Identify the simple subject or predicate of a sentence

Key Notes:-

  • A sentence is a group of words that tells a complete thought. Every sentence has two main parts: the subject and the predicate.
    • Subject: Who or what the sentence is about.
    • Predicate: Tells what the subject is doing or describes the subject.

  • Definition: The simple subject is the main word or words in the subject part of a sentence. It tells who or what the sentence is about.
  • The simple subject is usually a noun (a person, place, or thing) or a pronoun (he, she, it, they).

  • Step 1: Ask, “Who or what is the sentence about?”
  • Step 2: The answer to that question is the simple subject.
  • Example: In the sentence “The big dog barked,” the simple subject is “dog” because that’s what the sentence is about.

  • Definition: The simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase in the predicate. It tells what the subject does or is.

  • Step 1: Look for the verb or action word in the sentence. The verb is the simple predicate.
  • Step 2: Ask, “What is the subject doing?” or “What is happening?”
  • Example: In the sentence “The big dog barked,” the simple predicate is “barked” because that’s what the dog did.

  • Example 1: “The students read books.”
    • Simple Subject: students
    • Simple Predicate: read
  • Example 2: “My brother plays soccer.”
    • Simple Subject: brother
    • Simple Predicate: plays
  • Example 3: “The flowers are blooming.”
    • Simple Subject: flowers
    • Simple Predicate: are blooming

  • Example 1: “The girl dances gracefully.”
    • Simple Subject: girl
    • Simple Predicate: dances
  • Example 2: “Birds fly in the sky.”
    • Simple Subject: Birds
    • Simple Predicate: fly

  • Simple Subject: The main word that tells who or what the sentence is about.
  • Complete Subject: The simple subject plus any words that describe it.
    • Example: “The red apple is delicious.”
    • Simple Subject: apple
    • Complete Subject: The red apple

  • Simple Predicate: The main verb or verb phrase.
  • Complete Predicate: The simple predicate plus any words that tell more about the action.
    • Example: “The red apple is delicious.”
    • Simple Predicate: is
    • Complete Predicate: is delicious

Let’s practice!