English:Subjects and Predicates
Subjects and Predicates
Introduction
Every complete sentence shares a message. In many sentences, that message has two main parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. The predicate tells what the subject does, is, has, or feels.
In the sentence The curious fox waited beside the stream, the complete subject is The curious fox. The complete predicate is waited beside the stream. Learning to find these parts helps you read carefully, write complete sentences, and check subject-verb agreement.
By the end of this aiMOOC, you should be able to identify simple and complete subjects, identify simple and complete predicates, explain how subjects and verbs work together, recognize compound parts and understood subjects, and revise sentence fragments.
The Two Main Parts of a Sentence
A sentence expresses a complete thought. In traditional school grammar, a sentence usually contains a subject and a predicate.
| Sentence part | Main question | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Who or what is the sentence about? | The small robot carried a box. |
| Predicate | What does the subject do, feel, have, or seem to be? | The small robot carried a box. |
The following diagram shows how one English sentence can divide into a noun phrase and a predicate or verb phrase. You do not need to memorize every label. Notice the two large branches.
Finding the Subject
To find the subject, first locate the verb. Then ask, “Who or what is doing this action?” or “Who or what is being described?”
Example: The bright stars sparkle at night.
The verb is sparkle. What sparkles? The bright stars. Therefore, The bright stars is the complete subject.
The subject is often a noun, a pronoun, or a noun phrase. It is not always the first word in a sentence.
Finding the Predicate
The predicate always contains a verb. It may also contain objects, complements, adverbs, or prepositional phrases.
Example: The bright stars sparkle at night.
The subject is The bright stars. Everything that tells what the stars do forms the complete predicate: sparkle at night.
Simple and Complete Subjects
The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun in the complete subject. The complete subject includes the simple subject and all words that describe or limit it.
| Sentence | Simple subject | Complete subject |
|---|---|---|
| The tall sunflower leaned toward the window. | sunflower | The tall sunflower |
| My two best friends joined the club. | friends | My two best friends |
| Several noisy geese crossed the road. | geese | Several noisy geese |
In a subject that is not compound, one noun or pronoun is usually the simple subject. In The three spotted puppies slept, the simple subject is puppies, not three or spotted.
Simple and Complete Predicates
The simple predicate is the main verb or complete verb phrase. The complete predicate includes the simple predicate and all words that tell what the subject does or is.
| Sentence | Simple predicate | Complete predicate |
|---|---|---|
| The tall sunflower leaned toward the window. | leaned | leaned toward the window |
| My two best friends have joined the club. | have joined | have joined the club |
| Several noisy geese crossed the road slowly. | crossed | crossed the road slowly |
A verb phrase may contain a helping verb. In Mina will finish the poster, the simple predicate is will finish.
A Sentence Tree
A sentence tree is one way to show how words belong together. In the diagram below, John is the subject noun phrase. Hit the ball is the verb phrase, which works as the predicate in traditional grammar.
Linking Verbs and Descriptions
A predicate does not always show an action. A linking verb connects the subject to a word or phrase that describes or renames it.
Examples:
| Sentence | Subject | Predicate |
|---|---|---|
| The soup smells delicious. | The soup | smells delicious |
| Our classroom is quiet. | Our classroom | is quiet |
| Jamal became captain. | Jamal | became captain |
The words delicious, quiet, and captain complete the meaning of their linking verbs. They are part of the complete predicate.
Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates
A compound subject has two or more simple subjects that share one predicate. They are often joined by and or or.
Example: Lena and Marco built a model.
The compound subject is Lena and Marco. The predicate is built a model.
A compound predicate has two or more verbs or verb phrases that share one subject.
Example: The dog barked and chased the squirrel.
The subject is The dog. The compound predicate is barked and chased the squirrel.
A sentence may contain both a compound subject and a compound predicate: Lena and Marco planned and built the model.
