement, it's essential to match singular subjects with singular predicates and plural subjects with plural predicates. Take a look at these examples:

The dog barks loudly. (singular subject and predicate)
The dogs bark loudly. (plural subject and predicate)

In the first example, "dog" is a singular subject and "barks" is a singular predicate. In the second example, "dogs" is a plural subject and "bark" is a plural predicate. Notice how the subject and predicate agree in number.

Irregular Verb Agreement

Irregular verbs are verbs that don't follow the standard rules for forming past tense and past participle forms. When dealing with irregular verbs, it's crucial to ensure that the subject and predicate still agree. Consider these examples:

She writes a letter every week. (singular subject and predicate)
They write letters every week. (plural subject and predicate)
She has written a letter every week. (singular subject and predicate)
They have written letters every week. (plural subject and predicate)

Here, "write" is an irregular verb. Notice how the verb form changes depending on the subject ("she" or "they") to maintain subject and predicate agreement.

By understanding subject and predicate agreement, you can create well-structured sentences that are easy to read and understand. To further improve your understanding of subjects and predicates, consider the following resources for additional learning.

Resources for Further Learning

Now that you have a solid understanding of subject and predicate agreement, you may want to explore additional resources to continue learning and improving your grammar skills. The following resources can help you expand your knowledge of subjects and predicates, as well as other aspects of grammar.

Grammar Books

Grammar books are an excellent resource for learning more about subjects and predicates, as well as other grammar concepts. Some popular grammar books include:

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, and Tom Stern

These books provide useful tips, examples, and explanations to help you further understand subjects, predicates, and other grammar rules.

Online Courses

Online courses offer an interactive way to learn more about subjects and predicates. Many platforms offer grammar courses, including:

Udemy - Offers various grammar courses, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Coursera - Provides a range of courses from top universities, covering subjects like grammar, writing, and language learning.

These courses often include instructional videos, quizzes, and assignments to help you practice and strengthen your understanding of subjects and predicates.

Language Apps

Language apps can be a fun and engaging way to improve your grammar skills, including your understanding of subjects and predicates. Some popular language apps are:

Duolingo - Offers short, interactive lessons on various aspects of grammar, including subjects and predicates, as well as vocabulary and pronunciation.
Grammarly - A writing assistant that helps you identify and correct grammar mistakes, including subject and predicate agreement, in your writing.

By using these resources, you can continue to improve your understanding of subjects and predicates, as well as other essential grammar concepts, and become a more skilled writer.

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