Subject and Predicate

A sentence has two main parts: (1) the subject and (2) the predicate. The subject is the part that tells whom or what the sentence is about. The predicate is the part that tells something about the subject. We learn to identify the subject and predicate of a sentence. The sentences below have been divided into their two main parts—subjects and predicates.

The complete (whole) subject or predicate may be a single word or many words. However, a subject or predicate consisting of many words always has an essential part that we call the simple subject or simple predicate.

For the following sentences, we show the simple subjects and simple predicates in the chart below.

1. Dark clouds gather before the storm.
2. Rain is pounding on the roof.
3. An angry man stomps out of the meeting.
4. Do you like avocado sandwiches?
5. Large crowds of shoppers pack the mall.
6. Was your sister leading the parade?
7. Some kids sold popcorn.
8. A girl in faded jeans rode a pony.

Examples

Write the simple subject, followed by a slash and the simple predicate, of each sentence (simple subject/simple predicate).

1. Four large peacocks strut across the lawn.
2. My old shoes have holes in them.
3. Have you finished your homework?
4. Can little Rose run a mile?
5. A young man on a horse waved at me.
6. Three laughing women sat together in a booth.
7. Should Mildred give Ted her phone number?
8. Do hummingbirds eat insects?
9. Donald has been studying for a history test.
10. Has Norma been playing her flute?

Solutions

We show the simple subject and predicate of each sentence.

1. peacocks/strut
2. shoes/have
3. you/Have finished
4. Rose/Can run
5. man/waved
6. women/sat
7. Mildred/Should give
8. hummingbirds/Do eat
9. Donald/has been studying
10. Norma/Has been playing