Subjects in Questions and Commands
Questions
In a question, part of the predicate may appear before the subject.
Question: Did the students finish the experiment?
The helping verb Did comes first. Turn the question into a statement: The students did finish the experiment. Now the subject, the students, is easier to find.
Commands
A command often has an understood subject. The subject is you, even when the word is not written.
Command: Close the door gently.
The understood subject is you. The complete predicate is close the door gently.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Do Not Choose a Noun Inside a Prepositional Phrase
A prepositional phrase may appear before the subject.
Example: Near the old bridge, a heron waited.
The phrase Near the old bridge tells where. The subject is a heron, and the predicate is waited.
Do Not Confuse an Object with the Subject
An object receives the action of the verb.
Example: The goalkeeper caught the ball.
The goalkeeper performs the action, so The goalkeeper is the subject. The ball receives the action, so it is the object. It remains part of the complete predicate: caught the ball.
Watch for Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is an incomplete group of words that is punctuated like a sentence.
Fragment: The children in the garden.
This group has a subject but no predicate. You can repair it by adding a predicate: The children in the garden planted beans.
Fragment: Ran across the field.
This group has a predicate but no written or understood subject. You can repair it by adding a subject: The horse ran across the field.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and verb must agree in number. A singular subject normally takes a singular present-tense verb. A plural subject normally takes a plural present-tense verb.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| The bird sings. | The birds sing. |
| She has a notebook. | They have notebooks. |
| The puppy is playful. | The puppies are playful. |
Words between the subject and verb do not change the agreement.
Correct: The box of old photographs belongs to my aunt.
The subject is box, not photographs, so the singular verb belongs is correct.
A Reliable Five-Step Method
- Find the verb or verb phrase: Look for the action word or linking verb.
- Ask who or what: Decide who performs the action or is being described.
- Collect the subject words: Include words that describe or limit the simple subject.
- Collect the predicate words: Include the verb and all words that complete its meaning.
- Check the sentence: Confirm that the thought is complete and that the subject agrees with the verb.
Worked Examples
| Sentence | Complete subject | Simple subject | Complete predicate | Simple predicate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The new science teacher explained the project clearly. | The new science teacher | teacher | explained the project clearly | explained |
| Across the pond swam three tiny ducks. | three tiny ducks | ducks | Across the pond swam | swam |
| Have your cousins visited the museum? | your cousins | cousins | Have visited the museum | Have visited |
| Please carry the boxes inside. | understood you | you | Please carry the boxes inside | carry |
| The moon and stars appeared and vanished behind the clouds. | The moon and stars | moon and stars | appeared and vanished behind the clouds | appeared and vanished |
In the second example, the subject comes after the verb. In the third, part of the predicate comes before the subject because the sentence is a question. In the fourth, the command has the understood subject you.
Interactive Tasks
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
What does the subject of a sentence usually tell? (Who or what the sentence is about) (!When the sentence was written) (!How many words the sentence has) (!Which punctuation mark ends it)
What must every predicate contain? (A verb) (!A title) (!A quotation) (!A question mark)
What is the simple subject in The three playful kittens chased a leaf? (kittens) (!three) (!playful) (!leaf)
What is the complete subject in My older brother rides a bicycle? (My older brother) (!brother) (!rides) (!rides a bicycle)
What is the simple predicate in The musicians have practiced all week? (have practiced) (!musicians) (!all week) (!The musicians)
What is the complete predicate in The red kite flew above the trees? (flew above the trees) (!The red kite) (!kite) (!above the trees)
Which sentence has a compound subject? (Maya and Theo planted seeds) (!Maya planted and watered seeds) (!The seeds grew quickly) (!Plant the seeds carefully)
Which sentence has a compound predicate? (The rabbit hopped and disappeared) (!The rabbit and squirrel hopped) (!The small rabbit hopped) (!A rabbit near the fence)
What is the understood subject in Open your notebook? (you) (!notebook) (!open) (!your)
Which group of words is a complete sentence? (The bright moon lit the path) (!Under the bright moon) (!The path through the woods) (!Shining above the trees)
Memory Game
| Simple subject | Main noun or pronoun in the subject |
| Complete subject | Subject plus all its describing words |
| Simple predicate | Main verb or verb phrase |
| Complete predicate | Verb plus all words that complete its meaning |
| Compound subject | Two or more subjects sharing one predicate |
| Compound predicate | Two or more verbs sharing one subject |
Drag and Drop
| Match the correct terms. | Topic |
|---|---|
| Names who or what the sentence is about | Subject |
| Contains the main action or linking word | Predicate |
| Main noun or pronoun | Simple subject |
| Main verb or verb phrase | Simple predicate |
| Missing a subject or predicate | Sentence fragment |
Match each explanation with the correct grammar term.
