Complete Predicate - A Detailed Guide

Have you learned the complete predicate? If not, then you must learn it as it is one of the three essential components of a sentence, the other two being simple and compound predicates.  

A thorough understanding of the parts of a sentence in English grammar is essential if you want to be proficient in both spoken and written English. An English sentence contains the following major parts:

1. the subject part 

2. the predicate part

While studying the predicate parts, you'll come across the following three major types of predicate: 

1.  simple predicate 

2. compound predicate 

3. complete predicate

We've already covered the simple and compound predicates in other articles. In this article, we're delving deeper into the concept of complete predicate. The complete predicate is a fundamental aspect of English grammar the mastery of which is crucial for producing detailed, expressive and complete sentences in English. 

Continue to learn the complete predicate definition, components, uses and and examples. Directly jump into the topic! 

Complete Predicate - Meaning and Definition

What is a complete predicate in English grammar? As its name suggests, the complete predicate means the predicate with all its parts. A complete predicate includes the verb or verb phrase as well as all the other words that modify or complement the predicate. 

In simple language, a complete predicate can be defined as the verb or verb phrase and all its modifiers and complements. The words a complete predicate contains can be direct objects, indirect objects, complements or modifiers. 

The verb or verb phrase with all its modifiers and complements provide us with the fuller description of the action of the subject. 

Let's simplify the complete predicate in points! 

A complete predicate:

1. is a verb or verb phrase which is the main part of the complete predicate

2. contains complements such as direct and indirect objects and subject and object complements.

3. contains modifiers such as prepositional phrases, adverbs and clauses

4. gives the fuller description of what the subject does. 

Complete Predicate Examples

1. Sofia sings a melodious song.

2. He is studying hard.

3. John will write a letter.

4. He gave me a pen.

5. Smith is handsome.

6. They elected John the leader of the group.

7. John dances well.

8. The dog is sleeping under the tree.

It's very important to conduct a comparative study of predicates in English grammar so as to be crystal clear about the three types of predicates: simple, compound and complete predicates. You, therefore, need to go through the below-given comparison made among the three types of predicates in English.

Comparing Simple, Compound and Complete Predicates 

1. Complete predicate vs simple predicate

A complete predicate is the verb or verb phrase with all its modifiers and complements, whereas a simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase, excluding all other words such as modifiers and complements.

Compare the simple predicate with the complete predicate.

1. simple predicate: Sofia dances. (dances = verb with no modifiers or complements)

2. complete predicate: Sofia dances every Sunday. (dances every Sunday = verb with modifier)

2. Complete predicate vs compound predicate 

A complete predicate is a type of predicate that has a verb or verb along with all its modifiers and complements, whereas a compound predicate is the one which has two or more verbs or verb phrases the actions of which are performed by the same subject. 

Compare the complete predicate example with that of the compound predicate below.

1. Complete predicate: John will sing the melodious song tonight at the concert. 

2. Compound predicate: He read the book and wrote a review.

3. Simple predicate vs compound predicate

Just the main verb or verb phrase used in the predicate part is called simple predicate, whereas the two or more verbs or verb phrases present in the predicate part form the compound predicate. 

Compare the simple predicate example with that of the compound predicate below.

1.  Simple predicate: She sings.

2. Compound predicate: She sings and dances.

Your knowledge will be incomplete if you don't learn the components of a complete predicate. Therefore, master the components of the complete predicate below. 

Components of Complete Predicate

As a complete predicate consists of not only a verb or verb phrase but also other grammatical elements such as modifiers and complements, it has several components. The components of a complete predicate are discussed below.

1. Verb: The verb is the essential part of the complete predicate which tells us what the subject does or is.

For example:

1. John runs.

2. Sofia dances.

3. Jenifer sings.

2. Verb phrase: The verb phrase, like the verb, is the core of the complete predicate which also indicates the action or state of the subject. A verb phrase is the main verb plus auxiliary or helping verbs. 

For example:

1. Smith is running.

2. She has been singing.

3. He has gone.

3. Direct object: A direct object, which receives the action performed by the subject directly, can also form part of the complete predicate.

For example:

1. She uttered a word. (word = direct object)

2. He wrote a letter. (letter = direct object)

3. I've taken breakfast. (breakfast = direct object)

4. Indirect object: An indirect object, which indicates to whom or for whom the action is done by the subject, can also form part of the complete predicate.

