In grammar, a sentence is composed of two main parts: the subject and the predicate. Every sentence has a subject and a predicate.
The subject refers to the person, object, or concept that is being talked about in the sentence. It tells who or what is doing something. It can be one word or more than one word.
Examples
She eats a lot.
Her friend eats a lot.
Her best friend eats a lot.
Each subject tells who eats a lot.
The predicate is the part of the sentence that describes or states something about the subject. It usually a verb that tells what the subject is doing. A predicate can be one word or more than one word.
Examples
The dog eats.
The dog eats a lot.
The dogs eats a lot of chicken bone.
Each predicate tells what the dog does.
How to identify the subject and predicate in a sentence
In simple sentences, it can be easy to spot the subject and predicate. However, complex sentences can be confusing and finding the subject and predicate can be a daunting task. Here are some steps to help you identify the subject and predicate in a sentence:
- Identify the verb: The verb is usually the action word in a sentence and it will help you identify the predicate.
- Ask yourself who or what is doing the action: Whatever noun or pronoun that is performing the action of the sentence is the subject.
- Look for any additional information: Sometimes, sentences can have more than one noun or pronoun, but only one of them is the subject. Make sure to look for any other information that can help you identify the subject and predicate.