Crossword Puzzle
| Subject | What names who or what a sentence is about? |
| Predicate | What tells what the subject does or is? |
| Verb | What word shows action or a state of being? |
| Noun | What word can name a person, place, thing, or idea? |
| Agreement | What relationship makes a subject and verb match in number? |
| Fragment | What incomplete word group may be missing a subject or predicate? |
LearningApps
Cloze Text
Open-Ended Tasks
Easy
- Subject hunt: Choose a short paragraph, underline every complete subject, and circle each simple subject.
- Predicate hunt: Copy six sentences from a book and label the complete and simple predicate in each one.
- Sentence match cards: Make five subject cards and five predicate cards, then combine them into complete and funny sentences.
- Grammar picture captions: Draw four simple scenes and write one sentence for each, marking the subject and predicate.
Standard
- Sentence repair workshop: Rewrite eight fragments as complete sentences and explain what each fragment was missing.
- Classroom grammar interview: Ask three classmates how they find subjects and predicates, then compare their strategies in a short report.
- Compound sentence poster: Create a poster that teaches compound subjects and compound predicates with original examples.
- Question and command video: Record a two-minute teaching video that explains subjects in questions and commands.
Advanced
- Paragraph revision project: Revise a paragraph with unclear or repetitive sentences by changing subjects and predicates while keeping the meaning.
- Subject-verb agreement investigation: Collect ten authentic sentences from signs, websites, or school texts and evaluate their subject-verb agreement.
- Grammar game design: Design and test a board or digital game in which players identify and build subjects and predicates.
- Sentence structure field study: Compare subject and predicate patterns in a news report, a story, and an instruction text, then present your findings.
Learning Assessment
- Sentence analysis: Analyze five unfamiliar sentences by identifying complete and simple subjects, complete and simple predicates, and any objects.
- Error diagnosis: Explain why four given fragments are incomplete, repair each one, and justify every change.
- Agreement transfer: Revise a paragraph so that every subject agrees with its verb, including sentences with prepositional phrases between them.
- Structure comparison: Compare a statement, a question, and a command, explaining how word order or an understood subject changes the analysis.
- Writing application: Write a clear eight-sentence paragraph that includes a compound subject, a compound predicate, a linking verb, and a command.
- Peer explanation: Teach a partner a reliable method for finding subjects and predicates, then use feedback to improve your explanation.
Evidence of Learning
| Area | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | You accurately explain subjects, predicates, simple parts, complete parts, compounds, understood subjects, and agreement. |
| Skills | You identify sentence parts, distinguish subjects from objects, repair fragments, and explain your reasoning. |
| Products | You produce marked texts, posters, captions, videos, games, reports, or revised paragraphs. |
| Communication | You use correct grammar terms and support answers with evidence from sentences. |
| Transfer | You apply sentence analysis when reading, editing, and writing in English, science, social studies, and other subjects. |
OERs on the Topic
The following English Wikipedia article gives a deeper explanation of grammatical subjects. You can also explore predicates, English grammar, and syntax.
Linked Learning Areas