For example:

1. John gave me a pen (me = indirect object; a pen = indirect object)

2. She gave her sister a gift. (her sister = indirect object; a gift = direct object)

3. He taught me English. (me = indirect object; English = direct object)

5. Subject complement: Subject complements follow linking verbs and describe or rename the subject. Predicate adjectives or predicate nominatives usually become subject complements. 

For example:

1. John is handsome. (handsome = predicate adjective)

2.The sky is blue. (blue = predicate adjective)

3. She became a doctor. (a doctor = predicate nominative)

6. Object complement: Object complements add additional information to the direct object. Object complements tell us what the object has become or is called. 

For example:

1. He named him John. (John = object complement)

2. You really make me happy. (happy = object complement)

3. They elected him president. (president = object complement)

7. Modifier: Modifiers add to the meaning of the verb in the complete predicate. These modifiers include adverbs, prepositional phrases, and clauses. These modifiers tell us how, when, where, or why an action occurs. 

a. Adverb as modifier 

For example:

• He jogged every morning. (every morning = adverb as modifier)

b. Prepositional phrase as modifier 

For example:

• The dog is sleeping under the tree. (under the tree = prepositional phrase as modifier)

c. Clause as modifier 

For example:

• I'll go home if the situation permits me. (if the situation permits me = clause as modifier)

Why do we use complete predicates in English? We've discussed below why we use complete predicates in English.

Usages and Advantages of Complete Predicates

We use complete predicates in English for making our sentences clear, proving detailed information and enhancing our written and spoken communication. The following are some of the benefits of using complete predicates in English:

1. Clarity in ideas:

When we use complete predicates with all their modifiers and complements, our thoughts and ideas in our sentences become more and more clear and unambiguous. 

For example:

Unclear: She reads.

Clear: She reads a newspaper every morning.

2. Detailed information:

The use of complete predicates in English makes our sentences more and more detailed and informative. Complete predicates, talking about all the actions performed by the subject, enrich the content.  

For example:

Uninformative: John loves to read.

Informative: John loves to read philosophical texts, especially those of Kant.

3. Enhanced written and spoken communication: 

Complete predicates enhance our written and spoken communication by incorporating in them subtle details and making them more and more dynamic and engaging. 

For example:

Unenhanced: The policeman arrested the criminal.

Enhanced: On Monday, the policeman chased and arrested the criminal who committed several severe crimes.

How to Form Complete Predicates in English 

Forming complete predicates involves 3 easy steps. To create complete predicates, you need to make sure that you identify the verb or phrase, add required complements and describe appropriate modifiers. The 3 easy steps to make complete predicates are given below:

1. Identify the verb or verb phrase: Make sure that you identify the verb or verb phrase present in the sentence

For example: 

• John was speaking in English that day. (was speaking = verb phrase)

2. Add required complements: Add complements such as direct and indirect objects and subject and object complements as per the requirement of the sentence.

For example:

• They elected John president. (John = direct object; president = object complement)

3. Add appropriate modifiers: Include suitable modifiers such as prepositional phrases, adverbs or clause modifiers to give more details about the subject.

For example:

• John reads a novel everyday. (a novel = direct object; everyday = adverb)

Summary: Complete Predicate in English

A complete predicate is the core part of the sentences that we use and speak everyday. A complete predicate consists of a verb or verb phrases and all other complements and modifiers. As complete predicates give us more and more details about the actions or states of a subject, they help clarify the meaning and enhance the overall written and spoken communication. 

FAQs - What is a Complete Predicate

What's a complete predicate?

A complete predicate consists of a verb or verb phrases and all other complements and modifiers. Complete predicates are used to enhance clarity, give detailed information and better written and spoken communication.

What is a complete predicate and a simple predicate?

A complete predicate consists of a verb or verb phrases and all other complements and modifiers. Complete predicates are used to enhance clarity, give detailed information and better written and spoken communication. On the other hand, a simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase used in a sentence. 

Examples of Complete Predicate in Sentences 

1. Sofia sings a melodious song.

2. He is studying hard.

3. John will write a letter.

4. He gave me a pen.

5. Smith is handsome.

6. They elected John the leader of the group.

7. John dances well.

8. The dog is sleeping under the tree.

What is a complete predicate in a sentence?

A complete predicate consists of a verb or verb phrase and complements and modifiers as in "The policeman arrested the criminal who committed a severe crime."

What words make up the complete predicate?

A verb or verb phrase and complements and modifiers all contribute to make up a complete predicate. Learn more in the article.